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| Representational photo of small tableaus on The Ridge, Shimla Source: Google Images |
Sitting atop an
Electricity Board tableau that had the permission to drive through the
generally restricted The Ridge and The Mall in Shimla, my 4-5 years old self back in the eighties understood
nothing about republic or the need to celebrate it.
A small procession that began from the old
Telegraph building up to the Christ Church
and the perk of a good refreshment was enough to get me excited about
it.
That year the theme
was how electricity had changed lives in remote areas and the moment the bulb
hanging on my head was to be lit , I had to give excited expressions sitting
there with a book.
All the
"artists" were chosen from the residential complex of the board for
ease of access.
Cause and effect are
such a strange phenomenon, what we think is the cause might be the effect of
something previous to it.
For decades I had
completely forgotten about this but now
as I struggle to pinpoint the meaningfulness of a republic or its celebration,
the memories are back.
My father's family
paid a huge price of freedom in 1947 and lived for years with the label
"refugees" from across the border. Home was always a very fluid
concept for them.
I spent a large part
of my life in the hills and in some parts of my state democracy or republic has
still not changed quality of life services much.
The city I live in
now, the glorious capital is struggling to find clean water and fresh air. The disparity between the "haves" and the "have nots" we overlook everyday because we are all helpless in its face.
" Things are
changing" is such a lame argument because I feel my 7 years old girl is
still as unsafe as my grandmother was in 1947.
Yes I am the
sceptic, I am alright with being labelled
"naysayer" for asking the cause and effect questions, for
asking what use is a latest radar to me if I don't have clean air.
To me glorifying the
soldier without his human rights is pseudo, to me the façade of a republic
where all voices are not equal is a sham.
I was reading Emil Cioran earlier and I so relate to - I
feel completely detached from any country, any group. I am a metaphysically
displaced person.
PS: I will do a
follow up post for all the trolls labelling me "traitor" after this,
if need be.