What did you do this 26/1?

An R-Day holiday is more often than not used by people to plan escapades, do family get-togethers and even party.

During those daily newspaper days, it was just another day for me, with low traffic on roads and my head really with vox-pop assignments for quotes on how the day was celebrated across the city. During the magazine days it was about taking a walk near the Parade Ground in Bangalore much after the R-Day ceremony was over, my office being a minute's walk from there.

After many years, I managed to scramble downstairs at the Society quadrangle this morning, after a neighbour called me over. I did expect a flag-hoisting ceremony, but was not sure about the time, or the dress-code. The flag-pole decked up and even many residents turning up in white by default, tri-colour badges, balloons, festoons and toddlers at their fancy best, it was reason to feel elated. About 30 of us would have gathered at the spot for the flag-hoisting, a small affair compared to grandiose Rajpath parade in Delhi.

A satisfying experience. Look at your national flag being unfurled and sing the national anthem! Wow! What a feeling! Takes you back to school days. Makes you feel a sense of responsibility. Something collectively done, something that tells you that you belong to one country in spite of the many Raj Thackerays going around towns proclaiming there are foreigners of Indian origin in their territory. Something that brought back memories of those horrible 60 hours of 26/11.

With the fire around 26/11 dying down, Mr Raj Thackeray has made a comeback. But need he also to be told that he and we belong to one country? And not several states alone?

I did get back home to watch a few snatches of the R-Day parade. But I must say that the experience closer home was best.