The Palace is majestic in every way, its drive way, its grand entrance, its marble staircases and finally the Grand Hall where the ceiling is covered with the most exquisite art work.
I was admiring a beautiful painting of a pale and sensuous Mughal princess when the bugle player started bugling and soon after under this seductive painting stood the diminutive figure of Pratibha Patel the current president of India. She exuded none of the sensuality but she does n't need to perhaps as SHE is the President so eyes away from art and firmly onto the politicians now , the speaker of the house, another woman, the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi among others, all sitting in a semi circle like kiddies in a classroom waiting for story time.
The Prime Minister who is not known for his party spirit, was in a particularly chatty mood and worked the crowd of diplomats and cabinet ministers. I congratulated him on the Independence of India and shook his hand. His bushy white eyebrows and quiet demeanour seemed positively perky this evening.
The President's Personal Body guard was all over the Palace. The most statuesque six foot figures, with handsome faces in their formal livery, white coats and gloves, gold and black turbans and black boots to their knees each brandishing a silver sword of considerable length. It was hard not to stop and stare.
An India of tradition and splendour, little of which is seen by the man on the street. For them today marks a day of leisure and for the children a time to fly their kites.
I captured a few of the stalls selling them in the run up to Independence Day today.
One little boy in the middle of the biggest two lane highway on a little traffic island was trying to fly his kite. Thats the spirit I thought !
In the paper today a huge announcement that must have cost a lot of money from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerement saying :
"We salute our freedom fighters and builders of modern India and reaffirm our commitment to empower the underprivileged to realise their aspirations."
Builders of modern India hmmmm, I wonder how her aspirations are being met ?
And finally a headline that made me laugh:
"Buy a house, get a cow free in Rajkot !!"
India has spirit and panache and tries but has a long way to go.
India has spirit and panache and tries but has a long way to go.
