Sitting at Narita Airport in Tokyo. Thinking about my country and my people. The people of India. It’s Republic Day today in India.
The people of India ?
Is there another country on this planet with people as diverse as ours ? And while we constantly speak and complain about differences and conflicts, today must be a day to celebrate that diversity. The fact that despite the diversity we have clung to one nation even though everything threatens to tear us apart everyday.
Why ? Because India is more than a country. It is an Idea. An Idea that was born as a reaction to being colonized, to being enslaved by colonial power for centuries. As long as the Idea survives, India survives. They day we let go of that idea, we might as well let go of India.
Shekharji,
No other country in the world is such as it ours. I am not saying it just because I am an Indian.
Your are rightly said, India is not just a country. It is more than that. It is an idea. I like your expression.
Shekharji,
Today on Republic Day, one idea occurs in my mind.
Would you like to develope a script on India is an idea ?
India is indeed an Idea. Happy Republic Day to you!
Sir,
As u mentioned about the india being country with a great deal of diversity i surelly agree with u but idea of colonization is something i wanna ameliorate ,thing is that as a result of diversity it is not just the way of living , languages etc are different bu the way they think is also differnt and as a result we had revolts and all those things not necessary, check out the news regarding telengana issue u ll understand what i abt to say
Many many happy returns of the day Republic India.
Jai Ho!
I recently read an essay by mukul kesavan where he defines this unique plurality of India where we can be collectively plural. Even in US, though there is the freedom to be individually different, there is still one definition of being an American.The acceptance of the black community in the mainstream came long after they had left their African roots and identities at the galleys. You see that happening to the States for the first time, the rise of a group of people who have their own language, Spanish, their own TV channels, and yet call themselves Americans. the tension is palpable and I have heard some American friends complain that everyone should speak English to be called American.
And yet so comfortably we have slipped between our so many identities, beyond the linguistic ones, and yet been Indians.
For me that is the beauty of the idea of India. That it can take so many shapes, like water, fill so many jars of identities and still never lose its watery essence.
Shekhar
You really appreciate Bharat Ma when you leave her shores , meet other socities Am I blessed to have the taste of Bharat Ma values Just unconditional love
shivaparvati_3@hotmail.com
ofcourse its time to celebrate diversity i m reading a quite impressive article on L K Advani blog about India. Many countries which get independence with India or after India why not they are democrats and why only we suceed in it.
Its ofcourse the love towards the diversity and motherindia.
Jai Hind
…India is a spirit…nothing can touch, belonging to no one
Shekharji,
Osho says, “India is not just a geography or history. It is more than that. It is something invisible a metaphor,a poetry. It carries the vibrations that no other country in the world can claim.”
Been listening to a lot of Indian music last week, like Kishore Kumar, Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Zakir Hussain et al. Can anything even come close to it in melody, sophistication and the depth of expression of the most intimate?
One has to be blessed to be a part of the sacred land called India. Let’s hope that a new order brings about the unification and refinement of the Indian society in a way that it can be a model for the rest of the world.
THE INDIAN PLEDGE:
India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters.
I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage.
I shall always strive to be worthy of it.
I shall give my parents, teachers and all elders, respect, and treat everyone with courtesy.
To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion.
In their well being and prosperity alone, lies my happiness.
Jai Hind! Vande Maataram!
Shekhar I couldn’t agree with you more. India is a nation to be proud of. Long live that Idea – it certainly makes up a large and significant part of the diversity you speak about.
India is not an Idea. Ideas donot arise and exist in thin air.
India is the result of a continious and grand living religion and civilization , that solved the human condition problem ages ago.
India is the Original Holy Land – ‘Punya Bhuma Bharat’.
The sages and the living faith of its peoples have withered Libel , Wrong education of its Children and Body harm from terrorists and imperialists of all sorts.
No Sir , India is not an Idea – it is the result of the living religion of India which not just allows but worships diversity – Diversity is India’s DNA.
The issue is how does India deal with exclusivistic Semetic Politico-Religious Forces ? Can it dissolve the immiscibles ?
When Islam becomes a Shirdi Sai Baba or an Abdul Kalam -in their integration and when Christianity becomes Diverse and gives up its Hindu-Hatred , with the creation of a genuine Indian Church which accepts Diversity , then we have hope.
India , as Independent India’s first Viceroy C. Rajagopalachari said ” is united by Rmayana and Mahabharata”. India as Sage Aurobindo declared ” Sanatan Dharma is the Nationalism of India”.
The sooner India tunes to itself -listens to its inner spirit , the better.
January 26th is Australia Day over here…some call it Invasion Day, the day the British invaded the land of the Aborigines!
Why ? Because India is more than a country. It is an Idea. An Idea that was born as a reaction to being colonized, to being enslaved by colonial power for centuries. As long as the Idea survives, India survives. They day we let go of that idea, we might as well let go of India.
