Dosto, Jai Hind!

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.”
- Jawahar Lal Nehru, 14th August, 1947, nearing midnight

I have never been so excited about Independence Day ever in my life. I am well aware nothing's going to be different about the day in Qatar.

There will be no children at traffic signals selling paper-made small national flags, there won't be celebration, there won't be a national holiday.

When I was in India, I took all this for granted. And no matter how cliche it sounds, I'm going to miss it. I know every Indian when he goes abroad suddenly turns overtly patriotic. I understand why now.

Whatever said, not a single Indian I'll believe if he tells he doesn't get goosebumps when he hears the national anthem play, not a single Indian, no matter in which part of the world, will I believe if he tells me the blood in his veins doesn't run faster when it comes upon the Indian Flag, when the matter, even the smallest of issue, comes upon India.

It's after I left it, I realise how amazing India is. Without it's flaws, it woulnd't be India. The flaws - the corruption, the cheating beggars, the pot-holed roads, make India perfect... they make India real.

All of the government officials I had to bribe to get my work done faster, who I used to get angry at, are making me smile now. They are sooooo cute. Irritating, but whatever.

Let Qatar go on today the way it normally does. Let the people not even be aware a country, across the sea, is rejoicing.

Deep within, I know, it's 9.30 Qatar time. Which means, the clock has struck 12 in India. And It's time for me to start my 24-hour long continuously playing National Anthem on my computer.

Hindustani Naam Humara Hai!

Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha
Dravida Utkala Banga
Vindhya Himachal Yamuna Ganga
Ucchala Jaladhi Taranga
Tubh Shubha Name Jage
Tubh Shubha Ashisha Mange
Gahe Tubh Jaya Gata
Jan Gan Mangal dayak Jay He Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
Jaye He !
Jaye He !
Jaye He !
Jaye, Jaye, Jaye, Jaye He

Have fun all you guys!