Peshawar Seige, reminder of my encounter with Terror

I think I was in 8th standard, my sisters were in 6th and 3rd - some short circuit, some sparks and kids ran towards the ground. Rumour said it was a terror attack, some said armed men have held us hostage and a few kids are badly wounded. It was all rumour though, but the entire school was shocked and assembled in the ground. And my eyes frisked the ground trying to locate my sisters, and they found me and we three were together.

I recollect back in September 2008, I was in Gaffar, Karol Bagh moments before the serial blasts in Delhi, me and my younger sister were in metro when we got to know about the blasts. We turned back to CP to catch up with our youngest sister and reach home at 11. It was a curfew at 8 pm. ITO's traffic signal that has always been choc-o-blocked was quite, and we quite had made up our mind that there is gonna be no conveyance today, we might have to walk home. The biggest accomplishment that day was that three of us were together.

Indians could sympathize with #Pakistan on #PeshawarSeige because we know the pain, fear and helplessness that terrorism causes. 

I have grown up with terrorism as a way of life, just like a road accident or a heart attacks. Whenever I heard a minister delivering a pompous speech on anti-terrorism, I would think of whether this man knows about people entering metro premises without being frisked? Does he know that at this point we are not hitting the root of terrorism, a tragedy that could have been avoided to create a terrorist? 

Let's talk about Taliban, there is no good or bad Taliban, they are men with Guns teaching boys to hold guns. Do not let them flourish because beyond all righteous and not-so-righteous is humanity that says COEXIST. Pakistan, your Taliban (your good Taliban) does the same with us what Peshawar attack Taliban (the so called bad Taliban) did to Army Public School Kids. Those kids fought solo, by stuffing something in their mouth, or by acting dead, they did a great job. But they could do it only because you were camouflaged by the dead. Can we just be alive and not be shielded by something?

Pakistan I am sorry for your loss, and my heart goes out for the families who have lost their loved one. I am sharing some words of Gulzaar

अपनी मर्जी से तो मजहब भी नहीं उसने चुना था,
उसका मज़हब था जो माँ बाप से ही उसने विरासत में लिया था,
अपने माँ बाप चुने कोई ये मुमकिन ही कहाँ है, मुल्क में मर्ज़ी थी उसकी ,

न वतन उसकी रजा से वो तो कुल नौ ही बरस का था,
उसे क्यों चुनकर, फिरकादाराना फसादात ने कल क़त्ल किया 

Author's Note: As far as my encounter with terrorism is concerned, it seems that it is my sole responsibility to protect myself if a terror attack happened. When one does not have a choice, all one can do is to bravely declare it as a sole responsibility because yes, I fear next time it could be me - point blank at a terrorist's radar. And for the love I have for people close to me I do not want to imagine any loved one in such a scenario, so sorry I will stop here than to elongate that emotion.

Happy New Year 2011

Everything comes with an expiry term, so did 2010, here comes an account of last year and the resolutions for 2011 etc!

The advent of new years was greeted with being with my maasi, mausaji and my sisters! What were we doing.. well it was all palm reading, chit chatting and discussing life! I tossed off to sleep by 3:30 or so... 

Amongst the bestest things happened to me in 2010 was meeting Saumya.. This is the second time when meeting someone for the first time casted a beautiful impression on my mind. The first time was when I met Pari at the hospital when she was born. I remember how much I wanted to have a sister, now we are the self proclaimed power puffed girls! Coming back to Saumya, who ran to me, hugged me and said I love you Shine Didi! I will never forget this meeting, perhaps for the lifetime.

I felt all the more rejuvenated during the last week of 2010. During this time I realised that I wanted a change, everyone does. Don't you feel that monotony kills.. It does, it rots you from inside, hijacks your creativity and keep singing sad song!

Another important facet about 2010 was Diksha's winter visit, I remember all that I was scared of was what if she catches fever.. Her parents will never allow her to visit us again. Thankfully she went back home in the best of health.

Other things that made 2010 special were weekend cycling during the rainy days, listening to music all night long, evening walks and bargaining!

Considering the resolution bit, I resolve to avoid loosers! Thanks everyone, who made me feel important. I will enjoy my singlehood! and do everything possible to make my life all the more better! And yes, not to forget mentioning my lovely blog.. Brace up guys to read some more posts! 

Lizards

The only thing I am fearful of is when I see a Lizard around.. I am not scared of rat, dog, perhaps, even a lion!But when I see a Lizard, what crosses my mind is awful!.

