HAR
DIL MAIN TIRANGA
LT
COL NOEL ELLIS
14/VIII/2022
There
was a burst of pink which welcomed me to a new dawn. Pink rain lilies, true to
their nature, spread so much of ‘pinkish happiness’. With a smile on my face
and camera in hand, it was time to explore.
Children
have been the centre of activity in the last couple of days. With the 75th Independence
Day around the corner, they have been gathering in the park to practice their
lines to be delivered for skits being organised in their schools.
Their
enthusiasm is palpable. Someone is portraying Rajguru, someone Sukhdev, someone
Bismil, shouting slogans ‘Inquilab Zindabad’, Little girls who generally keep
doing dance steps, practicing Savdhaan-Vishraam. Some practiced saluting. Some
practiced their turning movement on the command of I reckon, the Head Boy…
‘Parade dahine murega… dahine mur. The small squad counting...ek… do teen… ek’.
I just loved it.
Water
droplets started falling from the sky, warning me that it was time to rush
home.
As
I entered the colony gate a different scene caught my eye. It was the milkman
and a kitten. The small kitty was bruised and hurt but fine otherwise. After
delivering milk to the intended home, he filled up his ladle and gave a short
call. Out came this kitten from her hiding place like a bullet. As if she knew
it was ‘dudu’ time.
There
was no container to pour the milk, so the milkman requested the guard to see if
he could find something. The Guard found a plastic container, picked up a leaf
and cleaned it from inside. It wasn’t clean enough. So, the milkman requested
him to clean it again.
The
impatience of the kitten was visible. She mewed loudly and rubbed her body on
the legs of the milkman with her tail standing, making a figure of eight, as if
saying, ‘why are you delaying, I am so hungry’. The guard also did the
‘Rajasthani dry cleaning’. He sprinkled some dry sand in that container,
churned it around nicely, tapped it on the gate firmly, then wiped it with
another leaf. Doodhwala ji poured the milk and the kitty's wait was over. It
was kitty’s Independence Day celebration.
Around
the colony one could see National Flags fluttering. Some are even lighting
their homes in the tri-colour theme. Am looking forward to participating in the
Independence Day function.
A
couple had come to the bus stop to leave their daughter. A dainty little girl,
she was. I was wearing a camo T shirt and a veterans cap. Her Dad said, ‘beta
fauji Uncle, Jai Hind bolo’. My-My, the way she blushed, lifting her water bottle
strap in her mouth. Then gathered courage, stamped her leg and saluted me and
said ‘Jai Hind’. I too stood at shun and saluted her back, with a Jai Hind.
The
spirit is there to see and the tempo is building up and why not. After all it
is our Independence Day and we definitely should celebrate it. I am happy to be
alive to celebrate it.
Wish
you all a very happy 75th Happy Independence Day. ‘Har Ghar
Tiranga’ and let me add ‘Har Dil main Tiranga’ should always be kept. What do
you say? I wonder!!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© NOEL ELLIS
Comments
Post a Comment