Episode 42 : My country bestest

I was casually flipping through the pages of the latest edition of The Week. The cover story was on 25 days that changed India.

Independence & Partition, the Kashmir accession, the Chinese invasion, the Bangadesh war, and Kargil among other days like the World Cup win, Operation Bluestar, Mandal report, the Babri masjid demolition and the Miss Universe crown.

I was not prepared for my spontaneous reaction to one particular line. An upheaval of emotions, my eyes watered instantly. I did not know why it happened. I still do not know.

Perhaps because today is January 26th which, like August 15th, never fails to remind me of how much we could have achieved and how much we did? Of how sacrifices were made till some decades ago so that we could get what we get today?

Or perhaps a letter by Great Bong's mom had something to do with it?

All I read in that line was "Saare jahan se achcha", referring to the what Rakesh Sharma said to describe India.

Even after completely reading the magazine, merely recalling the words is enough to start it again.