For
some, the thoughts come easily, dripping with patriotism
or pure venom. For others, it needs hours of conversation
for the words and feelings, usually buried deep or hardly
ever considered, to surface. INDIA
TODAY presents frank, unguarded
thoughts of some of the best known -- and some totally
unknown -- people across the nation who make up the
fabric of India. After 50 years of Independence, this is
the voice of India, a reflection of who we are. It shows
how far we have come. And how far we need to go.
Interview by KALLI PURIE
Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH
RANG LAL, Jawan, 28
battalion BSF, Wagah
border
I just came into the BSF after I
saw the wardi (uniform). When I wear the wardi,
I like it.
There is too much hardship here at the Wagah border. The
heat, mosquitoes in the night and 22 hours duty a day. A
man can die from a bullet but to die from just doing duty
day and night, there is a difference.
We just keep looking at each other and carry on. It's a
strong feeling of brotherhood. The whole job is based on
hope. We keep thinking, what will I get further on? It's
like a dog who keeps sucking on a bone in the hope that
he'll get some juice from it. And then he thinks he is
getting the juice, when in reality it is his own saliva.
For
some, the thoughts come easily, dripping with patriotism
or pure venom. For others, it needs hours of conversation
for the words and feelings, usually buried deep or hardly
ever considered, to surface. INDIA
TODAY presents frank, unguarded
thoughts of some of the best known -- and some totally
unknown -- people across the nation who make up the
fabric of India. After 50 years of Independence, this is
the voice of India, a reflection of who we are. It shows
how far we have come. And how far we need to go. 
RANG LAL, Jawan, 28
battalion BSF, Wagah
border
