THE NATIONAL FLAG OF INDIA is in tricolour (TIRANGA) of deep saffron (Kesari) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal propotions. The Indian flag is a horizontal tricolour in equal proportion of deep saffron on the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom. The ratio of the width to the length of the flag is two is to three. In the centre of the white band, there is a wheel in navy blue to indicate the Dharma Chakra, the wheel of law in the Sarnath Lion Capital. This center symbol or the 'CHAKRA', is a Buddhist symbol dating back to 200th century BC. Its diameter approximates the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes, which intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation. The saffron stands for courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation; the white, for purity and truth; the green for faith and fertility. The design of the National Flag of India was adopted by India's constituent assembly on 22nd july, 1947. It's use and display are regulated by a code. The flag symbolizes freedom. The late Prime Minister Pandit Nehru called it a flag not only of freedom for ourselves, but a symbol of freedom for all people.

As I was rushing to get ready for office today (I am living in Kuwait, so no holiday for India’s Republic Day), I tuned the TV to watch the Republic day live telecast on Doordarshan.

Fortunately, I was right on time to watch the flag hoisting live and immediately the national anthem was played.

There is something in the national anthem.   As I was hearing the anthem and standing in attention as a mark of respect, I could feel a wave filled with patriotism, elation, jubilation and happiness.  This wave, with the proud feeling  that I am an Indian passed through my veins.  The adrenalin just pumps up whenever I hear the national anthem played.

I have also experienced a similar feeling even when listening to that wonderful song of A R Rahman “தாய் மண்ணே வணக்கம் – Maa Tuje Salaam” in his famous album “Vande Mataram”.  (The other patriotic song that captivates me is “Saare Jahan Se Acha”).

Republic day celebrations are something we used to look forward to in our childhood.

In the 70s there was no television in Chennai.  So no live telecast of republic day parades.  We used to go to the Marina Beach Road (now Kamarajar Salai) wearing an Indian flag on our shirt, to join the eager and disciplined crowd that stood on either side of the road to watch the contingent that consisted of floats of various states, districts, colorful parade of children from various schools besides the army, navy and airforce.

Some years later, TV made its entry in Chennai but still live relays had not started.  In the initial years, telecast were in black and white.  As we only got to see some soundless clippings of the Republic day celebrations the 8 o’ clock news, read by either Mrs. Shobana Ravi or Mr. H Ramakrishnan in Tamil and Mr. Ramakrishna in English, it was not that exciting to watch it on the television.

We were told by some of our relatives living in Delhi that the best to watch was the Republic day parade in New Delhi.  I had to wait till 1982 to get my first glimpse of that.  What a colorful and memorable experience it turned out to be.  Indian Government had allowed liberal import of color televisions for New Delhi Asiad Games and one of my wealthier friend’s father had imported a color television at that time.  I saw the live telecast of the celebrations in that television.

That experience was so wonderful that I made it a point to watch the republic day celebrations year after year on television without fail, live.

Though in 1988, I moved to New Delhi and with little more effort I could have easily watched the parade live, I continued to watch the parade on television for two reasons.  1) the hassles of passing through the tight security and 2) the severe cold climate that is prevalent during January.  (Looking back, I consider that I should have made that effort and braved the cold and watched it live)

In 2002, I moved out of both Delhi and India. Though moving out of India has denied me the opportunity of watching the celebrations live,  I still make it a point to record the program and watch it later in the day after I return from the office.

Seeing the gallantry awards presentation to the deceased military officers and jawans makes you think about their heroic efforts, courage and selfless actions.  Your heart goes out to their families.  Though their families might be suffering from their loss, I am sure they will be highly proud as they hear the citation for the award in the public address system.   You hear the public clapping for these heroes.  However, somehow I felt they get much lesser applause than they deserve and virtually nothing when compared to the reel life heroes and the charismatic politicians.

On this special occasion of sixtieth republic day of India following are the leaders who made India the Republic that it is:

1. All the freedom fighters, well known and not so well known, without whom we would not have got Independence without which India would not have become a republic state

2. Sardar Valabhai Patel, who united the various big and small monastries as states of India and gave us the “unity amongst diversity” distinction.  It is amazing what this man achieved as home minister in just about three and half years.

3. Dr. B R Ambedkar for the unique and distinct constitution for the Country that gives us freedom of speech and secularism (it is another matter that the word “secular” is being misinterpreted by the vote grabing politics prevalent in the country)

4. The war heroes of 1962 (Indo-China), 1965, 1971, 1999 (Indo-Pak) who contributed to India remaining a free state

5. The common man who has shown enormous tolerance and resilience has lived with the difficulties and short comings as the country struggled its way to become a force to reckon with in the world map.

Happy republic day to you!

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