 Short Stories: July 04, 2018 Issue [#8986] |
  Short Stories
This week: Stories of Independence Edited by: THANKFUL SONALI back on Jan 4  
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Today, the 4th of July, is a day of celebration for the US of A.
For folks in India, it's August 15.
But what were things like on August 15, 1947? Here are some stories of the day India gained freedom.
If you look at the word length, they're tiny tales -- call them flash non-fiction, if you will. But put them together and you'll get a poignant picture of a day in history. |
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Dear Reader,
My niece is Project Manager at the Citizens' Archive of India. The young people who work and volunteer there collect stories from folks who have memories of the actual day on which India gained independence -- Aug. 15. 1947. Each one is a snippet, an anecdote, an emotion ... put them together to get a picture of the day.
I give below a few of the stories, as narrated by the individuals themselves.
BRIG. MOHAN
On 15 August 1947, I was in the Military Academy at Dehra Dun. At that time, we had cadets from combined India -- that is, India with Pakistan and East Pakistan. On that day, there was a separation of the cadets. Those who wanted to go to the Pakistan army were told to go to Pakistan. The whole day was spent on seeing who goes to Pakistan. To our surprise we found that some people, including two of my best friends, and some of our instructors, went to Pakistan. I was not allowed to get in touch with anyone from the Pakistan army after that. The only celebration was a special dinner, which all of us enjoyed together one last time.
SURESH CHATURVEDI
i was in Mumbai the day we got Independence. There was a grand parade in the afternoon from Gowalia Tank through Kalbadevi to Azad Maidan. Elsewhere, there was a lot of rioting, but here there was happiness. I stood at the Bata shop at Nana Chowk, where I saw the flags being waved and heard the slogans being shouted. What can I tell you? There were all sorts of floats passing by. The Gujaratis, the Marathis ... all the people, they came dancing in open trucks, some were on foot, some were playing traditional musical instruments, keeping the beat, making jhan-jhan sounds. There were fisher-folk and labourers. The trucks were all decorated, various people in them. Let me tell you one more thing -- Prithviraj Kapoor
| Paterfamilias of India's first film family, beloveds of Bollywood |
NAND KISHORE
It was midnight when Pandit Nehru announced India's independence at Parliament House. Of course, I could not go into Parliament House, but I joined the huge crowd outside to listen to the announcement. Some of us boys climbed trees. We heard Nehru on the loudspeakers. We were very happy to have gained independence. But I could not bear the partition of India. I still have the map of undivided India in front of my eyes, the way I used to draw it in school. I think many people of my age will have this map in front of their eyes even today.
BHANU
We celebrated the first independence day in school. We drew a very big map of undivided India and decorated it with lamps all over. It was very beautiful. Even though Pakistan had already become a separate nation, we drew the map as a whole. My parents and grandparents were happy, but I don't remember much celebration at home.
PRAMODINI
It was a very proud day. We girls were not allowed to go outside, of course, but the boys went out. My brothers and male cousins were allowed, so they went out. Since we weren't allowed out, we sang patriotic songs and waved the flag at home. We were told that we would be allowed out the next day, since, on the day there were too many crowds. We did walk a bit in the neighbourhood, though, and we wished anyone we met on the road. It was a very happy moment, but at the same time there was a little sadness because there was news coming in of massacres here and there.
There you have it. The joy, the sorrow, the celebration, the tension ... the individual stories that make history come alive.
Happy Independence Day, to everyone who is celebrating today!
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Thank you for the responses to "Mindbooking: Memories Past and Current"
brom21  I can really relate to this NL. I love to reflect on memories quiet often especially childhood ones. I remember playing the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis with my brother when we were both around ten. Oh, such nostalgia! Thanks for the stimulating NL!
Jeff  What's really funny about the Facebook memories thing is that my wife has a habit of posting pictures she takes of me doing mundane tasks... for example, she'll post a picture of me on my laptop on the couch and caption it as "another working weekend" or me doing the dishes with the caption "I love a man who cleans." And then Facebook will be like, "Hey, do you want to post this memory from two years ago?" Um, no, I don't feel the need to promote and re-share the fact that I did the dishes two years ago. 
HEY FOLKS!
Drop by and wish Grateful Jess  a happy birthday, today!
"Note: My full-time job surprised me with gifts, cards, a..." |
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