Today I saw the president’s address online and frankly,  was impressed by the speech and the points mentioned in it. A particular sentence, "It is the greatness of the people of India that amidst all trials and tribulations, they have kept the sacred flame of democracy burn ever-bright illuminating India's journey in the new millennium", particularly touched me instilling in me the sense of pride and patriotism which swelled when I heard "Let us resolve that they (women) are not left marginalized in our society"...

I was extremely elated to hear such a thought provoking and positive speech, it charged me up, bringing into me that sense of pride at being an Indian....

THUDDD!!!!!

…and I came crashing down back to reality. The thing that got the dung into my mouth was the idiot box, which, for a change, was showing greater fools on it. It was the scene of the parliament where the opposition was shouting slogans, leaving their seats; all the time when our esteemed and learned Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was still speaking!!!

This is the respect that our own politicians are giving him, is this the example they are setting in front of us, the future of India, that blatantly disrespecting the position and dignity of the great man is not only acceptable but also the norm???

Just as I was brooding over the matter, another clipping cropped up...

This one showed the video footage of MALE party workers actually tried to manhandle Taslima Nasreen the controversial Bangladeshi writer. If I wasn’t shocked earlier....

Is this what madam president Mrs. Pratibha Patil talking about? Is this the bright and shiny future that I, we have all been promised? Is this the superpower everybody, including the media, keeps talking about? I sure hope not!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I love my India as much as you do. Some of you might think then, is this guy a pessimist to bring out such a blog on such a joyous occasion, the 60th independence anniversary, 150th year of our first freedom struggle… but isn’t it time that we stop accepting everything that is happening the way it is and actually try to do something for a change? And what better a day to begin this effort, than today?