Proud to be an Indian

The train was absolutely full, I was cramped between three brazilian teenagers and one english couple who couldn't keep their lips apart. It was too sweaty and every station was putting more inside the train rather out.

I was hoping my side of doors do not open. My station was 9th and with this crowd, I was sure I would suffocate by 6th. I was expecting huge crowd, but expectation and being cramped head to toe in it are very different things.

People were dressed for the occasion and you could know which country they were supporting. It was the biggest match of 2009 with current world cup holders Italy and 4 time winners Brazil were to play in the marvellous Emirates Stadia.

My colleagues had left early and I was doing the last minute chase. After reaching the 9th station, I just knew I had to move with the crowd. It was evident all were headed to the destination, the moment those teenagers got off, they mingled with others who were similarly dressed and started yelling, BRASIL, BRASIL..... and then ... a huge uproar, the entire train was almost shouting together. I realized who's the favorite tonight.

Suddenly I heard INDIA, INDIA...... Surprised I tried locating the epicentre of the vociferous patriotic chanting. Though not even the refree in tonight's game was an Indian, leave aside any player.

It was a gang of 8-10 Sikhs, tall and broad and shouting at the top of their lungs, their country name. I smiled and felt proud. No matter where and no matter how, you would find people of my country that know how to make their presence known.

One similar and hugely proud moment was at the biggest movie event of the world.

The Oscars

Weren't we everywhere on that day? :)

It was an enormous pleasure to see small kids from Dharavi to be standing right at the front of the strongest actors on the planet and smiling. Irfan Khan, A.R.Rahman, Anil Kapoor, I was down in tears to see that we have made a mark finally to the world how talented our contrymen are and few more years and there wouldn't be any year when an Indian doesn't win an Oscar.

An Indian song played and performed on stage, is so touching. Though the entire credit goes to Danny Boyle and his lobbying to get the movie so much attention, but he mentioned everywhere in his speech, had it not been Mumbai he wouldn't be able to make the movie at all. He was all praise for each and every person helped making him the movie and it was more pleasant to hear more Indian Names.

I hope to make my country proud someday, but right now, its my country that makes me proud.