What Independence Day Means to Me.

As far back into my memory as i can go, i remember independence day as a period of a few days, comprising of a flag hoisting formality at school on the 13th or on the 14th, my dad going for dinner at the officers' mess on the 15th and for some reason i have a memory of eating tri coloured ice cream on one of these days as well.



The flag hoisting formality at school over the years got a new meaning with each passing year. While i was in my primary classes at school there used to be my favourite toffee - Aam Ras or Mango Bite, that used to fall from the folded flag at the top of the pole, when the principal tugged on the rope to unfurl the flag. After a few years, when i moved into the middle school wing, our teachers thought that we had become too big to be jumping around the pricipal for toffees so the flag just dropped rose petals this time.Dissapointing.

A little further up into my middle school , i had joined the NCC as a cadet. Having newly learnt how to salute, i would salute during the flag hoisting ceremony.Proudly.

As i entered high school, i had my last memorable independence day.It was around that time when i realised i had a love for being an anchor or the MC in school events. I had been chosen to be the MC for the independence day celebrations. The primary class students had prepared a fancy dress with 'The struggle for independence' as their theme. The flag hoisting ceremony took place and for the 1st time - i also had to hear the principal's speech! Then..

The Fancy Dress : (girl) from 1st B as Rani Lakshmi Bai (round of applause)

(boy) from 3rd C as Gandhi ji (another round of applause)

______ as Jawaharlal Nehru. I didn't have his name on the list. Oh God..!! I quickly turned around to ask a nervous little boy about to take the stage, - Whats your name??



He was quick to reply - I am Jawaharlal Nehru.

The event however overall went off well. There were refreshments distributed towards the end.



In the years that followed i havn't attended another flag hoisting ceremony. I had started bunking the morning assembly in the 11th and 12th. In college - i bunked classes. I dint even know if we had a morning assembly or a flag hoisting ceremony for independence day at all.

On this independence day, messaging was 1 rupee 20 paise against the usually subsidised rate of 25 paise. Travelling in Delhi was risky. Bomb blast scares. No tri coloured ice cream. Unhealthy food colour apparently. No dinner at the officers' mess either since my dad is on study leave. However it was a nice long weekend at home this time. Relaxed and Fun.