Warm wishes to all my readers on the occasion of Baisakhi ! Belated Happy Gudi Padwa/ Ugaadi too ! In this diverse and unique country named India, in this largest democracy of the world, in this land with almost 22 prominent languages and around 10 practicing and vibrant religions, we welcome the celebration of each festival with equal fervor and dignity of all. May all your troubles be behind you, may there be the joy and enthusiasm of the fresh harvest, may the advent of the summer be of value and may peace togetherness and love prevail ever!!
Some divine justice seems to have been working in the timing of all these events and religious sentiments. I am certain that in other parts of the world too there must be certain rituals for this time of the year. This homogenous attribute is the legacy of the human race, a race that was created to be one and to be together. But, we have been separated on the grounds of caste, creed, religion, colour! And look how desperately we still seek each other to remain together and one, and on discovering our own attributes find that in the truest sense the distance was never too large to traverse, or the boundary too large to cross. I marvel at the compassion that we bear towards each other here on this platform. I marvel at the concern, affection and care that we extend to those whom we hardly know. I marvel how individuals unknown become known. This is true comradeship and no, not in the communistic manner, but in its desire for holding and bearing for the other. This is remarkable and why am I speaking about all this is because even after flying seven seas and coming this far from my home country, I still feel at home and how, by the kind of warmth shown by people here, the kind of communication we have with our loved ones , friends and family worldwide. Its human nature to stay in a colony and not in isolation and we do it every time unknowingly and stick to each other as one.
Unity in India can definitely be seen sky rocketing during “Cricket Matches” ! Well I don’t literally mean rockets being burst in the sky in jubilant mood after winning matches, but the kind of emotion it brings through when we win! We get serious when the players are serious, we play with them, we strategize with them, we abuse commercial ads, we reiterate the “commentators”, well we act as commentators too ! We plan our day in such a way that we just don’t seem to have any calls, hindrances during the match. And the best part, nature calls are also attended as per our wish and not nature’s wish ;). Offices arrange for a Big Screen display with snacks and refreshments, reason: employee turnout on the day of matches should not be zero! And then if it’s an Indo Pak match , I better not write anything further.. history says it all ! Now, when MSD hit that 6 and brought home the cup , did we really think who all are with us while we yelled with moist eyes, did we think person beside us is a friend , foe, scheduled caste, different religion follower etc. No we were not at all bothered by all such crap. So why does it bother us at other times? Wont try to debate this over and the topic of discussion will not divert itself from the victory of World Cup. But with IPL going on ..this is such a bizarre situation. How soon sentiments shift from national to personal teams, from rooting for those they wanted to win, now against them. Rivals for last month, team mates for the next! And though the streets are no longer jammed with enthusiastic revelry, the minds are, the joyous mood retains its vigor. God bless them, their effort and the effort of the entire team. And God bless India. 11 Indians have invigorated an entire nation of almost a billion and half, and perhaps, why perhaps, definitely in other parts of the world too with their dedication.
A prominent author and thinker on a public platform admitted that sport and film were the two most fertile ingredients in bringing this nation together. Nothing could be truer. They always were and shall always be, a unifier !
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