Like every year, this Republic Day, I sat in front of the TV watching the ceremony.

The flames of Amar Jawan Jyoti amidst the winter fog, the dignitaries arriving in their splendid cars, the pride of the nation; our armed forces; all in attention, the hoisting of the tri-colour, the perfectly co-ordinated contingents marching on the RajPath, the colourful tableau of all the states, etc.

But is our nation actually this colourful and serene? 

Since the beginning of this year, the nation has had to face the brunt of the Pathankot attacks, the Malda riots, the unfortunate suicide of Rohith Vemula, the imposition of President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and what not.
This is a clear indicator that we are still caught in the trap of caste-system, intolerance, aggression and dissatisfaction.

While we are becoming so international, that our Prime Minister is almost always abroad and a foreign nation's troups are marching with us on our Republic Day, what is actually happening within our domestic territory?

We have still not come out our stereotypes and prejudices. We are still fighting for basic equality. 

We have still not attained perfect religious tolerance. We have not achieved anything that our fore-fathers dreamt of some 67 years ago!!

We must go beyond 'symbolic patriotism'. Saluting the flag and singing the anthem for one day is not strengthening our nationalism. We seriously need peace, tolerance, open mindedness and mutual feeling of respect. This might be a cliche in words but very rare in practice.

We have immense potential. We deserve to be much more than what we are. Let's not let our diversity be a hinderance to progress. Respect humanity, respect law.

                                                  HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY