AS WE STAND ON OUR OWN FEET AND WALK WITH OUR HEADS HELD HIGH
S ome of my dear friends share their birthdays with our nation’s. They, always, feel proud and privileged about it… and it is understandable. So, whenever I wish them, I have to wish on two counts: on their birthday and on our nation’s as well. But, what if one was born on the midnight of 15th August, 1947… Yes, what a special feeling that must be! I have one such person – my aunt, Cecelia. She is one of the sweetest souls in our family, now settled in Chennai. Aunt Cecelia studied Nursing from Kasturba Medical and Nursing College at Manipal. She used to spend many of her week-ends at our place in Mangalore. My dad, who had a raw talent for singing, was crazy about Konkani traditional-songs, which were known as ‘Mando’. As he hadn’t studied, he would make Aunt Cecelia write down those lyrics… He would sing and she would write! Today, when I reflect on it, I smile… He wanted those amazing songs to be documented! Dad is long gone… and the s...