No matter how old you are, the image of tricolour atop the Red Fort with the national anthem playing in the background must have invoked a sense of patriotism as well as some fond memories.
For some, it is the memory of their family sitting together in the living room before a TV set, a radio set earlier, as the Prime Minister of the India addresses the nation. While for others, it is the memory of waking up really early in the morning and heading to the largest ground in the village, town or the city to watch the tricolour unfurl in the Independence Day function.
However, there is nothing more special than spending the day in Chandni Chowk when it comes to the memories of the Independence Day. Every year on the iconic day, there is the kind of palpable energy in the air that is incomparable.
Arvind Rastogi, a resident of Kinari Bazaar, has been celebrating Independence Day with same enthusiasm since Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister. Reminiscing the first time he visited the Red Fort, he said, “Pehli baar mein baba ke sath gaya tha (first time I had gone to the Red Fort with my father). There weren’t roads like this at that time. Just one single road that led to the Red Fort. Although I was just a child at that time, I still remember the feeling of pride when I saw the tiranga unfurl and when Pandit Nehru gave his speech.”
However, he added that people had more civic sense in those days. “It has been a long time since I have gone to the Red Fort on August 15. Although it used to be crowded even then, but now there is eve-teasing and pick-pocketing. Now we just go to drop our relatives, who often come to attend the ceremony, and return. But that does not mean that we celebrate August 15 with any less enthusiasm,” he added.
Recalling the Independence Day celebrations of eighties, Ramlal Jain, running a flower business opposite to popular Gauri Shankar Temple in Chadni Chowk said, “We used to sing “Ye Desh hai veer jawano ka” while flying kites on our house roof. Patriotic songs used to be played on radio all the day. I remember the days when presenter on radio narrated war and freedom fighter’s stories.”
Surender Kumar, who lives in an old building called Sheeshmahal in the heart of Kinari Bazaar, said he has been celebrating the Independence Day ever since the times of Nehru but now there is not the same kind of enthusiasm. “Jab Nehru bolte the, unka alag hi rutba tha (Nehru had his own charisma). His speech used to attract people. Also, at that time, there was no TV, no parking issues and not such an elaborate security cover. We could just go, listen to the PM’s speech and come back home without any hassle,” he said.
Trying to recall the speeches of the various Prime Ministers, he said he fondly remembers the way Nehru and lal Bahadur Shastri spoke. “Shastri was a simple man. He spoke from his heart. But after Indira (Gandhi), the speeches started to be made according to political strategies. Now, there are more promises in the speeches. Jo karna tha, Nehru aur Shastri kar gaye,” he added.
However, he said after a long time he witnessed the same kind of charisma in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s speeches. “Atal was a poet and a great orator. He had a charm and grace which was missing for a long time in the Independence Day speeches. It can be said for Atal that when he used to speak, people always listened. Manmohan Singh usually read from the paper and Modi’s speeches are general although he is also a great orator,” he added.
Even as a lot has changed in the last 70 years, but what has remained consistent is the enthusiasm of kite-flying in Chandni Chowk area on August 15. It has remained as an integral part of Independence Day celebrations in the walled city, says 55-year-old Shailesh Talia.
“Hamara toh bachpan hi ghar ki chatt pe beeta hai (our childhood was spent on the rooftops). Every year on August 15, we used to head to the rooftops in the early morning and spent our whole day there. We used to play radio on full volume so that people would listen to the PM’s speech,” he said.
Sandeep, a shopkeeper who sells kites said, “Colours of celebration are entirely different. Once the speech of our Prime Minister is over, all youngsters run towards Masjid ground with kites and manjha.”
He added the craze of kite flying on Independence Day keeps youngsters away from video games and social sites at least for one day. “Tricolour attracts them and nowadays you will find a plethora of kites, in varied styles and price range. Although the tricolour kite still remains the favourite, one can find kites with various cartoon and super hero characters for the children, kites in varied prints and colours for the young generation,” he added.
Arvind Rastogi, 62, said Independence Day is unlike any other festival. “We are 12 members in our family. However on Independence Day, we would have at least 40 people under the same roof. And that is not just in our home but every house in Chandni Chowk. Some of our relatives live in different parts of Delhi but on this one day, they would all come to Chandni Chowk to experience the magic. There is loud music, a lot of food and a lot of fun,” he said.
Ram lal Jain said, “Although the mode of celebrations has been changed but one thing still remains: Tricolour and kite flying.”