Deja Vu: Children remind of vigour witnessd in 1947

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) ''Shubh din aaya ki Tiranga lahraye pyara pyara'', with this patriotic number children from various schools began the celebrations of 62nd Independence Day today at Red Fort here, the srains of which filled the air with the same warmth, zeal and gusto felt 61 years ago.

All clad in the dresses having the tri-colour of the national flag, as many as 5000 children from around 32 schools participated in the Independence Day celebrations and began the programme with the choir singing of patriotic songs.

A composition of different languages and dialects Punjabi , Kashmiri, Oriya, Hindi, Telugu and Marathi thrilled every heart alike.

The seating pattern of these children symbolised the national flag of India.

''It took them 15 days of practice to memorise their correct positioning and Tricolor's color pattern,'' said the sports teacher of DAV Senior Secondary School.

''From 0300 hrs in the morning till 1000 hrs we used to rehearse our presentation,'' said a lively girl from Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, adding that it was a lot of fun as refreshments were given and there was no pressure of studies during this period.

''I cherish this period and I wish that my teacher could take me every year to perform in the function'', said the elated child.

Meanwhile, teachers of some nearby schools rued the strict security arrangements, which led all nearby school children to walk all the way from school premises to the Red Fort for two consecutive days as few vehicles were allowed in the area, which usually gets sanitised two days before such important events.

Nevertheless, she admitted that two security personnel accompanied them while the walked.

''Security personnel, including one female guard and one male guard, used to reach our schools till 0300 hrs and guard us in our way,'' said one of the school teachers of Jama Masjid no 2.

However,for children, it was a virtual treat especially when it came to the opportunity of showing their faces before media cameras.

''I wanted to tell my friends and show my parents that I attended such a great ceremony,'' Aayesha from Chaabi Ganj Kashmiri Gate school told UNI.

''The most pleasurable moment for us was to see the country's Prime Minister delivering a speech before our own eyes and when he said he was keen on improving education through Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, I felt delighted as I also teach some illiterate children of my area, who live in slum,'' said the Xth class student of Lal Kuan Zeenat Mahl school.

As the Prime Minister's speech neared end, some children were caught napping, some were getting bored and some were waving hands to flying helicopter, hovering overhead for surveillance.

However, with the rendition of the National Anthem at the end by school children and 1000 NCC cadets, all their dizziness vanished into thin air, breathing the same life into the atmosphere which they had filled earlier with their patriotic songs.

At last, with the release of tricolour balloons in the air, children erupted in joy and jumped to their feet in excitement and clapped and then dispersed fast to sink their teeth into refreshment waiting outside the specially-built compound.

UNI GT GL AS1149