Day before yesterday, we proudly celebrated our 60th Independence Day. A lot have been written about this day, and other related issues/concerns, a lot of debates n discussions happening in every "adda session", leave aside dailies, news paper, magazines etc. Some, being optimistic, are looking at the positive aspect of our evolution path, some are just criticising anything and everything that happened in India during the last 60 years, and some are just indifferent about everything. But, whatever be the attitude, we all are expressing our thoughts!

If last year, it was Amitabh Bacchan leading the TOI Independence Day campaign, then can Shahrukh be far behind? No, he cant, hence this year, it was him! And the public was in a "Yeh Dil Maange More" mode. A lot of hype (please excuse me for using this word) is being placed on the generation "Z" (I think we have already done with Gen-X, and Y. Wonder what comes after Z??? Generation A, or as I would like to term it, "Back to Square One"??? Think about it) The youth of today... how special or different they are from their predecessors. Traditionally how have we deviated over the years (Oposhonskriti!!!), etc etc.

In the last couple of days, I have received many patriotic e-mails and sms es... that indeed makes me proud as an Indian! They talk about the great achievers and path finders of India, the Nobel Laureates of India, and the rich and glorified past of our Nation!!! Indeed that makes me proud. Some extracts of our gloden past, follows as below:


1. India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history.

2. India invented the Number system. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.

3. The world's first University was established in Takshila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4 th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.

4. According to the Forbes magazine, Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software.

5. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans.

6. Although western media portray modern images of India as poverty striken and underdeveloped through political corruption, India was once the richest empire on earth.

7. The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 5000 years ago. The very word "Navigation" is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH.

8. The value of pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is now known as the Pythagorean Theorem. British scholars have last year (1999) officially published that Budhayan's works dates to the 6 th Century which is long before the European mathematicians.

9. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India . Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11 th Century; the largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Indians used numbers as big as 10 53.

10. According to the Gemmological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds to the world.

11. USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century-old suspicion amongst academics that the pioneer of wireless communication was Professor Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.

12. The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.

13. Chess was invented in India .

14. Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted surgeries like cesareans, cataract, fractures and urinary stones. Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient India .

15. When many cultures in the world were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley ( Indus Valley Civilisation).

16. The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.

Now these are proven facts, aren't they? And dont they make us feel proud? But observing closely, I find, that all these date back a long time in the pages of History! Are we to bask on the glory of our ancestors and keep feeling proud of our Nation ONLY!!! Doing nothing to retain that glory, forget enhancing the same???!!!

When we say India has advanced a lot, whom do we keep in mind? Whom do we project as developing and evolving Indians? The urban lot! The educated and sophisticated, polished, urban lot! The emerging upper middle class, the creme' of the society! When we talk of growing economy, whom do we talk about? The emerging IT Industry? The software professionals, who on average expect a 20-25% increment every year? The Mall and the Multiplex culture? But, can anybody tell me, what percentage they constitute of the total Indian population?

On an average, tell me, how have you spent your Independence Day this year? I will tell you... please do let me know if I am wrong, but first and foremost, you all were looking forward to this Independence day, isn't it??? Am sure, you did, because "fortunately" this year Independence day fell on a "wednesday" and it was a welcome break from your daily hectic schedule, isn't it???

You were probably making plans to celebrate this day "your" way, from a week before (n thats minimum, i can guarantee!). Some of us were planning to laze around (many of my friends told me "saradin pore pore ghumiyechi"!!!). Some of us planned outing with friends and/or families. Thanks to "Pantaloons Grand Sale" many of us have spent the whole day shopping!!! My dear male friends (that includes my dear husband as well) were so calculative that they even bought and arranged for their quota of alcoholic drinks in advance since Independence day is a "Dry Day"!!! Now thats what I call, planning in advance. And if you are really "patriotic" then before executing your plan for the day, am sure you must have attended some "flag hoisting" ceremony somewhere! And that too, am sure, many of us were cribbing because it was pretty hot (in Kolkata) that day, and you had to stand for 15-20 mins(on an average) under the sun for the flag hoisitng ceremony!!! Am sure this one sacrifise that you made for your country on the Independence day this year, you will remember for quite some time to come.

Independence Day is over for this year. All the patriotic song CDs are kept safely tugged in your CD shelf, rest assured that they will not be in use for atleast 5 more months! The FM radio channels have also stopped bothering about those CDs, they will be played again on 26th jan'2008. The tri color flag (incase u bought one this year, is washed, n ironed and kept in your cupboard). We have paid our homage to our Mother India for the year. Over and out. Rest, the debates, discussions, the public display of fights in our Parliaments still continue...

Jai Hind!