It is the birthday of the supreme law of our nation, the Constitution of India, which was passed by the Constituent Assembly on January 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950. It contains our self-image, our world view and our intentions towards one another and non-Indian people.
It's profoundly moving to read the Preamble and the Articles that detail our fundamental rights and duties and the directive principles of our nationhood. Though salted by now in scripture, I find that my heart leaps with a special thrill each time I happen to read something in the Constitution.
I truly rate it as all the scripture we ever need, for leading our lives with goodwill and a sound work ethic. Essentially, the Constitution seems to be about space and responsibility.
We are meant to give each other plenty of space and ensure a fair availability of skillsets and life-enabling facilities. Beyond that, there has to be room for individual merit.
The Constitution says we're to have physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual space, by which we are empowered to take a fair shot at making our lives happen. If I had to pick a mudra or coded hand sign to represent the Constitution, I'd do a Namaste.
A Namaste, says, "I salute the Me in You, which both spring from the One." We're acknowledging our connectedness as human beings and also our space in the vaster scheme of things.
The old ones sensed a greater Energy everywhere and in themselves, but couldn't get a fix on it. "Neti, neti, neti" (Not this, Not this, Not this,") they said in a process of elimination.
So what was 'It'? The Constitution does a good job of trying to answer that question. It gathers up much that is good and worth keeping in the history of thought and tells us what our lives as modern Indians should be like.
Making INDIA proud
Indians have made the country proud world-over having excelled as scientists, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs and actors. India has a rich culture and a distinguished history, whose legacy stands tall even today. As a proud nation of a billion celebrates its 60th Republic Day, here's a look at what makes India so special...
Incredible India Inc - Indian entrepreneurs hold top positions in several multi-national companies. It's said that four out of the ten start-ups in the Silicon Valley are run by Indians. Indians are the richest Immigrant class in the US. Also, the number of companies listed in the Bombay Stock Exchange is more than 6000, second to only US's New York Stock exchange.
Fascinating film fraternity - Indian tinsel town is singing praises of A R Rahman, who has got a nod for the Oscars. And the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' with world-class music, an Indian cast and based on an Indian theme, doing exceptionally well in the international circuit, it's time more Indian films to get the recognition they deserve. We are way ahead of Hollywood in the numbers game, with more that 800 movies being churned out each year in India.
Pretty 'desi' damsels - From Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen to Lara Dutta, Diana Hayden, to runner up Parvathy Omanakuttan, Indian damsels have won six Miss World/Miss Universe beauty pageant titles in the last decade, way ahead of the rest of the world. Former Miss World and Bollywood actress, Aishwarya Rai's eyes have also been voted as the sexiest eyes in the World.
Peaceful yet prepared - For peace, we stand. In an eventful history, India's among the few in the World who have never invaded nor plundered the wealth of any other country. Always on the vigil, the current Indian army is the third-largest in the World with a strong contingent of 1.5 million.
Striking strides in sports - Indian sports persons have made the country proud on several occasions. Some recent laurels include Abhinav Bindra's gold at the Olympics, MS Dhoni's boys winning cricket's inaugural 20twenty World Cup and Vishwanathan Anand retaining his FIDE World Chess Champion title.
Marked in mathematics - The number zero, was perhaps, India's best ever gift to mathematics. And over the centuries, Indians have shone in many areas of research in mathematics. From Srinivasa Ramanujan to the human computer Shakuntala Devi, the list is endless.
Medical marvels - India's contribution to the field medicine dates back to the 6th century BC when saint Sushruta, compiled a book with his findings about medicines and their uses and methods for surgery. And over the last couple of decades, the alternate stream of medicine, Ayurveda, has become one of the most sought medical streams across the world.
Remarkable Indian Railways - From the proposed bullet trains, to the passenger and goods trains, the Indian Railways, is one massive network serving the nation. This makes the Indian Railways, which employs more than a million people, the largest employer in the world.
A nation in gold - Can you imagine an Indian wedding without the bride being decked up in all the gold ornaments? Indians consume a fifth of the world's total gold output and the percentage is increasing by the day.
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