Freedom at Midnight

August 14, 2005 1:55 PM

Freedom at Midnight - At midnight, on the night of August 14th 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru claimed Independence from the British in New Delhi, India. 58 years later today, India along with China is in the mainstream news media as a "super power to be". While there is much discussion on how exactly all of this will play out in the near future, there are also some concerns as to whether this is nothing more than an updated version of the "burgeoning middle class of 140 million people" that sent numerous multinationals to unsuccessfully launch new products in this emerging market. However this tryst with destiny plays out, Happy Birthday India.
posted by infini (16 comments total)

India should never have been.
posted by Gyan at 4:20 PM on August 14, 2005

You could have also mentioned India's neighbor which is also celebrating its independence today.
posted by MikeKD at 4:41 PM on August 14, 2005

Gyan?

Happy Anniversary India, from another former outpost of Empire.
posted by amberglow at 4:50 PM on August 14, 2005

India's neighbor, under a miltary dictatorship from a coup, and chockful of radicals, has less to celebrate, i think.
posted by amberglow at 4:51 PM on August 14, 2005

India's a faux identity and coherency. A result of the Mughal & especially British rule. There should have been a looser confederation, like the EU, which should have included the regions of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal...etc
posted by Gyan at 5:10 PM on August 14, 2005

And so the torch passes to another, or others as the case may be. Here's hoping they do more with it and allow it to burn brighter than the previous bearers did.
posted by mk1gti at 5:18 PM on August 14, 2005

I'm with Gyan on this, the concept of "India" is closer to the EU than to a single sovereign nation. sunil khilnani's book, the idea of india is pretty good at pulling that together.

btw, what neighbour?
posted by infini at 6:11 PM on August 14, 2005

India's neighbor, under a miltary dictatorship from a coup, and chockful of radicals, has less to celebrate, i think.

C'mon, at least mention Pakistan.

Oh, and it's not like Indian is free of its own radicals.
posted by MikeKD at 6:16 PM on August 14, 2005

"I was born in the city of Bombay . . . once upon a time. No, that won’t do, there’s no getting away from the date: I was born in Doctor Narlikar’s Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947. And the time? The time matters, too. Well then: at night. No, it’s important to be more . . . On the stroke of midnight, as a matter of fact. Clockhands joined palms in respectful greeting as I came. Oh, spell it out, spell it out: at the precise instant of India’s arrival at independence, I tumbled forth into the world."
posted by .kobayashi. at 12:41 AM on August 15, 2005

I've been meaning to read that book...
posted by Asparagirl at 2:14 AM on August 15, 2005

Excellent book!
posted by infini at 11:18 AM on August 15, 2005

I wonder if there's still an old lunatic trying to find his way to Toba Tek Singh...

But hey, happy thoughts, happy thoughts...
posted by goodglovin77 at 9:02 PM on August 15, 2005

And happy birthday, to both of you (now just settle down before both of you make mom any more upset) and really Pakistan, why can't you be more like India and get into some of that call-center money and do something with yourself... oh shh! here comes Bangladesh and I don't want to hear a word out of either of you! Yes, yes, amar sonar bangla, very good...
posted by goodglovin77 at 9:06 PM on August 15, 2005

Gee, thank you.

Not exactly popping the champagne here 'cause there's lots I'd like changed in the country.
posted by madman at 10:44 PM on August 15, 2005

Infini I see you've been keeping up with your "word of the day" :u)
posted by vodkadin at 8:03 PM on August 16, 2005

darn...unfrocked or is it cognitoed? :P
posted by infini at 7:59 PM on August 17, 2005