Stokoe Westbergs in India: Independence Day celebrations at Kunskapsskolan

"Independence Day, observed annually on 15 August, is a National Holiday in India commemorating the nation's independence from the British Empire on 15 August 1947. India attained independence following an Independence Movement noted for largely nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress (INC). ...
On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, who had become the first Prime Minister of India that day, raised the Indian national flag above the Lahore Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi. On each subsequent Independence Day, the Prime Minister has raised the flag and given a speech.
The holiday is observed throughout India with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events. Indians celebrate the day by displaying the national flag on their attire, accessories, homes and vehicles." Wikipedia

This is what BBC News reported from PM Narendra Modi's traditional speech from the Red Fort:

"Narendra Modi has said India had been shamed by a recent spate of rapes, in his first Independence Day speech as prime minister. He called on parents to take responsibility for their sons' actions, saying they must teach them the difference between right and wrong.
Mr Modi, who led his party to victory in this summer's general election, addressed the nation from the 17th Century Red Fort in Delhi. He did not read from a prepared text, and for the first time in many years the prime minister did not stand behind a bullet-proof screen."

If you want to see a part of his speech, you can click here.

Let's hope he can make a difference.

The celebrations at Kunskapsskolan were on a more happy note :-)
The children had decorated the school beautifully. Here the Indian flag OF COURSE.

This was on the floor made with flower petals.

In a corner in the lobby we found this bird also on the floor.

A lot of children had made these lanterns in the Indian colours.

The pillars were hung with strings of merrygolds.

We arrived at 7 am (pew, just made it!), the performing children had to be there early to get ready. At 7.30 the flag was hoisted.

The national anthem was sung.
"Jana Gana Mana" is the national anthem of India. Written in highly Sanskritised (Tatsama) Bengali, it is the first of five stanzas of a Brahmo hymn composed and scored by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It was first sung in Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress on 27 December 1911."

I find this really interesting! considering there are 1635 recognized languages in India - according to Census of India of 2001, 30 languages are spoken by more than a million native speakers, 122 by more than 10,000 - it seems the national anthem can be understood by most:
"The song has been written almost entirely using nouns that also can function as verbs. Most of the nouns of the song are in use in all major languages in India. Therefore, the original song is quite clearly understandable, and in fact, remains almost unchanged in several widely different Indian languages." Here is more info if you want.

Jônôgônômônô-ôdhinayôkô jôyô he Bharôtôbhagyôbidhata
Pônjabô Sindhu Gujôraṭô Maraṭha Drabiṛo Utkôlô Bônggô
Bindhyô Himachôlô Jômuna Gôngga Uchhôlôjôlôdhitôrônggô
Tôbô shubhô name jage, Tôbô shubhô ashishô mage,
Gahe tôbô jôyôgatha.
Jônôgônômônggôlôdayôkô, jôyô he Bharôtôbhagyôbidhata
Jôyô he, jôyô he, jôyô he, jôyô jôyô jôyô jôyô he

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
Dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat and Maratha,
Of the Dravida, Utkala and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga and is
chanted by the waves of the Indian Ocean.
They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in thy hand,
Thou dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to thee.

If you want to hear it - click here

Maia actually managed to learn some of it in the original language. What she learnt completely, though, was the song that the school choir performed - an adapted version of Michael Jackson's We are the World, in 5 different language, one of them being Swedish. It did take us some hard thinking to figure out what some of the words were supposed to be :-)

The choir did a really good job (and I am rather demanding ;-) ) and sang loud and clear. The children who told us about the background of the Independence and the national anthem did so with a lot of confidence, and both in Hindi and English. Very impressive!

Then a brilliant performance by some students who, for sure, must have been practising for a long time.

The morning ended with all of us helping to plant trees along the drive way on the school grounds. This as a part of a greener Gurgaon and of course a greener school yard.