India 61st Republic day Parade

India is probably the biggest country in the world when the population and the land area indicators are together taken into account. Such big and dense is the mass that it allows most of its critics as well as its well-wishers into defining it as a cacophony. But the way this world works for a country- it is either only a ‘collective’ or a ‘consensus’ based sound which would come out, therefore defining it.

Reference is to the 61st Republic day yesterday and its most symbolic and anxiously celebrated event - its parade. I again stayed glued to it on my TV, choosing the old DD out of other twenty odd channels covering it live. It is not that I always watch it in some ardent nationalist like mood since childhood, like me many did not take it seriously. My uncle, a colonel in Army I had a drink with later in the night, played his regular round of golf. My website contractor continued with his work, although he didn’t forget to remind me that he had to keep his office open on this 26th because of my deadline which I insisted, not his time management skills. Most of the shops, coffee shops, wholesalers and chai-gallas (Gujarati for road tea stalls) stayed open.

My small office of three people stayed closed. In solidarity with hope for continual free air and free talks we are able to opinionate today. For those who might be a little eager to catch up - this ‘Republic’ day parade (A TV channel wittily calls it ‘Free-Public’) ceremony was over by 11:30AM; and most of it in the thick winter fog of Delhi. Probably, because we have a faster pace of life now, or as it is happening in most parts of the world, as humans we are becoming less patient. Reduced time slot allowed lesser exhibition of military missiles, and the cultural event had the same fervor - especially dances by the confidenter school children in Delhi, and obscure dance groups from elsewhere in the country spreading an energy and vibrancy, through amazingly graceful women which signifies sure empowerment of women tomorrow.

Indeed much of this is unlike the reality, for this was then a celebration event. To the Korean guest delegation, and few who saw it, saw a confident India, toned down, mellower as it probably would like to be in the world’s eyes.

It was one of the few days in a year when we partially remember our forefathers. And, as writers or blog writers or commenter, or even as general speakers we can always perpetually criticize our system, our politics, but definitely for once we can unequivocally celebrate the commonality that is people, celebrate hope…right?