60th Republic Day Celebrations In India Poem by Dr John Celes

I’m proud to be Indian;
I love my motherland;
I breathe air that is free
and till the soil, my land!

I hoist the tricolor,
atop the mast so tall –
a beauty Indians all
can watch with pride and awe!

I think about the past –
the lives that had been lost;
The blood for freedom shed,
and freedom-fighters dead!

My India looks so great,
for sixty years till date;
How Gandhi changed our fate
is told by India Gate!

The freedom I enjoy
since when I was a boy,
got by sacrifice, toil,
and burning mid-night oil!

This heritage of mine
has always been so fine;
So is the warm sunshine,
surrounding clear blue brine.

Let Indians maintain peace;
Let global wars all cease;
Let mounting tensions ease;
Let cures come for disease.

Let’s make our India proud;
Let brethren all feel loved;
Let’s unite against foes
that cause our daily woes!

May God bless India
o’er years that lie ahead!
May Indian keep his head
high and work hard instead!

Copyright by Dr John Celes 1-26-2009