I jump away the moment I see a lizard, as I imagine the lizard's shooting tongue aiming at me.. Like it does to insects. Now in less that a blink of eye, I have been gorged by this small reptile. Awful naa?? No!

Well then read on if you really have the guts of spend time here.

After that lizard becomes huge, hunting for the next prey. Its bigger than I was. Its haunting you now, right?? Well I would not know if it really haunts you or no, but whenever I see a lizard this thought always crosses my mind, and I freak out!

So I think about the concept of fear. What is fear, not the dictionary meaning here... I mean to ask what do you mean by fear. Something like what I explained above.

My belief is that fear is the threat we see from something unknown. I have never been friendly with lizards. But now whenever I come to my sister's room, I don't scare away from their pet Lizzy... Probably my sisters are in good terms with her and she does not seem to be targeting me as a prey. But I know the ones who keep roaming around in my room are no less than a monster!! Eeeeewwwwwwuuuu

PS: Share your thoughts on Lizards!

Birthday!

And this is what happens when you turn an year older!

At the outset I would like to thank for all the wishes on my birthday that falls on 12 July! The day and the following day were amazing and I was out of the reach of virtual world! My apologies to all those who messaged / wrote posts on facebook wall wishing me on the day! Thanks a ton guys!

The day was momentous, my room is on a renovation mode and I was struck in bad weather and traffic late at night! And I will always remember this birthday as a out of home super adventure celebrations!

Now what is it that happens when you turn an year older? Friends sing 'many boy friends to you' and her mum correct her 'no just one husband to her!' Well I am not planning to marry this year itself, but I think I am not meant to be single this year! So the guy hunt is on! Please, for all those who feel that they can come ahead and ask me out do so, but its purely upto my discretion to accept it or no!

My cousin sister tells me to find a guy! According to her Abhay Deol is good and I can go ahead and ask him out! Well how do I find his contact number and she is quick to tell me to dive in the virtual world, call him up and he will not come to Delhi to fight with me! She has just stepped into adolescence but she knows it all. She tells me that check out his lifestyle, attitude, personality, behaviour, family!But for me only three things matter! I would rather keep it to myself than having someone changed to those parameters, probably unconsciously. On my asking her how does she know all these matters, well its all thanks to"Rakhi ka Swayamwar"! Sigh

My other cousin could not stop a wow when she was informed that I cut two chocolate cakes on my birthday :)

What is it that would have made my birthday special. Well its rain, it soothes me! But its after effects (read traffic, mucked up, sludged roads etc) freak me out! 'Any surprise is better than no surprise', this can also make my day. 

So what are my resolutions this year? Well I am all fed-up of following resolutions so I resolve the funda of resolution by exclaiming that "I will take life as it comes and be happy!"

Author's Note: This is a post dated post! Love my sisters, family, cousins, and all my friends! I would not have grown this old without you~ (cough cough)

P.S.: Never ask a girl her age, a guy his salary and a student his/her marks, it hurts :p

Think

Think Aloud, Think Afar, Think Again

Sing on like a frail

Dance your way to fame

Jump off the drain

Swim to catch the yacth laurels

Fear no one while saying over again

Reach for skies

Take a dive

Think Aloud, Think Afar, Think Again

How important is ones sense to think? I know its important for everyone to think, as I would be crippled if I was deprived of my ability to think. So what is it that one thinks of?  I think about a lot of things and thinking actually braces one with the ability to answer, debate, blog (of course:D). Thoughts can take you to un-imaginable limits, thoughts can motivate you to do what everyone told you is impossible. 

My cousin who has just hit the teen age thinks about what her favourite actoress Kareena said while she was drunk in '3 idiots'. She asked me Di what is a Gay? I replied to her that gay is a person who is attracted towards a person of same sex, females are called lesbians and males are called gays. Great I managed to answer a teenager's thought process, and then came question number two, Di what does impotent mean? Impotent is a man who cannot produce kids. Ohh what is it that a man has to do to produce kids? Thats where I was confused as to how to explain to her. But I tried my best to give her a satisfactory answer. 

Shine Di: See you know people produce kids after getting married, and not before it! Right? 

She gave an expression of consent. 

Shine Di: So there is something that a man contributes while a woman have babies. 

She said ok. 

Sigh! Did I do it well and did I clear her doubt. Well I was satisfied that she said ok, I was rather feeling proud of myself. I just taught a sex education lesson. She thought of something and thought that she can ask me to clear her doubts. 

There are many things one think about, some find people to clear doubts about their thought process and some don't. I at times get answers to my thought process on my own or through family, but when I am struck somewhere I don't know if what I think is right of wrong, I feel really feel lost. But then that is what human nature is about, philosophies give rise to hypothesis, which are challenged to give birth to laws.

Author's Note: Its important to think to be able to live and gauge the energies of being a human being! Ponder over it :D

Who is this "You"?

Of late I am coming to think about a lot of things. Professionally, personally something (read many things) is (read are) not falling in place. I had some plans and seems that I have lost track of those. I had many dreams and cannot recall them back! Gosh I need help!

I am super confused. Is this what I wanted to do when I use to tell people about my relished qualifications and a sense of accomplishment that I got when I received an acknowledging response from aunts and uncles. That sheer recognition took me to square up!

Thats what a quarter life crisis is about and I know that I have fallen right there! 

And then I found you! Whenever I feel that I have no one to share it with I turn to you. My cries and smiles, the sorrow and applauds are all listed in you. You are always available for me. The most beautiful creation, my mentor who guides me. This you has many forms and shapes. 

I have had many such yous in my life:  

Remember that I as child, all the trees in the locality were the you. They use to swing when I spoke to them. I use to talk to them very often.

Then I grew up to find that the stars also listen to me, they twinkle along my songs. Stars became my night pals.

Then I found that my siblings are also the you, since then we have been the best of the buddies.

Then I found that my family was a shell that was a collective you.

My pals held me through thick and thin of life.

Author's Note: If you share a similar experience, find the you and everything will fall just in place.

P.S.: I do acknowledge that I still have all the above-listed yous in place. In addition there is one more. Guess who's it?

Neither a Male nor a Female

The civil society does not acknowledge any sex other than female or male. What if I was an eunuch? The thought crossed my mind when I located an eunuch last night. It crossed a crowded bus stop sporting a salwar kameez, flaunting cleavage and lips smudged with dark brown shade. It did not smile at anybody just looked around with a plastic smile. 

Think about it for a while before you read further.

What would you be doing for livelihood? 
Would you be knowing about your parents? 
Would you be cursing the society? 
Would you be happy with the way people treat you? 
Wouldn't you want your elder brother to take you for evening ice cream treats?
Wouldn't you want your grand mom to read stories to you?
Wouldn't you wish your mom make your favorite food on your birthday?

You are forced to live a rotten life just because your reproductive organs does not exist or work.

Either at birth or during the puberty years, outsiders will claim right on you and (in most of the cases) force you to join their brigade.

Some of you might be living with your actual parents who have succeeded in either hiding you sexuality or have been fighting with the society for acceptance.
Some are being abused, harassed by the society for something thats not anybody's fault. 

I highly endorse that the society should acknowledge the existence of this gender at par with male or female. They are not to be left out, after all they are like us, they fall sick, they too have emotions and a bonding with their loved ones. Let them study, work and move around just as we do.


Author's Note: Not just female gender bias, the society does not accept eunuchs as well. Is it suppose to be just a Man's World?

PS: Did you notice that I had to address them as 'it' neither he nor she. Sad it is! 

Matrimony - The height of Materialism!

Matrimonial alliances in India (read Delhi) is the typical examples of materialism! Everything, right from the food, baarat, shaadi, exchange of gifts - the thin line that segments dowry, etc. should happen King sized. The sacred institutions puts the matrimonial alliances as paramount! A typical matrimonial alliance is initaited with social status, income and in some cases education! Family background, the spouses of prospective siblings also matter and finds place in the bio-data. 

Once the proposal has been fixed, each of the party try to exhibit their superiority by pegging the maximum gifts, displaying it to the guests to gauge maximum praises. Gift are being extended in 'cash or kind' to even the insignificant relatives. They look out for opportunities and occasions to gift.  And not to forget mentioning each splurging spree should be clicked in the camera. 

Now comes the functions close to the wedding day! The elderly of the family will be the cashier, as s/he would be taking stock of cash transactions. Everything is being done with a bang, be it the Mehendi ceremony or the afternoon lunch. While the families come across as anti-dowry (which means that the groom side will not demand cash on the wedding day)! 


