Updated on the eve of India’s 76^th Independence Day: 14th August 2023

I’m giving thanks that I will witness India’s 76^th Independence Day tomorrow. I can hardly wait to hear the speeches and watch the parade on television.

You can’t blame me. After the uncertainty that has followed the pandemic years, every day is a day to be received with gratitude.

I wrote this post a decade ago and my sentiments and pride in my country are as strong today as they were back then.

2 Independence Day stories separated by Time

India’s Independence Day has a sacred place in my heart.  On 15th August, India completes 67  years of Independence and enters the 68^th with all the fanfare that any nation that makes history with a non-violent freedom movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and other Indian historical leaders can.

I’m sharing 2 stories that make history a personal experience.

My first Independence Day celebration coincided with my father’s home posting to the Foreign Office headquarters in New Delhi. It was a special year – India was celebrating the 25^th year of Independence.

I remember 25 Paise coins (quarters) were specially minted, new stamps and the festivities.

Even today 15^th August brings back those memories and I return to my childhood.

That is my personal experience of history.

A 3-year-old girl’s memory of the first Independent India flag unfurling

India still has a population of elders who were born before Independence. They have seen the freedom struggle and  experienced the dawning of freedom. Some even suffered the aftermath of Partition. Today is not the day to think of the last one, but to celebrate the birth of Independent India.

When I think of these elders, I think of the geriatric population little realizing that my parents were younger than I was during the Silver Jubilee celebrations of my childhood when India became independent. 

Realization dawned for me last night while my mother and I were watching a program on television about the freedom movement. I asked her if she remembered anything since she was only 3 at the time.

I now share with glee the memories of a little child who was there experiencing the mood of a newborn nation firsthand.

My mother recalled that her parents used to attend the freedom movement meetings. Too young to be left alone at home, Mummy was taken along.

She was tutored to shout “This flag must be taken down”. 

An obedient child, she did it with gusto with my grandparents beaming from ear to ear.

Then one fine day, she went with them for a meeting but was quickly hushed up after her first slogan shout.

That was the day that a new flag was being hoisted.

A beautiful flag with saffron, white and green stripes and an enticing blue wheel in the middle.

It would be a few years before my mother would know the significance of that day. Or the meaning of the 3 colours with that enticing blue wheel. 

She was taught to shout “This flag shall fly forever” with the same gusto.

Her other memory from that day was of festivities and everyone had tears of joy in their eyes.

There must have been strength in a 3 year old child’s shout and that of a nation that the flag keeps flying with pride.

And decades later I got a glimpse of history from someone who had been there.

This story and others cannot be found in history books. 

The little girl, known to the world as Kusum Shukla,  went on to become an award winning abstract expressionist.

Her relationship with the Indian flag continued.

As the wife of a career diplomat, one of her tasks as an ambassador’s wife was to be the hostess of the Independence Day functions on 15th August for almost 18 years at the different Indian Embassies. A job she did full justice to.

Her painting Coral Garden captures all the colors of the Indian Flag. (Use coupon HXGHJV to get 15% off on any merchandise with this artwork till 31 August 2023.)

Do you have a similar story? Please do share on this blog.

Vande Mataram!

Written By: Vatsala Shukla

Fireworks by Junior Libby