Musings and Missings of Independence Day

When AR Rahman said, "Yun toh sukh hai barse, par door tu hai apne ghar se", it hurt.

I am writing this piece on August 15, 2022, sitting within the closed walls of my room in Delhi, which hardly receives any sunlight (I somehow metaphorise sunlight with hope, which my room receives none of with I being the sole resident). "Yeh Jo Desh Hai Tera" is playing in my ears and I am reminiscing the good old days of the different phases of Independence Day I have been through.

PHASE 1

Until Class 10, Independence Day was primarily about me visiting my school to either give a speech, act as Mahatma Gandhi, or simply collect Independence Day toffees.

I also remember acting as Lord Buddha once.

Buddha must be turning in his grave, for sure.

Oops, he already had his moment, NIRVANA.

It was also about running down to my nearby field to glimpse the flag hoisting, standing behind the barricades. But more than the flag hoisting, I was fascinated by the firing of the guns that used to take place as a mark of respect to the freedom fighters. The only chance to see a real gun being fired That was a weird fantasy, but I get it.

I also remember waiting for our Prime Minister to hoist the flag in Red Fort, but wasn't interested in speeches, as I was hardly able to grasp any. But the Republic Day parade has a special place in my heart. I guess that's with most of us. Waking up early in the morning, getting glued to the television and not missing a single moment until both the President and PM leave was a yearly agenda, until Youtube arrived and I left for a different city, staying in a PG with no television.

PHASE 2

Independence Day, during my two years of my senior secondary schooling, was all about attending quizzes. Quizzes on the freedom movement, history, culture, and what not. As I write it now, I miss quizzing on Independence Day and reminisce about the good old memories.

This was Gyaan Bharti, an open India quiz organised by the Govt. of Assam. We, despite being a school team, managed to score one of the highest in the prelims, but finished 5th among 8 teams.

That's Unmilan. My partner for the day as well as my partner in crime during the school quizzing days. We travelled for quizzes, competed against each other, and made memories.

This was the year next.

Independence Day hence became synonymous with quizzing for me for some years until I left Delhi for my college education.

 

PHASE 3

I don't specifically have memories of Independence Day during my college days, as I belonged to the COVID batch. In the first year of college, I did visit India Gate and Raisina Hills on the eve of Independence Day, but the later years were spent at home. Hence, I was back home, visiting the same playground, standing behind the barricades and watching the guards fire weapons. #Throwback

PHASE 4

It's 2022 now and I am no longer in college but in Delhi.

But thanks to my habit of reading The Hindu, I came to know about the Delhi govt. opening the premises of the Delhi Legislative Assembly to the common public for 2 days on the eve of Independence Day.

 

It seemed like a plan! I informed two of my friends, and they decided to accompany me.

I am out of my lane after a month. I love the weather today.

Wide angle camera has its own perks.

The Delhi sky sometimes is the most beautiful thing. Today, it was.

I fall in love with the architecture of the building.

The best part of the visit was actually going inside the Legislative Assembly, where the debates and discussions take place. I am bamboozled by the interiors, the complete setup, and the seating. I do feel sad about them not allowing us to click pictures and hence try to grasp each of the moments inside.

 

 

I remembered that MKT was nearby. I take my friends and visit Rigos to have Thukpa, Thentuk, and some pan-fried momos. Obviously, you cannot miss Laphing when you are in MKT. 

PHASE 5?

I have no idea if there's a next phase, and if there's one, what it would be.

What I know is that my routine Independence Day playlist consisting of Yeh Jo Desh Hai Tera, Jagao Mera Desh, and Vande Mataram is here to stay.

 

Until then, I will yearn to leave behind the four walls of my chamber, through which hope (read: sunlight) barely ever shines. That, for the time being, will be my independence.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!