Oct 02, 2006 09:42 AM
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Respected Gandhiji,
Warm regards. And Happy Birthday. Okay…you’re no more amongst us….so what? Can’t we wish you Happy Birthday? Today, we are supposed to remember you and your contributions towards securing India’s freedom. You know…I was born a good 25 years after you had left this world, but I still remember that on this day we wore khadi, wrote essays and answered quizzes on you and sang ‘raghupati raghava raja raam’ in school. I am not very sure if the trend is being followed nowadays. Someone told me a remix version of this song…….... Sorry. Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. You know…something exciting happened recently. The principles which were very dear to you were eulogized in a humourous Hindi movie, just a few days back. Many young people did not know about you until they watched the movie …no..no ...not their fault. Most still do recognize your face on a 500 rupee note. At least they now know that you were, sorry…you ARE the Father of the Nation. And that you somehow managed to browbeat the mighty British Empire into abject submission. Non violently of course. And that you were soft spoken and good natured, and always spoke the truth. No mean achievement ….no ..no…not for you! For those who have still managed to remember some of the things shown in the movie. You know…your ideologies are back in fashion! At least in speech if not in thought and action.
Well Gandhiji. So much for now. Don’t worry, All those 40’s 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s born people still remember you with reverence and gratitude. Most of them still stand up and observe a 2 minute silence on 30th January every year. I know…you don’t really care if anybody remembers you on not…….
Sincere regards once more.
Until next year.
70’s born Indian
October 2, 2006
