The document provides short descriptions of different types of people and how they observe Independence Day in India. It describes "The deshbhakti ke geet patriot" who loudly plays patriotic songs and lights incense. It also mentions "The movie buff patriot" who plans to watch patriotic movies on TV, "The 'I-don't-give-a-damn' patriot" who focuses on work or sleep, and "The cynical SMS patriot" who sends mocking Independence Day messages. The types showcase different ways people in India may choose to acknowledge the holiday.

1. I-Day special 11
assions that in 1946, Gandhi demanded the tournament be called off
t the freedom struggle that no one tells anymore.
hat witnessed the drama of independence up close All in a day’s work
on August 15
n a time Not everyone enjoys a holiday on Independence Day. For them it
will be another day in office, but with a little twist
MBAY Naval Dockyard
Mention the Naval
Dockyard and news
photographers will tell you
how daunting it is to shoot
She has to write three I-day speeches
VANDANA LULLA
Principal, Podar International School
W hile the rest of the nation celebrates
Independence Day on August 15 by
unfurling the tricolour once, Vandana Lul-
la, principal of Podar International
School, Santacruz, has to hoist the flag
three times.
With over 2,000 students, the school has
three Independence Day ceremonies
throughout the day. The principal not only
has to unfurl the flag in all of them, but
also give different speeches.
“I had to hit the history books last
month itself to prepare for my Indepen-
dence Day speeches. Writing one speech
is hard enough — I have to cross-check
ments — but writing three different
speeches for the same occasion becomes
very taxing. At the end of the day, I feel as
tired as a freedom fighter,” she says.
Preparations start a month in advance,
as she has to conduct auditions and re-
hearsals for plays, dances, and other ac-
tivities on Independence Day. “Every year
I take Independence day as an opportuni-
ty to test my skills as a playwright and
write scripts for the children,” she adds.
Motivating the students, teachers, as
well as the chief guests to attend the early
morning ceremonies is a tough task, she
adds. “I have to send an SMS to everyone
the night before and remind them not to
treat Independence Day as just another
holiday, but wake up early and attend the
at the place. Interestingly, facts, dates, names of the various move- functions,” says Lulla.
the image fits with what the
dockyard saw in 1946. It
was here that the famous
Naval Ratings Mutiny of
February 1946 was
organised. Poor working
Intense patrolling and stricter vigil
conditions incensed Indian NANDKUMAR CHOUGALE ploy our staff at Mantralaya, where there
sailors and they began Deputy commissioner of police, traffic will be a flag-hoisting ceremony at 9am.
greeting the British with a Since there will be a lot of VIP movement,
left-handed salute. Soon
riots broke out and the F or cops, I-day means more intensified pa-
trolling and stricter vigil to avert any un-
toward incident. DCP Nandkumar Chougale
we will constantly be on the move. This will
be followed by a flag-hoisting ceremony at
the Bombay high court,” he says, adding,
army was called in to
restore calm. The mutiny and his team have been busy preparing se- “For me, I-day has always meant duty first.
also spread to Calcutta, curity arrangements for I-Day for the last A holiday has never featured in my scheme
Madras and Karachi. one month. “I’ll begin my day at 6am and de- of things.”
Social activist and theatre
person Gerson da Cunha
remembers the fervour of
Balai Chandra Dutt, the
officer who was at the
forefront of the mutiny.
Play back what Nehru said in 1947
“Dutt trained warships at NEEIL this for the past few years.”
the harbour before working RJ, Red FM Last year, on this day, Neeil was part of
at the ad agency where we a simulcast between Mumbai and Kargil,
met. He often spoke about
how it was the one incident R J Neeil, who’s been a radio jockey for
over four years, jokes that he contin-
ues “looking for independence” on August
where fellow RJ, Mallishka, battled cold
and frostbite to interview soldiers from the
Indian army and give listeners a sense of
that finally sent out the
message to the British that 15. “I end up working on Independence how Independence Day was celebrated on
their days in India were Day,” he says. Neeil says that there aren’t the border.
indeed numbered,” any special play-lists with patriotic songs The conversations that Neeil has with
he says. drawn up for that day. However, the radio callers on this day could be spread across
station does a time machine’s job as it various topics, but are tweaked around a bit
ushers the day in style. “Each year, at the for some “contextual national flavour”. He
stroke of midnight on August 14, we play says, “Personally, I request my listeners not
the original speech that Jawaharlal to buy paper tricolour flags, if they are go-
Nehru read out in Parliament when India ing to throw them in the dustbin at the end
won independence. We have been doing of the day.”