All the demands would be however conveyed through loug mouthed relatives, and such gifts can follow after the wedding day. The girls family makes sure that at least a car is being gifted to the groom. While the groom expects that at least a flat in upmarket location should come along with the wagon. 

Baarati's are high on liquor and shoot a cracker in air announcing their arrival. The Ghori wala during this time analyses the worth of allowing the groom to get down from the horse and asks for a hefty amount. This amount is not paid and the ghoriwala is being given anything between 200-500 bucks, or 1 grand in exceptional cases!

Now comes the bride loaded with heavy jewellery and embellished with a gorgeous lehenga. Not just the bride, all the girls attending the wedding are dressed in heavy attire as if their price charming will ride her away on the day!

Not to forget mentioning that the groom already had a girlfriend, but no guts to stand up for his love given the social status / threat of being excluded from the family etc. He had considered eloping with her girlfriend, but an arranged setup sounded good as he feels that he cannot give her everything. He is also lured into an arranged matrimonial alliance on the unsaid assumption that the girl he is getting married to belongs to a rich family and she should get good amount of gifts throughout her life!

Author's Note: Many guys are waiting for a huge bonanza in the form of such gifts. This at times makes me feel bad for the society. Really guys do, even those who seem decent, but such hypocrisy surmounts ! 

Happy Women's Day

A few points to note this year on Women's Day, but before I starting typing them down, lemme be a bit generous to wish all the ladies out there a very Happy Women's Day. For me the best women are my moma, sisters, and all my lady friends!

Well has it been really 'a Happy day'? Let me outline the first one as UN Asia-Pacific Human Development Report. The report brings forth that the condition of women worse in Asia, as compared to the rest of the world. The report also outlines that women earn less as compares to their male counterparts. The report's concern with the absence of a female voice in the Asia-Pacific’s political systems was strengthened by the harassment of Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari with torn pieces of women's reservation bill of 30% in parliament in the Upper House of parliament. The first thought that crossed my mind was are these bunch ill-mannered of people holding seats at Rajya Sabha? I am sure I am gonna cast my vote under section 49(O) for the coming few years.

The first Oscar award to a lady director, Kathryn Bigelow for her movie 'The Hurt Locker' . This certainly an achievement! Anything that comes first at Oscars makes news, be it Rehman being the first India to fetch an award, or Bollywood movies like Laagan, Taare Zameen Par getting nominated under an insignificant category. But on retrospection, was their really no even a single women director worthy of the Academy Awards (known as Oscars) whose 1st ceremony took place way back in 1929. Is it only after close to 81 editions that someone could qualify for it?

Author's Note: For me, I acknowledged that its the Women's day only after I wished a colleague Happy Birthday and wished me Happy Women's Day. Then another friend calling up to wish! Late at night my college sweetheart messaged me, it was then that I felt that all the significant ladies have to be wished, and I quickle bulk sms'd to them!

PS: I don't think that women need a day to convey that we can do it better, be it the parliament, Oscars, Household or corporate!

Buzz Around Valentine's

My commiserations to the lover fraternity who couldn't celebrate the Valentine's day on the 14th, given a Sunday and parent questioning post all the hype created by news channels about the eve. So on the 13th decided to take a stroll in the market to study the revelry a day before. To my anticipation, most of the couples were together, celebrating the day in advance. 

As I had plans to go out on the day i.e. Sunday, no VHP / BJP / RSS or allied body demonstrated their anger, over celebrations of Valentine's day. Though their protests hardly bother me, I have faith in my self proclaimed punching/slapping and hitting capabilities that I decide to move out of house. Moreover when I introspect I believe  that I am capable of fighting with five people at a time - so a typical example of the fact that looks can be deceptive.. 

Too much of blabbering about something thats beyond the point, getting back to the D day celebrations! Many of my friends questioned on facebook, whether we need a day to express love? I don't have any opinion about it! All I feel that if we don't need a day for out Valentine, than do we have to celebrate a day to acknowledge the onset of a new year/mother's day and the likes? At last I feel that the day provides an opportunity to convey to significant people that you care, it could be your best friend or a boy friend. 

Author's Note: I use to dread moving out of home on V - Day, as young turks start acting foolish. This time I did go out and stood corrected about that years old misconception. 

Beating Retreat!

