Today, as we celebrate Holy Grail of Indian Republic, we see its political czars unfurling the national flag at historical of all places and biggest of all stadiums. We see them delivering best of their speeches, while suited in best of their attires. We listen to them speaking in evasive manners, displaying best of the circumlocution practices. The patriotism that they put on show can even make a soldier’s love for his motherland trite. As the democracy, which ought to be celebrated, bleeds on every nook and every corner of Nation, we celebrate the merriment of these fellow “co-patriots” because of whom the very fabric of this republic is endangered now. Yet, the democracy is to be celebrated. It is to be celebrated for those who selflessly sacrificed themselves for a dream, a dream of a Utopian state. It is to be celebrated for those who lay their lives at borders of the Nation to sustain that dream. It is to be celebrated for those who still believe in keeping their lives kosher, and those also who still dream of the same dream that our freedom fighters had dreamt of.
As the nation enters its 66th Republican year with a test of democracy scheduled in forthcoming weeks, let’s hope the bastardization of politics stops this time and from next year onwards we celebrate Republic Day with all right reasons.
Happy 65th Republic Day! J