—Salman Ansari.DNA
Activist who wants your chai ka paisa
HARISH IYER people at road-side tea shops. “Aaj chai ka
Social activist paisa isme dalo,” he would prod them,
showing them a donation box, and coax-
H arish Iyer, 31, is a social activist — a
campaigner for gay rights — who
makes the most of I-Day so far as his cause
ing them to skip their daily cup of cut-
ting chai. “With the money I collected, I
would buy food for an underprivileged
is concerned. “On August 15, I usually get person. I really support the idea of skip-
invited to deliver speeches at different in- ping a meal, or fasting, for a larger cause,”
stitutions and community gatherings,” he he says. He still continues the practice,
says. For several years, on August 14, Iyer though it does not remain confined to
would go around collecting money from special days alone.
She practises her salute all morning
NIVEDITA VIGRAHIM bate between the various ‘houses.’ The
Student, Jankidevi Public School house captains have to debate on important
political, social and economic issues plagu-
W hile the rest of the world sleeps,
Nivedita Vigrahim awakes at dawn,
wears a starched white kurta, and prac-
ing the country. All students write essays
and articles about the history of India, fo-
cusing on the freedom struggle, and make
tices her salute. speeches on their favourite freedom fight-
A student of Jankidevi Public School, er. “By the end of the day I am exhausted
Versova, she is the captain of her house from thinking and writing,” she says.
and has to lead the Independence Day pa- Being the house captain, the responsi-
rade at school. Leading the parade is no bility of winning the House Cup lies on her
Khilafat House easy task for this 12-year old. “I get really shoulders. “After the flag ceremony, we also
nervous during the parade. With the whole have the finals of the sporting events. We
atty rose to the Today, the white facade of Khilafat House stands quiet at Byculla’s Love Lane. school watching your every step, it be- try our best — participate in many events,
ere lathi-charged, Muslim students come here for bachelors, diploma and computer courses. But comes difficult to focus. My worst fear is run fast, balance lemon on our spoons, and
rs. back in 1919, the Non Cooperation Movement was launched from this very that I will salute with the wrong hand,” she finally, if we are lucky enough to win the
ght against those they building by Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali. Today, however, admits. House Cup, its like winning the freedom
eedom fighter, who was the only legacy it carries from the past is the annual procession it flags off on the The flag ceremony is followed by a de- struggle,” she says.
her and grandmother Prophet’s birthday.
c Vrinda Nabar. themag@dnaindia.net Reporting by Arcopol Chaudhuri, Poornima Swaminathan, and Puja Pednekar
e Hashtag patriot The deshbhakti ke geet The movie buff patriot The ‘I-don’t-give-a-damn’ The cynical SMS patriot
es up early morning on August 15
the ambition of sending out 400
patriot A couch potato, he has no plans patriot Forwards you an SMS early morning,
for Independence wishing you ‘HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY’.
ets with the #indianindependenceday This one thinks patriotism, no matter how Day, except This particular type is actually not a patriot Yes, all in caps. The message will be a
htag. Will mobilise other tweeple shallow, must be shown off. Therefore, the watching the at all. But since he’s contributing to our blend of a threat, a greeting and a mock
ter junta, that is) to do the same. speakers of his CD player will blare out regular fare on TV. GDP, we’ll make an exception. He’s either a reminder that although the country is free,
ted tweets will flow throughout the songs like Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon and Since he’s been sleep deprived workaholic or ‘show-must- cell-phone connectivity has still kept us
such as ‘Independence day is Mere Desh Ki Dharti. He will also light practicing this go-on’ professional. If he’s the former, he’ll bound in chains.
ding! Yippee!’ Will propose an incense sticks to give the day a religious regime for several catch up on lost sleep throughout the day,
smell, and give generous baksheesh to Most likely to text: ‘Idiots! If this was
pendence Day tweet-up years, he can wake up at 4pm wondering whether its Valentine’s Day or Friendship Day, you’d
ng that some women eunuchs who come begging for alms. easily blurt out dawn. If he’s the latter, he’ll come to office have sent out hundreds of messages to
following on Most likely to say: dialogues from and start fishing at Pirate Bay. your loved ones. Just because it’s
er turn up, and “Arey Jignesh! Mother India, Most likely to Independence Day,
ing about Volume bada kar!” Kranti, Lagaan, say: Either you won’t even bother
pendence but a (Increase the The Legend Of “Zzzzzzz” to call or message!
bout commitment volume) He will take Bhagat Singh and Gadar. Some scenes will or “I love Wake up, you @#$%!!
be discussed. his family out for a still make him reach for the tissue. coming to India won freedom on
t likely to tweet: movie later in the evening. Most likely to do: Scream like Sunny Deol office on this day! But the World
wplaying A When he stands up for the did in Gadar if someone bumps into his car holidays. Cup came home only in
man’s Vande national anthem, could be heard at the parking lot. If he’s a newly turned Work gets 1983. Hehehe…HAPPY
aram #indianindependenceday whispering into his cell phone, father, he will try singing ‘Lukka chhupi... done much INDEPENDENCE DAY!
esomeness #goosebumps #respect ‘Aslambhai, maal aya kya?’” bahut hui’ as a lullaby to his child. faster.” Enjoy!’