We love our country and to mark our 69th Independence Day, we at The Quint have been telling you 69 things that make us #HappyInIndia.
You can also tell us what makes you #HappyInIndia.
Jai Hind!
#57 The Greatest Film Ever
You may be 70 or just 16 - anyone who has watched Ramesh Sippy’s magnum opus Sholay, will call it India’s greatest film ever. Its immortal dialogues etched on our minds -
Ye haath muje de de Thakur!
Basanti!! In kutto ke samne mat nachna!
Ab tera kya hoga Kaaliya?
Incidentally, on August 15, Sholay completes 40 years and no remake (read Ram Gopal Verma’s Aag) could ever match up to this iconic film.
And did we forget to mention - Yeh dosti, hum nahi todenge!
#58 Bling-shling
All that glitters is definitely gold for us Indians.
Look at the gold, look how they shine for you – Sorry Chris Martin for altering your lyrics, but we Indians love our bling-shling, glitter-shlitter. Gold makes us happy. From Bappi Da to the Fat Aunty at the Wedding, we love to flaunt it.
#59 The Write Choice
The pen is mightier than the sword. And the ‘soft power’ of Indian authors has pretty much conquered the world. Amitav Ghosh, Vikram Seth, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri, Hari Kunzru... the list is endless.
#60 Hum Log
We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens. Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
Now repeat that four times a day! That’s us. The country with the coolest Preamble to the coolest Constitution
#61 It’s Hot!
Ever heard of Assam’s Bhut Jolokia? Also called the ‘Ghost Chilli’, it’s the world’s spiciest chilli, says the Guinness Book of World Records. A close contender is the Raja Mircha, or King Chilli from Nagaland.
If you are looking for death by chilli, be our guest!
#62 March On
Candle light vigils walked from reel life (Rang De Basanti) to real life after 26/11. A powerful but peaceful way of showing solidarity and dissent.
#63 The Abode of Snow
The Himalayas inspire awe. They draw us spiritually. They make us Indians feel ‘protected’. We holiday there. We shoot out films there - it’s where Shammi Kapoor went Yahoooo!
#64 The Colours Of Life
Be it the Kolams of the south or the Rangolis of the north, or Alponas of the east, there’s an artist in every Indian home. Armed with powdered rice, chalk, and colour, with their homes and doorsteps as canvas, they create beautiful motifs and designs.
#65 Yeh Aakashwani Hai
Bhaiyo, bahano, aap sab ko Ameen Sayani ka namaskar! That’s how the radio veteran greeted his listeners for nearly 40 years - in the good old days of Binaca Geet Mala.
From the days of farmaishi songs playing on All India Radio, to FM today, in the local train or in your car, buried under piles of work, or taking a dump – radio is the buddy that’s always there for you.
#66 The Big Cat
India took all her claws out to Save Our Tigers, and guess what, It worked. According to the latest tiger census, the population of India’s national animal is on the rise again. Yay!
#67 Call Me, Maybe
“Give a missed call when you reach,” or “Missed call de, I’ll save your number,” - who hasn’t heard or said this? Chindi friends, khadoos bosses - love saving a rupee using the ‘missed call’. So what if we don’t have a loo at home, education, or do waqt ki roti, we have our mobiles and missed calls, don’t we?
#68 Laloo Yadav
Jab tak rahega samosa mein aloo, tab tak rahega Bihar mein Laloo. Lalua is the chubby, droopy grey-haired neta loved by Bihari babus and Indians alike. He loves his bhains, kulhar chai, his fodder, and his Lalooisms. Like they say, you can take a man out of Bihar, but you cannot take Bihar out of the man.
#69 Feel The Quint
With its team, tech and tagda attitude; The Quint has taken on the world with its intelligent, quirky, and sharp take on the news that matters. We Quintees are a happy bunch, we love what we do. Which makes us... #HappyInIndia!
To read all the 69 things that make us #HappyInIndia, follow the links below
#HappyInIndia: Bollywood, Tendulkar, Rajini - Making India Happy
#HappyInIndia: Isabgol, Madhubala, Galli Cricket - Make us Happy
#HappyInIndia: Bindi, Santa Banta, Sunny Leone, Make Us Happy
Graphics done by Lijumol Joseph and Aaqib Raza Khan.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)