Colors Of Republic

This year on 26th of January India celebrated it’s 62nd Republic Day. There are so many instances associated with this event that I remember it in one way or the other. Foremost being my brother’s birthday on the same day.

It was my brother’s fifth birthday and we didn’t celebrate it that year as I lost my grandfather a few months back. My brother was upset that this year he will be devoid of the entire frolic, gifts and of course the attention! He went to my dad and asked him that why are we not celebrating his birthday and my dad answered that his birthday is being celebrated by the entire nation and not just us. He showed him the parade on TV with our nation’s military prowess, tableaux from various states and of course the performance of school children. My brother of course was on cloud nine seeing this huge celebration on his birthday. It was only after few years that he realized that his birthday coincide with the formation of great republic of our country.

Another memory is of our participation in early morning “Prabhat Pheri” in school. All the children from different schools would participate in parade singing patriotic songs and slogans. The parade will end at a ground where the Mayor of the city will hoist the flag followed by some speeches and cultural .

One day, my brother came home all excited after school and told my mom that he is playing a role of freedom fighter in the play on republic Day and need to get a white “Salwar Kurta” for this. My mom was very happy imagining his son playing a freedom fighter, she bought the brightest of cloth material for stitching and the best tailor was searched to stitch it as per his fit. Every day she would tell my brother the stories of my great grandfather who was a freedom fighter and ask him what role is he playing? Whether it’s of Bhagat Singh, Raj guru or Chandrasekhar. My brother being a seven that time knew none of them that time and replied that he is with Gandhiji. My mother felt more proud thinking his son to be either of Nehru or Sardar Patel. My brother will come home late after “rehearsals” and my mother will shower her adulation upon him.

The day arrived and he was given a flag by my dad, special Prasad from my grandmother and “don’t be afraid, perform well” from my mother. We reached early to the venue and took the firsts of the seat. Finally the play began, the freedom fighters came and went and we couldn’t spot my brother. And finally there he was in “Daandi March” with Gandhiji as one of his follower among 100s of follower and shouting slogans! He came running to us once his part was finished and asked my mom if he performed well? And the answer was “yes, the best”. BTW, I still tease my brother for his role and as for my mother; she still has his photo in that white salwar kurta with the tricolor in his hand, safely in the family album.

Once we were visiting Delhi during Republic day and my grandfather took all of us kids to Raj path to show the republic day parade. It was an experience which we all kids can never forget. We all were sitting in the Raj path with our woolens on and enjoying every moment of the parade right from the tanks to the tableaux.

I remember this day because of my memoirs but with no cultural festivities in school and colleges on this day and we treating it as just another holiday, it’s difficult to say if our children will ever associate themselves with this occasion. I feel good that the Republic Day parade is there to remind them of this :)