Marking the end of republic day revelry is the Beating Retreat Ceremony held today at Vijay Chowk. The the ceremony that dates back to the time when sounding retreat pulled to a halt the day’s fighting during the time of war. The idea for the parade goes like this:

In olden times, when the hours of darkness meant a cessation of hostilities until the following day, the object of the call was to collect and post the necessary guards for the camp, garrison, etc., for the night. It was also a warning for those outside the camp or garrison to retire or they would be kept outside the night. We thus find that there is some confusion arising between "Retreat" and "Tattoo". This confusion may, in part, have been caused owing to the French using the word "Retraite" for the familiar call to our "Tattoo". From the following extracts from old orders, it would appear conclusive that Retreat was meant to be separate from Tattoo and to be beaten at sunset.

Coming to my experience of the ceremony, well we were late for the ceremony and the place we were supposed to be seated was full, so we had to rush to the arcade towards the left of where some of the seats were supposedly vacant. Reaching there was a task too, as we managed to enter the arcade, we had a hard time locating somewhere to sit. Where-ever we stood, people seated behind us started shouting, and it was quite an experience... Clearly you should not block some one's view, and as a friend said to me be the change you want to see, we decided to stand somewhere we would not block view of others.

It was then that the smartness of an engineer came to play. Well my sister located two un-taken chairs and rushed to ask the security personnel, sir can I take the chair. He promptly agreed and here were we both trying to position the chair towards a metal chamber so that we can stand up on the chair and get a frontal view of the ceremony. It was like two people standing on one chair.

Now we all could pay attention to what was going on at Vijay Chowk. The President Pratibha Patil, was sitting conveniently inside a glass chamber along with the also the Supreme Commander of the three Forces, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, the audience also sat through a ceremony that elicits a feeling of nationhood and pride! The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also sitting amongst the audience with wife and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.





Thirty-five bands from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force took part in the ceremony that began with the arrival of the President marked by fanfare by trumpeter. Well synchronized parade playing bands were performing and adding poise to the retreat were men on camels standing inside Rashtriyapati Bhawan! The pillars also stationed some buglers who kept playing their musical instruments at frequent intervals, in tune with the band marching performance. The tempo set the feel and audience did not miss applauding several times through the ceremony.

A brief research took me to the sequence of the ceremony, which goes as:

The first march of the massed band was the popular Sam Bahadur, named on a popular Indian army officer. This was followed by the performance of pipes and drums which had the audiences tapping the feet with their Surya, Sky Boat Song, Pipers Cave, Highland Laddie and The Marquis of Huntly, among others. The Naval and Air Force Bands, striking in their appearance and confident in their bearing, charged the atmosphere with their repertoire that included the beats of Ocean’s Splendour, Bharatiya Navsena, Sky Hawks, Nocturnal Cry, Swatantra Bharat ki Shan and Subroto. The military bands with their Hanste Lushai, Gangotri, Abhinandan, Dhola-Re-Dhola were as spectacular to the eye as they were an aural treat. Next it was the massed bands again enthralling the audiences. Their quick march to the tunes of Saare Jahan Se Acha brought the curtains down on the ceremony!

The president's house and the parliament was lit and it looked like a marvelous palace, wow came out of everyone the moment the place was embedded with golden yellow lights! Now the horses started marching towards the parliament, as it was getting dark, the spark generated due to friction between horses' shoe and concrete road was added zing to the festivities. Following it was the indicators of bikes and jeep signaling that its the time to go. By this time the audience started moving out of the arcade, but we stood there for some more time as we did not want to miss anything and also we had to locate a friend, who had to park the car. India gate was also decorated with an imprint of tricolour.

We could see him, kept waving at him as he was waiting at the other side of the arcade, where we were suppose to be technically seated. As no mobile phones were allowed and I succeeded in shouting his name, I went home happy that I am not a complete cell phone dependent :D

It is an art, science and a theatrical display of courage, spirit of nationhood, patriotism, and a call for global peace!

Author's Note: The Beating Retreat ceremony is worth witnessing.. I wish I have done justice to the ceremony through this blog post!

Happy Republic Day 2010

The 61st Republic Day Parade of the Year 2010 had the honour of me sitting amongst the audience. Yes, let me rephrase it, this year I happen to witness the parade live at Rajpath, while me sitting with my friends at the neatly organised chairs in India Gate Lawns.

To begin with the Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India act 1935 as the governing document of India on January 26, 1950. The date January 26 was chosen to honour the memory of the declaration of independence to India in 1930. 

