Ashhar Alam/New Delhi

There is a certain magic in childhood memories that never fades. For me, those memories are vivid with the colours of patriotism, pride, and the simple joy of celebrating India’s independence and Republic Day. 

Unforgettable Memories

I was a fourth-grade student at Meritorious Public School, Darbanga, Bihar, and our celebrations were unlike any other.

On the Republic Day, we would arrive at school around 6 a.m., standing in line in the crisp winter air, my young heart swelling with pride as I took my place at the front.

The morning would begin with a march around the school grounds, our voices ringing out slogans “Long live Mahatma Gandhi! Long live Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru! Long live Bhagat Singh! Long live Maulana Azad!” echoing our respect for the heroes who shaped our nation.

Back in the school grounds, the ceremony reached its climax. Our principal, Mohan Kumar, would lead us, chanting loudly, “Vande.” Every child responded with full strength, “Mataram!”

“Bharat Mata ki!” and in unison, our voices thundered, “Jai!” Sometimes, I had the honour of leading the chant, feeling the weight and pride of those words surge through me. After the ceremony, we returned home with sweets, hearts warmed not just by the taste of sweetmeats but by the love for our nation.

Republic Day was not just a day; it was an experience -- a cold winter morning when we shivered, walked in disciplined queues, and felt united as Indians. Our chests swell with collective pride. And yet, as I grew older, I noticed something troubling.

The same words that once filled me with pride, Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Vande Mataram, have now become the centre of debates, arguments, and even hatred. Across news channels, newspapers, street corners, and sometimes even within the Parliament, citizens question these phrases. People are calling each other traitors, and in extreme cases, resorting to violence.

Children celebrate Republic Day in a Bihar town (AI-generated)

I ask myself: how can these words, which have been a source of inspiration and patriotism for generations, become controversial? How can we doubt phrases that honour the motherland, that remind us of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, that unite us in the love of India?

Today, on the occasion of Republic Day, I recall the young boy standing in the cold, shouting with pride, feeling the pulse of a nation in his heart. Those chants reminded us of our shared history, struggles, and our undying love for our motherland - Bharat Mata.

As citizens of this great country, it is our responsibility to embrace these words, not question them. To chant Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai with pride, to remember the heroes who gifted us freedom, and to unite, not divide. For patriotism is not a debate, it is a celebration, a duty, and a flame that must never dim.

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Let us pledge this Republic Day to honour that flame, with our hearts and voices united. Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Vande Mataram!