Happy Independence Day!

Yes, Happy Independence day! not Happy Independence Day in Advance! and I am not mistaken on the date.

It is the Independence Day of Pakistan today. We, Indians, never even consider this day for a minute. Actually, for most of us, it does not really exist. Our day is tomorrow, 15th August, a national holiday.

But this time, I was fortunate to get a flavour of the Pakistani Independence Day too! the feeling is different... but not really different.

I also did not have it in my mind till I boarded the office cab this morning where our Pakistani driver was dressed better than usual and the radio was playing Pakistani patriotic songs. I wished him and he was quite happy to respond. Maybe the driver later felt awkward playing those songs in front of me so he tried to change the channel, but the song, the lyrics and the tune was so good that i asked him to put it back.

The flavour of the song was just as it would be in India and it brought the same sensation in me as an Indian Lata Mangeshkar song would do.

The lyrics were something like:

Main bhi Pakistan Hoon.... Tu bhi Pakistan hai...
something like... Dil mera Punjab hai.. aur sartaj Baluchistan hai...

I started humming it along and it was no longer a Pakistani song for me. It was just a patriotic song I was singing for my country... doesn’t really matter what the name of my country is.

and then, the radio jockey, a north-Indian girl, was screaming with joy and wishing all Pakistanis a Happy Independence Day! and she was talking to Pakistani housewives and children who all told their plans for the day and guess what- each one of them wished Indians a happy independence day in advance!

It was like.. my celebration of one day extended to two days and come to think of it.... afterall it is about one event in history so it can definitely be celebrated together. For some, it is about separation, about sadness, and about hatred. But for me, it is about celebration, about freedom, about experiencing more than I already know.

Tomorrow, I will celebrate the Indian Independence day. But how is it going to be any different from what I am doing today? afterall, it is the same thing we are celebrating.. freedom! I just don’t understand that miles away from our countries, we can stay here in unison and enjoy together, but once back there, we just close our eyes and hearts towards each other.

One of my friends was quite surprised that we have a Pakistani driver. She was keen to ask how he behaves with us. Ofcourse all of us would ask the same question because everything related to Pakistan comes to us only through media. And media believes in extremes, daily stuff bores them and does not qualify for 'breaking news'. But tell you frankly, he behaves with us just the way an employee should behave with an employer. Rather, on a personal side, he is much more fun, helpful, responsible, and trustworthy than many of my Indian subordinates. I have never felt anything unusual about sitting with him in the same car.

So, atleast I am trying to shed my inhibitions and make it into a two-day celebration. What about you?