Hindi hain hum,vatan hain...

Happy Republic Day everyone! I attended the Republic Day celebrations in campus. It was just a bunch of students, with samosas and chai, singing songs and the national anthem. Enough to transport me back to my childhood days of sitting on the durries on the side of the road, watching the endless procession of troops, arms and the state floats. The best part of the whole event was the helicopters who distributed flower petals and the shiny tricolor bits of paper, which we all used to scramble to collect.

I am hoping that Delhi residents would have seen the parade in person . It is a spectacle worth watching atleast once. But I am not sure how many people know about "Beating Retreat"(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beating_Retreat) This event, held in the Rashtrapati grounds, signifies the official end to the celebrations. It consists of the bands of the Army, Navy and Airforce playing the old army favorites like Colonel Bogey March and also songs like Vande Mataram. Sitting there, in the magnificent Raisina Hill pavilion, watching these guardians of our nation impeccably march and play these songs fills you with the absolute joy and pride of being an Indian.

This year, the event will be held on January 29th. Do ask that neighbourhood uncle or aunty for the passes and try to watch it...

Just want to end with a quote from President Kalam's speech,his message of courage

COURAGE TO GIVE

• Courage to think different,
• Courage to invent,
• Courage to discover the impossible,
• Courage to travel into an unexplored path,
• Courage to share the knowledge
• Courage to remove the pain
• Courage to reach the unreached
• Courage to combat the problem And Succeed

Are the unique qualities of the youth.