January 25th, 2009
The cold wintry morning of January 26 is not about staying indoors.
For us Indians, it is the time to celebrate, flaunt and take pride in the immense achievements that the country has made. So, even as the Republic Day parade in the capital showcases the military splendour, and the numerous tableaux provide a pretty picture of our many hued culture, celebrations are in order across the nation. And though these may remain ceremonial for an average Indian, what really fire the heart and soul of every patriotic citizen are the laurels won by Indians on the international platforms. As we celebrate our 60th Republic Day today, NT presents some Indians and events, which were a first for India and made every Indian really proud.
Abhinav Bindra: The National Anthem playing at the Beijing Olympics, even as the tricolour slowly unfurled behind the podium, is an image which will remain etched in our hearts. Sharpshooter Abhinav Bindra won the first ever Olympic gold for his country in an individual event. No celebration has been big enough to match the stature of that win.
Chandrayaan-1: The world may have considered it to be too ambitious, but India was finally on the moon as it launched its first moon mission-Chandrayaan 1 October 22, 2008. India is the fourth nation in the world to have done so.
Aravind Adiga: Though Indian authors have made it a habit to pick up the Booker with enviable frequency, yet when Aravind Adiga won the coveted award for his book The White Tiger, he became the youngest author to have got the award, crediting India with this first.
Viswanathan Anand: He became the first player in chess history to have won the World Championship in three different formats, when he defeated Vladimir Kramnik thereby becoming the World Chess Champion. With his spectacular feat, the Indian Grandmaster further spurred India's dominance in world sports.
A R Rahman: Nothing rocks India more than Bollywood songs. And now it is this very music, which is also rocking the world. By winning the Golden Globe award for the most original score for the film Slumdog Millionaire, A R Rahman has done the country really proud, being the first Indian to do so. After this an Oscar would just be the cherry on the cake.
The cold wintry morning of January 26 is not about staying indoors.
For us Indians, it is the time to celebrate, flaunt and take pride in the immense achievements that the country has made. So, even as the Republic Day parade in the capital showcases the military splendour, and the numerous tableaux provide a pretty picture of our many hued culture, celebrations are in order across the nation. And though these may remain ceremonial for an average Indian, what really fire the heart and soul of every patriotic citizen are the laurels won by Indians on the international platforms. As we celebrate our 60th Republic Day today, NT presents some Indians and events, which were a first for India and made every Indian really proud.
Abhinav Bindra: The National Anthem playing at the Beijing Olympics, even as the tricolour slowly unfurled behind the podium, is an image which will remain etched in our hearts. Sharpshooter Abhinav Bindra won the first ever Olympic gold for his country in an individual event. No celebration has been big enough to match the stature of that win.
Chandrayaan-1: The world may have considered it to be too ambitious, but India was finally on the moon as it launched its first moon mission-Chandrayaan 1 October 22, 2008. India is the fourth nation in the world to have done so.
Aravind Adiga: Though Indian authors have made it a habit to pick up the Booker with enviable frequency, yet when Aravind Adiga won the coveted award for his book The White Tiger, he became the youngest author to have got the award, crediting India with this first.
Viswanathan Anand: He became the first player in chess history to have won the World Championship in three different formats, when he defeated Vladimir Kramnik thereby becoming the World Chess Champion. With his spectacular feat, the Indian Grandmaster further spurred India's dominance in world sports.
A R Rahman: Nothing rocks India more than Bollywood songs. And now it is this very music, which is also rocking the world. By winning the Golden Globe award for the most original score for the film Slumdog Millionaire, A R Rahman has done the country really proud, being the first Indian to do so. After this an Oscar would just be the cherry on the cake.
