Swatantrata Diwas 2008

The Occasion: India's 61st Independence Day, August 15 2008.
The Location: Residence of the Indian Ambassador to The U.S., Washington DC
The People: Two room mates.
The Time: 09:30 AM
The Clothes: Designer Kurtas from Fab India, New Delhi.
The Stomach: Empty - probably making grudging noises ready for churning something, anything!
The Heart and Mind: Full of Indian pride; effervescent with patriotic songs.
The Bladder: Full; given the 100 minute commute from Fairfax, VA.



Ambassador Ronen Sen's official residence shares the boundary with the Washington DC Zoo - hardly a surprise given how Indians were looked at during the cold war era (Read here how Nixon and Kissinger viewed the Iron lady of the subcontinent). The building is less than impressive given how much India's relations have improved with the only existing Super Power. However, Indians being Indians (whatever that means), there was hardly any security around. The guards greeted us with folded hands and just asked for our IDs (not bothering to check if my bag had C4 explosives). I thought we were early for the 10 AM ceremony, but to our surprise, the place was humming with close to a 100 people.


After getting in line to use the only bathroom for a crown of 250+ people, my room mate and I found the first available seats. The crowd was full of Indians from all over, however, the occasional V-desi could be spotted from time to time. 10 minutes before the national anthem was to begin, people started crowding and blocked our view of the chief guest. This was the view from seat - a lot of buttocks staring unashamedly at me while I tried singing Jana Gana Mana with full concentration.


The National Anthem done, the stomach took over from the mind and the heart. Somehow, I had come with the anticipation of getting good Indian food - they would have Samosas at least, I had told myself. To my disappointment, they served fluids which would only make the bladder work on the way back. No, thank you!

This kid was more than excited about getting a flag and riding on top of his dad's shoulders. I must say her mother did do a fantastic job of wearing a crisp green saree. I am guessing the American to be someone who "needs to show his face" for the event as part of his job profile.

I chatted briefly with another US citizen who happened to be an US Navy officer. He kept looking at his watch with an impatient, disgusted look from time to time and was visibly not happy being where he was that morning.

"I am the liaison between the Indian navy and the US navy - so I had to be here .... Why are these people standing in front? Why can't there be better crowd management? ..... You know, India has more bureaucracy than the US and I was surprised to find that out after working in Washington for years - there is really a lack of good brains at the right levels there".

As I thought about what he said, I asked him if he meant that the "lack of good brains at the right level" referred to the Indian Navy buying most of the weapons from Russia and not from the US. He looked at me, raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"I like India and I am going there in November. Do you understand the song they are singing right now?"

I did not press the issue.


Aha, I had never seen anything like this before. This poor chap was holding the flag for a good 45 minutes (and maybe more) since it did not occur to anyone that the flag could be unfurled at the top rather than being hoisted from the ground (the way its done in most parts of India and certainly how its done on the Red Fort). One reason I conjured up on the fly: Its probably the way we generate employment.


As the singers dressed in vivid colored clothing sang various nationalistic songs, I hung around until Saare Jahan se Achcha came around. On my way back, I wondered if I really meant what I was singing but I do certainly hope that the optimism of poet Iqbal comes true some day...soon!

Amen to that. And Jai Hind.