Happy Independence Day

(Caption for above pic: India-the 'Spices' of life)

Thought for the day: Freedom is too precious to be wasted on spreading negative, unproductive and harmful thoughts. ……Lulu Centre, UAE

Happy Independence Day, everyone. I’ve been getting smses, emails, wishes et al from various people. It’s always good to see everyone in a festive, joyous mood. But, tell me, how many people really know what the Day is all about? Just that we got Independence from Britain on this day, right? Some might remember the year, 1947. Others will remember that it’s 60 years since we got it, since the papers are saying it. School children who have the Freedom Movement as their syllabus, will remember data which they’ve crammed in their minds, but, only as a syllabus, not imagining the scenes as they happened. People will watch the patriotic movies on TV, and say’ what a nice piece of work’ and remember the director and actors.

But, what efforts went into making it happen? What efforts are we making to say that we are proud to be independent, that we want to be one of the best nations in the world, that we want to take Takkar with Uncle Sam, and, see a day when a rupee equals 50 dollars or more. Instead, I still keep reading about people setting fire to buses, or, smashing up a magazine office(Yesterday’s news about Shiv Sena v/s Outlook), riots, curfews….I mean, is this what freedom is all about?
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Changing the topic: Here, both the main newspapers, Gulf News and Khaleej Times have come out with fantastic supplements on this occasion. The Gulf News one had a quiz, which (I sheepishly admit) I could answer only 4 out of 20 questions. Want a try? (without googling,first)

1.Who designed the Indian flag?
2.They were referred to as the Tirunelveli Twins by Indian freedom fighters and the British. Who were they?
3.When did the Salt Satyagraha take place?
4.Who led the Salt March in South India?
5.In which year did the Jallianwala bagh massacre take place?
6.When was Bengal first partitioned?
7.Where were Gandhiji’s bloodstained garments stored after his assassination?
8.Where was Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad born?
9.Name the oldest Indian English newspaper established by Indians?
10.In which year was the Indian National Congress founded?
11.What does the word Satyagraha mean?
12.Who is the founder of the daily Swadesamitran?
13.Who was knon as Deshbandu among the Indian freedom fighters?
14.What was the precursor to the Indian National Army formed by Subhash Chandra Bose?
15.Who proclaimed ‘Swaraj is my/ our(?) birthright’?
16.What was the name of the shipping company established by V.O.Chindambaram Pillai?
17.Which famous trio beloned to the first army of Indian, and were handed?
18.Mukthi for the soul is freedom from all foreign bondages while Mukthi for a nation is freedom from all foreign control. Who said this?
19.Where did British Master strategist Robert Clive live?
20.Who was the first governor-general of India?
(Answers tomorrow)
If anyone answers 5+ without googling, hats off to you. Answers coming up next time.
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Smile of the day came from Mr. Laloo Yadav’s quote in the same magazine:Quote
“My mother always told me not to handle by it’s tail but by it’s horns. And, I have always used that lesson in everything in my life, including Indian Railways.” Unquote.

I was just imagining first, the literal part of it- Lalooji, in front of a bull, instead of the back, grabbing it’s horns…Grin grin…
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Interesting captions this time,again.

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I just read on 123greetings. Tomorrow is: Tell a Joke Day. It's also, 'True love forever' day.

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End joke:

"Janet," asked the Sunday school bible teacher, "Tell the class,please, who was the first man?" "I'd rather die first!" she snapped.

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Till next time, keep smiling.