The day is one of the three national holidays, while the Republic Day Parade takes place at the Rajpath, New Delhi this year in presence of the President Smt Pratibha Patil, Chief Guest Korean President Lee Myung-bak and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The invitation to Korean ministers reflects upon strengthening bilateral relations. State capitals also have their state celebrations on the day, where the governor of the states unfurls the National Flag. 

The revelry of republic day for me started a day before. Due to security reasons buildings at Barakhamba Road where I happen to work and Kasturba Gandhi Road had to be vacated by afternoon of January 25. So me and my friend had a strolling time on the streets of Connaught Place. Which of course came after a long time, and I have decided to make such strolls a regular part of my life. This was also an auspicious day when I got my VIP passes for the parade. 

Coming back to the R-day, we expected the day to be bright and sunny but to our surprise, we got on a foggy morning, we stepped out of house at 8 am, while we could barely see clearly at the distance of 20 meters. As we were not suppose to carry mobile phone, cameras, bags, such day came to me after a long long time. We finally made up to the venue on time, and were seated at a better location, something that was practically (not actually) opposite India's first woman's arcade. 

Prior to the commencement of the parade, the Prime Minister lays a floral wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti a memorial of martyred unknown soldiers at India Gate. Then he reaches his dias and hoists Indian flag as the National Anthem is played. A 21 gun salute is also paid to the spirit of nation-hood, this was amazing and enough to scare off a two year old child sitting in the front row. 

What followed was commemoration of significant awards Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra given by the president. Ashok Chakra was awarded to Halvindar Rajesh Kumar of 11 Rajputana Rifles, Manoj Mohit Sahrma (posthumous) and Major D. Sreeram Kumar. Sub inspector Bhopal Singh of the Sashastra Seema Bal and Constable Rel Deo Sangam of Meghalaya police were conferred Kirti Chakra. Two officials of the Border Roads Organisation were amongst Shaurya Chakra awardese. Due to fog, I could not see the award commemoration ceremony, but could hear the update clearly of a loud speaker. 

By then we started to realise that a similar seating arrangement is been made opposite us, and towards the left of it was a decorated arcade, for the delegates and top officials. The parade started with men riding horse, which was amazingly synchronised. Each battalion had strikingly balanced marching skills, made us clap while they pass in front of us, on Rajpath. Clapping was also meant to keep ourselves warm on that foggy day. One of the battalion had three army personnel walking in the front, they held a long equipment with a spherical top while marching. Its worth mentioning their precision and synchronisation of throwing the equipment in the air, at certain height the equipment rolled and came back to the marcher's hand. It left us all amazed and applauding!

Following marches by the military personnel was beautiful display of decorated boogies from a military, missiles, few states, ministries. The ones that left visionary mark on me were Bunkers, Multiple Missile Delivery Equipment, Agni Missile, Shaurya Missile, ICT System, Radar Communication System of Indian Army. The boogies of Jaipur, International Film Festival of India, Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 where legendary sports persons like PT Usha and Milkha Singh were standing up at the boggy and waving at us, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, were strikingly done. Dance performance by school children was not visible to us, but the music got me foot tapping enough to give a feel of it. Tricolour balloons and flags were released in the sky from each direction, which exclaimed India celebrates its republic status. 

The aircraft show finally offered a hooting zeal leaving the viewers all the more mesmerised. By the end, we walked up towards the grill to get the booklets which were being distributed, but could not find any of the distributors.At last the President, Korean Head, PM waved bye to the by standers. While walking towards the exit, my cousin wanted to hold the rifle and requested the guard to let him hold it, but the guard politely refused, and had a chat with with him for sometime. While he was chatting up with the army guard, I happen to get the booklet from a child, who happily gave me the booklet. 

All in all, the parade is worth witnessing. I feel proud that I happen to go to Rajpath on the R-day, and glorify myself with being able to associate with the display world's third largest military power's credentials. It instigated the feeling of being Indian in me :)

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who was involved in the course of getting passes and getting up on time, reaching at the venue on time, and being able to stick to it in a foggy serpentine day! My sister had fever, she did not disclose as she did not want to miss the parade, the display of art and science of synchonised theme. The efforts were unquestioningly worth it! Happy Republic Day 2010 to all Indians~~

PS: For those who don't know that India holds the National parade only for the Republic Day on January 26. And on the Independence Day (August 15) we have the PM delivering speech at Red Fort, and innumerable kites flying on Indian skies, symbolising India's independence!