My Pride

"So close no matter how far..
By, with, for and in me you always are.."

No, my dearest. It is not a ballad for the love of my life. Well, come to think of it.. It is indeed an ode to the proverbial first love of my life-- India. My India. My Pride.

So to in continuation with the first two lines--

"So close, no matter how far..
By, with, for and in me you always are..
The land where Bravehearts lived and died,
You are my India. You are my pride."

I was born into a glorious country. I was born into valour. Purity. Prosperity..

Saffron, White, Green.

I fail to fathom the mystery behind the colors, but for some ridiculously peculiar reason, I never fail to marvel at how beautiful the Tricolor-- MY Tricolor looks.

There are innumerable people who find my fanatical love for India very strange/irking/annoying and sometimes even fake. I see no cause for speculation. Some love men, some love women, some love cricket, some love music, some love art, some even love Shah Rukh Khan; There are some who would die to get a glimpse of say, Enrique Iglesias. Then why is a love for one's country so unheard of? There were people who die/ died for this very country. And they, indisputably were Great. Not strange.

So, my pseudo puffed up popinjays, give the Kewl Parade a rest. India was, is and always shall be the Majestic Land of Splendour. Make your peace with it.

So yes.. before I went into this long-winded tirade.. I was talking about the Tricolor.. The Tricolor regally fluttering in a flurry of wind.. which is the most beautiful, reassuring sight in reality and even perhaps illusion.

Some love white, some swear by Pink.. There are others who live by black.

Not me, though.

I'm Saffron. I live Saffron. And in all likelihood, Godwilling, I shall die Saffron. Mind you, all are not given that opportunity.. Very few have the previlege of living and dying by the same convictions.

And to quote a friend of mine..

"Was shot recently.. Saffron poured out."

Rang De Basanti.

Ae mere pyaare watan,
Ae mere Bichhde chaman,
tujhpe dil qurbaan..
Tu hi meri aarzoo hai,
Tu hi meri aabru,
Tu hi meri jaan.

Maa Tujhe Salaam.

And once I die..

Kar chale hum fida Jaan-o-tan saathiyon
Ab tumhaare hawaale watan saathiyon.