People taking photos during the beating retreat ceremony, in New Delhi.
Raisina hills, government seat of power and the parliament house, right, are seen during the beating retreat ceremony, in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves at the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi
lluminated Raisina hills seen at the end of the beating retreat ceremony, in New Delhi.
Naval officer conducts Indian armed forces band during Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi.
President Pranab Mukherjee arrives for the Beating Retreat Ceremony while PM Narendra Modi and others looks on at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi.
Army bands perform during Beating Retreat ceremony at M A Stadium, in Jammu.
Tri-services band performs during the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives during the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi.
President Pranab Mukherjee taking salute during the Beating Retreat Ceremony at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi.
President Pranab Mukherjee during the Beating Retreat Ceremony at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi
Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa takes salute to tri-colour after the Beating Retreat ceremo...
President Pranab Mukherjee escorted by his bodyguards arrives in a buggy to attend the Beating Retreat Ceremony at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi.
President Pranab Mukherjee arrives in a buggy to attend the Beating Retreat Ceremony at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi.
Illuminated Raisina hills, government seat of power and the parliament house, right, are seen at the end of the beating retreat ceremony, in New Delhi. The ceremony marks the end o...
A view of the illuminated South and North Block for the Beating Retreat ceremony, in New Delhi.
President's buggy leaves as Raisina Hill gets illuminated after the full dress rehearsal for the Beating Retreat ceremony, in New Delhi.
Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna paying floral tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Indian Embassy on the occasion of India's 68th Republic Day, in Washington.
Indian Ambassador to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin after unfurling the tricolour at the Republic Day reception at Permanent Mission of India, in New York.
President Pranab Mukherjee with foriegn cadets those participated in the 68th Republic Day Parade at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi.
The United Arab Emirates have generously embraced a large number of Indian expatriates and encouraged them to flourish and
Indian democracy has to be guarded against "Hitlerite forces", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said, while exte
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted citizens on 68th Republic Day.
"Republic Day greetings to everyone," Mod
India's military might and rich cultural diversity were in full display during the dazzling 68th Republic Day celebrations
India's military might and rich cultural diversity were in full display during the dazzling 68th Republic Day celebrations
In a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi today said India becoming a Republic on January 26, 1950
Serial blasts by anti-talk ULFA (Independent) shook upper Assam today as the state was celebrating Republic Day amid tight
The national capital was today wrapped in an unprecedented security cover with thousands of security force personnel keepi
Search giant Google in its special doodle to mark the 68th Republic Day, today showed a stadium full of people amid a sea
Accusing NDA government of "sabotaging the Constitution", the CPI today said people should "fight to defend the Constituti
We were brought up to stand up to attention whenever Jana Mana Gana played -- and it even played in newsreels before the movies in cinema halls. While that still manages to give goose flesh every now and then, I have memories of whole groups of school-kids bursting into hysterical giggles of inexplicable and uncontrollable mirth en masse whenever we reached "ham bulbuleN haiN iskii" while lustily singing Saare Jahaan Se Achhaa (there were also those who strongly resented being called bulbuls). And I am sure I was certainly not the only one who often had to make up verses while singing Vande Mataram. But one of the true patriotic songs to beat all patriotic songs that provided sheer joie de vivre (and in some cases, introduced heathens like yours truly to the pleasures of classical music) was Mile Sur Meraa Tumhaaraa. A song that, for the generations brought up on Door -- and Krishi -- Darshan, or at least those growing up in the 1980s, was easily the most joyous, shared national experience -- a true celebratory anthem that did at least as much for national integration as Manmohan Desai, the Indian cricket team, or all of Films Division documentaries combined together. Like all great music is supposed to, it actually elevated and uplifted the lowliest of us and made us, or so I would like to believe, better human beings, incapable of any devilry, at least for some time.
The news, therefore, about a new version (a promo is here) somehow brings back memories of what happened to a remaking of Sholay -- and, of course, as in Ram Gopal Varma kii Aag, ominously, Mr Bachchan is very much there too. Here's to hoping that the new version does not do to the old one what, say, Paul Simon sometimes manages to do to his very own songs. I am filled with dread and am so not looking forward to check out the new version...
Postscript: OK, here it is, just as I feared:
And part II:
[pedantic, nitpicking mode begins]
The White House blog for Monday, January 26th, 2009 says:
"58 years of Indian democracy
"Today is India Republic Day, the 58th anniversary of India's independence and the adoption of its Constitution.
And we thought there were enough Indian hands at the Whitehouse. And even if we grant the confusion between the Independence and Republic days, how does 26 January 1950 to 26 Janyuary 2009 make it the 58th. anniversary?
[pedantic, nitpicking mode ends]
