Read on. I know that A picture is worth a hundred words. But i'm a firm believer that ANYTHING, when committed to paper (in this case, virtual paper), becomes something similar to Hundred Words itself.
“How many years has it been since India attained independence??”
“Beats me, er..wait…we got independence on 1945…no 1947…soo…1947 to 2008…its…the 61st year of independence…..I think. ”
Answer truthfully. Did YOU know that this 15th August was the 61st year of Independence? And that it was the 62nd Independence Day for us?
India – a country with Diversity in language, religion and its people. A country which survived the profuse persecution of the ‘White – men”, A country which stands as a symbol of Peace and Non-Violence, A country known to have attained Freedom by observing Ahimsa, A country which drove away the ‘White – men’ to where they belonged without war or combat, A country which stands proudly for being the first to fight for freedom and for being an inspiration for many depressed nations to fight for its freedom!
There are many things India is famous for apart from Ahimsa. The game of Chess, which is enjoyed worldwide, was invented in India. No wonder Viswanathan Anand is an Indianchessgrandmaster and the current World Chess Champion. (Cheers to you man!!!) Mathematics, the subject well liked (and well disliked..!!) by many also took birth in India. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies which originated in India. The 'place value system' and the 'decimal system' were also developed in 100 BC in India. The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. (Brings back awful memories, doesn’t it?! The horrifying Pythagoras theorem which lost me 5 marks in my math exam!! Damn it!) He discovered this in the 6th century, which was long before the European mathematicians.Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India medicine. Without anesthesia, imagine the hospital corridors. They would be reverberating with the wails and screeches of agony of the patients being operated. India isthe Largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest country in the world and one of the most ancient and living civilizations (at least 10, 000 years old!!!) Although modern images and descriptions of India often show poverty, India was one of the richest countries till the time of British in the early 17th Century. (Damn them! We’d still be rich if it weren’t for those wretched people!!) Those of us who know our history will know how maliciously and unjustly the British exploited us and cheated us of OUR wealth! Sanskrit is considered as the mother of all higher languages. This is because it is the most precise and therefore suitable language for computer software. (Screw C++ !! )
With this much and much much more to be proud of, why are most of us awestruck by the western countries? We watch football and cricket instead of hockey, we prefer salsa and ballroom dancing to Bharatanatyam, we prefer burgers to idlies or dosas, lasagna to sambar rice… Why are we impressed with the westerners when our OWN country has so much to be proud of ?
Our National Anthem must give us SO much pride that we get goose pimples! But how many of us stand with our chest pumped with pride, hands on our heart, our eyes filled with pride and love when we look at out National Flag and sense a feeling a unity when we sing our National Anthem? I’d say, very few.
“What makes a nation, is the past, what justifies one nation against others is the past", says the renowned historian Eric Hobsbawm.
Hence, when talking of a nation, it becomes very vital that the past should also be talked about. And the past of India is as fascinating and interesting as it is momentous.
Quoting the last few lines of the Indian National Anthem:
Jaye He ! Jaye He ! Jaye He !
Jaye, Jaye, Jaye,Jaye He!
Translation in English: Victory, Victory, Victory to thee.
