Happy Re-Public Day!!!!

One of the best days in IIM Ahmedabad. Nope I didn’t crack any examination. Neither did I score a great inning in cricket. Not a pizza or barbeque nation treat. Nor hot water in D7 (which now has become a distinct reality). It was just the gathering on a nice winter morning for the Republic day celebration at LKP. People basking in the small strip of sunlight flowing gently into LKP from between the classroom blocks & the library. Kids chirping around merrily, playing hide-n-seek between the LKP crowds, Profs laughing (yes and i meant laughing ), Victor sir playing guitar & students’ eyes eagerly awaiting the sight of sweets

On a regular day one finds the place totally deserted. A few people seen around – enjoying the morning are either the staff of IIMA or the poor souls residing in dorms who have their classes at 8.45AM running around to reach in time. But today it was all very different, very unrealistic, very virtual. I loved it. Although i had to take the pains to wake up early after the detailed ‘placement preparations’ last night & get into a decent dress (difficult to find in my wardrobe) suitable for the occasion, the pains were worthed to be taken.

Infact, the sole thing driving me to attend the occasion was the patriotic soul in me eager to get out of the student facade. The busy schedule and material aspirations has barricaded the path of simple social deeds i loved or rather love doing. During childhood, after 14th January Makarsankranti celebrations, the only thing to look-out for a kid was the republic day parade. The streamlined flow of parade and the synchronization of the army officers was treat to watch. Also the colours coming out of the various parades by the states is a pleasing sight. Every year i saw it (although there wasn’t any significant change to the structure YoY), I cried inside – ‘I love my India & I am ready to do anything for the nation’. Sadly I am not doing it and each one among us knows why.

Today 26th January, 15th August & 2nd October have only one relevance for a desi Indian: A national holiday. Little do these days ring a bell in the hearts that it is something great about our wonderful country that happened on these days. We have the baton in our hands to be carried forward – fast – and hand it over in the right manner to the generations to come. Little do we have the zeal in ourselves to work for something that doesn’t bring material profits for us. Living for society and the nation is a bigtime NS. And I too am a victim of this ‘selfishomania’ egoist culture coming up. The fact that we don’t respect the day, the fact that we are not considering ourselves responsible for the society, the fact that we shrug ourselves off the problems of the society – are the symtoms that our nation sadly is going to witness just facades of patriotism hiding the inherent virus of greed inside.

Anyways the good part is, although people are not helping around with tangible deeds their sheer presence on the day for celebration shows the fire (although subsiding fast) to work for the nation. Just a vent to converge the sparks and flush the issues out. and

By the time I was done thinking about the strategy of how to collate these spirits and frame the solution, I was pretty well VitaminDized in the sun and sweets were in front of me. I walked away with the hollow thought & sweets in my hand. Happy Republic Day !!!!