An Old man and Republic Day
Posted : January 30, 2006 at 6:00 am [IST]
Alpana telephoned me to seek my blessings on dual anniversaries of her birthday and marriage. She did also ask me what I did on the Republic Day. I am alone these days in Salt Lake waiting for the contractors to do a badly needed painting of my premises. I couldn’t reply to her at that moment. But when I started writing what I did, it appeared I must share it with all.
I did go for my morning walk in ‘Ban Bitan’. At its gate, some enthusiastic sales men of ICICI Bank made me learn about some of their products. And while returning, I bought three newspapers thinking there might be some interesting ‘masala’. While ‘Telegraph’ and ‘The Statesman’ had the usual features, ‘Indian Express’ carried some interesting features on the projects of national importance that I had been wishing media to do for long. It was interesting rather impressive to see so many good informative features in one go. The front page had stories on-
India’s unique equivalent of the Suez and Panama canals- Sethusamudram canal project, joining the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal costing Rs 2500 crore. Perhaps, the freight and time saving will justify the project.
Hyderabad International Airport that is coming up fast. Perhaps this will be the first world-class airport in India that we feel bad about.
Mumbai shipbuilding yard that is building the navy ships with stealth technology.
Bhuj rebuilt after the horrendous 2001 earthquake’s total devastation
Challenging railway line project connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of India. Will the project integrate Kashmir with India?
Story of ONGC- the giant oil company becoming more famous because of Subir Raha, its CEO
Again the OP-ED page had some more-
Dream GQ road project work in Bihar that is certainly the transportation sector of the country
Sarb Siksha Abhiyan in an UP district. Without education we can’t dream to become a global knowledge power.
Bangalore International Airport under construction, made famous because of Narayana Murthy and Devaghowda episode
Delhi Metro project going ahead with phase II work that makes the whole nation feel proud.
And then I switched to TV. I didn’t enjoy the Republic Day parade on TV, as it was being covered only on National channel and the transmission quality was very poor. I switched to CNN-IBN and watched a show unique in every respect- ‘All the President’s Children’. Our great President was answering questions and talking to a cross-section of students from schools from all over India who have gatheered in Mughal Garden. This man single handedly had done so much of PR work for making the country developed. Even if he can ignite 1% of the students he meets, the country’s tomorrow seems to be bright. His answer to reduce corruption with help of children is one that I, at one time, thought the only way out. I found this programme organized and anchored by Anubha Bhonsle on the Republic day as the best one. I don’t know if the channel-CNN-IBN can get me a CD. They must make CD of similar programmes. Many like me shall like to buy it for collection.
I couldn’t take my lunch. Rice was overcooked. I couldn’t complain as well. I had a plan to go with my friend to the Bidhan Nagar Mela to take some snaps of the Chinese items on sale, but dropped the idea.
In evening again I switched on TV. And I liked two programmes and watched them seriously and full. After many years, I could hear to some good recitation of Bangla poems by one TV celebrity. And from 9.30 PM onwards, I watched Rajdeep Sardesai and Yogendra Yadav conducting the programme ‘State of Nation’ on CNN-IBN that was being telecast live from Humayun Tomb, New Delhi. Many celebrities such as Fali Nariman, Kiran Bedi, Rathore, Meghnad Desai were on the panel. It was based on a survey conducted throughout the country. It was revealing and informative too. I shall write about it or you may read it on www.ibnonline.com.
This is the way the day ended.
- Indra
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