On the Republic Day

I don't remember the last time I missed a Republic Day Parade on the national t.v. My entire family follows this event religiously. And I think that there is a purpose in that. The ceremony held for this day is perhaps the best way to show gratitude to the uncountable number of people who gave up their lives and personal peace to be of service to the nation. One such man honored today was K. P. Babu, an Andhra Pradesh Cop, who died fighting maoists. He was conferred the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award, posthumously by the President. I feel a lot of gratitude in my heart for him and the many other soldiers who fight, most often in obscurity, and stake their lives so that we may live secure and protected. India is very fortunate to have such an army. It has loyally served the nation with integrity and honor since the very beginning.
Part of the flora and fauna of the Republic Day celebration are the tableaus from the different states that walk the Rajpath on this solemn day. What I could not help thinking watching the various tableaus from the different states is that they are  a symbol of the great diversity that exists in this country. And perhaps the greatest achievement for us as a nation has been the unity that we have managed to forge even amidst this overwhelming diversity. This is despite the nervous start we made post our independence when the partition took place. Which was perhaps the blackest phase in our history. Since then, we have made all efforts possible to bring about unity in this vastly diverse and continent sized nation. And whenever this unity has suffered (mostly because of power hungry politicians), the nation has suffered. This reminds me of the anti-sikh riots, the Gujrat pogrom, the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus and the Babri Mosque Demolition riots. The worst part is that such cases have yet not totally ceased. And we still hear of clashes between Hindus and Muslims, e.g., the riots which took place in Uttar Pradesh claiming over forty lives. This madness has to stop.
I feel Mahatma Gandhi knew just how important the task of uniting this diverse nation was. And he spent a lifetime trying to bridge the divides that existed. Went on a life-threatening fast to stop the Partition Riots and eventually did succeed in doing the same. He said that the Hindus and the Muslims were like the two eyes of this country without which India could not see.
And right the great soul was! Here is hoping that our country reaches new heights in this new year, which will also see a Lok Sabha Election take place, and does not repeat the mistakes made in the past.

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