A Day to
Remember - By Col. RD Singh
31 December, 2013
Pictures
and Videos: Amar Singh Jyani, GS Mann, Background Music: Murari Verma.
A Day to Remember - Swearing-in
Ceremony of Kejriwal
I am so happy that I attended the
swearing- in ceremony of Arvind Kejriwal at the Ramlila Maidan on 28 December,
as the new CM of Delhi. Otherwise, I would have never witnessed over one lac
people, donning the AAP cap, and beaming with
with joy , “ Ham jeet gaye yaro”. The common man has finally arrived.
I reached the Ramlila Maidan at around 10 am, and found people pouring in by
hundreds. You could hardly find an empty
chair. There was a natural joy in people, as if it was a fair. Every one seemed
to be part of the victory. Waving the National flag, singing patriotic songs, proudly
lifting brooms ( party symbol), some even had decorated brooms like bouquets,
and many supported mini brooms in their
AAP caps. It was a festive feeling, never seen before in politics. I could see many young boys and girls with
their cheeks painted with the ‘tiranga’, and many carrying placards ,
emphasising nationalism and honesty in politics.
I asked Shri Ramesh Chand, an enthusiastic
AAP volunteer sitting next to me, that what if re-elections were held. He
confidently replied, “Sir, we would have got a clear majority. And if the
Congress makes our govt fall now, we will get 58 seats in the re-election”.
That sentiment was echoed by many others whom I talked to. Such is the change
in the conviction and thinking of people. They feel that bad days of democracy
are over, and good days are ahead.
Suddenly, I find people in front of me
getting up, and I hear them say, “Oh, there is Kejriwal’s mother, sitting with
aam admi”. People were also thrilled
that Kejriwal, ministers, and MLAs were travelling by metro to the
venue. It was such a sound message to every one that , henceforth, no VIP
culture, no frills, only service to people.
It was now 11 am, and there was hardly any space in the ground even to
stand. The volunteers ( I won’t call them a crowd) had come from various parts
of the country, and not from Delhi alone. The major difference was that , this
time they had come on their own, and not brought by force or inducement .
Despite such a huge sea of volunteers, there was order, discipline and a
feeling of oneness.
Here comes Kejriwal, with his team of
ministers, and he jubilantly waves to
over a lac people in front of him. The atmosphere is electrified as if the Messiah
of the common man has arrived. There is huge clapping and slogan
shouting “ Kejriwal zindabad. Intquilab zindabad. Bharat Mata ki jay -----“.
The swearing in ceremony by the Lieut Governor commences dot at
1200 h. Kejriwal takes the oath with conviction, clearly and loudly. So do his ministers, with no mistake. Oath ceremony
over, now the new CM addresses his people and assures them, “ It is not my govt
but your govt. It is not me, the
bureaucrats, or few policemen who will
run it, but the govt will be run
involving one and half crore people of
Delhi. We are here to serve you
and not vice versa”. He is convincing and sounds absolutely genuine.
The function ends on a high note, and
people disperse with a sense of achievement. The mood of people is very upbeat, and they want to spread
the success of AAP across the country. The intention is noble, and there is
fire in the belly. Who can stop it, and why?
As observed and
felt by : Colonel R D Singh (Retd.)
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