Republic Day Renditions!

Here’s wishing all my countrymen a very Happy 60th Republic Day!

Unfurling of the National Flag, 21 gun Salutations, National Anthem, Patriotic songs rendered by some of our finest singers, Gallantry awards, grand parades upto the Red Fort, the Prime Minister of India laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, commemoration of all the jawaans who sacrificed their lives for the country, the fly past, put on by the Indian Air Force, the bands marching to the tune of “Sare Jahan se Achcha”, all these and a lot others make me bask in the glory of the nation which has given us our identity, our own established place in the world today…

On 26th January, 1950, a new Democratic country, with its new-formed constitution, took over the attention of the world with its principles of Non-violence & peace & above all, had many challenges before it, to stand in the world scenario. A truly sovereign state with all due pride and respect, India had finally realized the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi and the numerous freedom fighters who contributed immensely in changing our tolerant mindset.

And here we are, 60 years hence, making good progress on the long winding road to success. On this special day, let us take a few minutes and undergo a self-introspection… think deep what India has gone through in the past 60 years, glimpses of what we, as a country have achieved, what we have lost. Look at the Social, economical, political challenges that India had at its birth. Partition of the country had serious consequences of violence, communal riots & a chaotic situation all over. On the economic front, Britishers had exploited unimaginable resources of our country. Politically also we had to face many hurdles as we had no constitution, no bag of borrowings, no law of our own. Overall, the country's position was into pits. Here, we started applying all possible trial & error methods. With all the above mentioned problems India struggled to make its own place in the world.

Well success has different interpretations. For me India breaking out of the shackles and becoming a free economy is success, that we are the fastest growing economies in the World is success, that we have become an important factor in the IT revolution is success, that some of the richest people are Indians is success, that we have had the most beautiful women in the Miss World and Universe competitions is success, that we are moving towards an unmanned mission to the moon is success. The country has carved a niche for itself in the field of IT, which has thrown open a goldmine of opportunities for the middle class. Our big IT companies like TCS, Wipro, Infosys etc. also have the same bug as Tatas, Birlas and Bajajs. It has been a long journey from extreme reliance on khadi & village industries to Heavy duty markets in all the sectors. This is quite evident from the inflow of huge FDIs & FIIs in the country. Today we have industrialists like Azim Premji, Ambani's who are competing with the world to keep up to their acknowledged global recognition.

On this special occasion, Dr. Manmohan.Singh quoted "While there is much to be proud of in our record of the past 60 years, the unfinished agenda should make us humble and energize us to work together. The emerging challenges, at home and globally, should make us firm in our resolve to be united and to be cooperative". Very true indeed… we still have a long way to go… Sowing the seeds of oneness and emphasizing Unity in diversity is sure to work wonders for our country.

"SARE JAHAN SE ACCHA,
HINDUSITAN HAMARA...,
HUM BUL BULEN HAIN ISKI,
YEH GULSITAN HAMAR!!!!"

Today, on this very special day, I salute my National Flag and hope and pray that our Nation crosses all boundaries….

Jai Hind!

Here’s a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by the country's best performers. This album is very very special and brings tears to my eyes.. Just saw it again in “Mile Sur Mera tumhara” today morning!