Brilliant observation…really brilliant…i use to think about why we are losing the spirit,passion and pride day by day. i thought it is because of the American media manipulation to erase whatever looks ‘Indian’. When Rakesh mehra make a film where ‘Statue of liberty’ comes in Delhi which means US should rule India and when Burkha dutt says in NDTV that Indian should be grateful to British because they ‘gave’ us this English language. But what i thought is she never mentioned the ‘loot of precious resources of India by British to make their country rich. Now media propagates that they ‘gave’ language, is it a charity..? They invaded Indian and enslaved people and took everything from them and gave it back when they found out it is empty of blood and nothing more to take. Now, the Harvard feed news journalists says ‘they ‘gave’ the language. who told them to gave? . They taught English language with a special plan. They have done that for their own propaganda work, for making a generation with British values and Indian skin , which is manipulated still now by news and entertainment media funded and fed by American money.
America is a great place for science and art and i have great respect for scientist such as Einstein and Stephen Hawkins,filmmakers such as coppola and tarantino and the land got many other virtues. People of every nation are innocent but rulers are not.
i wrote this whole stuff just because i didn’t think about it in this way. India is an idea, an idea born and stirred up in the time of colonialism against people who colonized them. I too was losing my belief in India because majority of it people never think and act. They are following somebody else which even an ape can do…but they will again react when somebody took back their freedom again….India will e alive to extend that the idea is alive…..
with love..Vaishak….
To ‘truly’ celebrate India, find out who you are.Go within, do it.
I am reminded of these words I came across everyday, the first page in school text books. Also loved the chorus of national anthem by all students reverberating the school grounds.
“India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage. I shall always strive to be worthy of it.
I shall give respect to my parents, teachers and elders and treat everyone with courtesy.
To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their well being and prosperity alone, lies my happiness.
”
I indeed feel blessed and proud to belong to this land called India. The idea India lies in its soft power, a power that comes thru in the land’s diversity, in its colors, in its togetherness, in its cuisines, in its languages, in coexistence, and most importantly in its heritage
We have the ability to share and impact the hearts and minds of the world thru our culture,through food, music, technology, Bollywood. We are nomore the land of snake charmers but are now a force to be reckoned with, with our IT prwoess
Yes, I am glad, happy and blessed to belong to a rich and diverse civilization, in one that is determined to liberate and fulfill the creative energies of its people.
Shekhar ji,U had a program in IIT,Kharagpur-On 29 january,2010, at 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Guest Lecture by Mr. Shekhar Kapur on “What’s Creativity?” Director of Mr India ,Bandit Queen & two Oscar winning movies at TOAT.I met u that day at iit,kgp guest house and said U, I know that u r very good person, from my childhood I have a dream I will work in film industry, but I am in poor family so to earn money I lost my more age. now I am 30 years, but I never forget and leave my dream. I don’t want a permanent job or government job I want only a job in film industry. I passed B.A and now appeared 6sem MCA student under private mode. I agree to do hard labour and also agree to do any kind of job. For one week I went to Mumbay and try to enter
1. http://www.utvnet.com/
2. http://www.rajshri.com/
3. http://www.shemaroo.com
4. http://www.redchillies.com/home/index.asp
And other production houses. I have no one relative in film industry. My dream, Plan, future is to work in film industry. I am trying to enter there but always fail but I never fall to try. Please give me a job in your industry. I think u must replay because i am waiting in your answer and U said to me write here what I am saying. And promise me will do reply.
I think we need to look at the British rule in more positive light than what it’s perceived. In fact contrary to popular belief the British didn’t use the “divide and conquer” strategy to fragment India but rather to unite India as a soverign state. India was merely a conglomerate of princely states fighting with each other governed by Kings and Princes. It was the British who took the power away from the Prices and Kings help establish school system. railway and most importantly the concept of democracy. If it wasn’t for British India would have been still ruled by petty Kings and Prince like what we still see in the middle east where common people have no say in what so ever.
Sir ji i am interested your under work give me one chance.
thanks
your regard’s
gunwant singh
9967086023
an spanish speaks spanish, french citizen can speak french but in india people from N-E India cannot speak hindi, everybody speak thier regional language but a person from bihar is also equally an indian as one is from assam. this is the diversity of india
Dear Shekhar
Namaste! Hi, I’m Girish Paul, British producer of a new film featuring Mahatma Gandhiji. The script has been endorsed by a direct relative of Gandhiji, and I would very much like you assessment of the script with a view to directing. May I email you directly the details – I have spoken to Ms Beth Stofford in LA, but the agency appear not to wish to forward to script unless we sign away rights. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Warmest Regards, Girishbhai, UK