Are You Proud To Be An Indian?

I watched a wonderful skit yesterday on the celebration of Republic Day of India.

The group emphasized the principles of Ghandiji:

Duty - duty towards the land and its people. One should always be ready to serve to in any form or capacity for the betterment of its society.

Truth - Ending corruption which is eating away at the heart and soul of a country. To strive to be truthful and to fight corruption for the betterment of the society.

Pride - Taking pride in who you are, where you came from and taking pride in ending poverty, educating each and every person and providing health care to all.

Sacrifice - Remembering and honouring the great leaders who fought to bring independence to the country. Being ever ready to sacrifice to protect the country when required.

Love - The one word that holds so much promise, to love each and every memeber who resides in India, regardless of religion, caste and colour. To work together in harmony to make India the best country in the 21st century.

Each of the principles ended by asking a question Are you Proud to be an Indian?

How many of us can live by this principle and say with pride Yes, I am proud to be an India?

The Flag of India and its Dishounour

On February 1st 2009, we attended a celebration of Republic Day of India at convention centre locally organized by Panorama India organization. At the entrance to the parking lot we found a protest going on. A group of people had gathered and they had were delaying vehicles from entering the lot. Eventually when they let the vehicle enter, they made sure the vehicle drove over a flag of India laid out on the tarmac. The group was protesting against injustices against Sikhs, Christians and other minorities in India.

I wonder if this people realized that they were dishonoring the flag of the country they came from. Wouldn't a dignified protest achieve more symphaty towards their cause than the disgusting step they decided to use. India's independence was achieved by the struggle of Bapu...Mahatma Ghandi. Did Mahatama Ghandi ever resort to or encourage such tactics to protest against the British rule?

The flag of India has Ashoka Chakra in it's centre. Centuries ago different kingdoms were united by the legendary king Ashoka. Men learnt to live together in peace, they learnt to fight the common enemy togehter, yet today when we should strive to work together to make a country a better place every Indian, whether he is Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian or any persecuted soul, we are resorting to divide and destroy a country in name of religion or other difference.

I was born in Kenya, my parents were born in India. I lived in England before coming to Canada, and yet I too feel deeply upset at the actions of the few who can stoop so low to dishonour the flag of India.