HAR DIL MAIN TIRANGA

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 75^th 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 75^th 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

Comments

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