Work is worship, holiday isn't.

Its extremely hard for me to understand the reason for getting a holiday on January 26, though I have enjoyed it while in school. I can understand Independance Day because lots of people fought for it and died for the cause. I did some Googling and got to read the origin of Republic Day - "India had become a geographical entity on August 15, 1947, but it was on January 26, 1950 that it became a nation in the true sense, with a constitution and elected representatives of the people."

I agree, its a day of high importance. Doesn't it mean that we should all be working to show the respect for our country. On any day, I think the best way to show respect is to work sincerely and that would help you become more socially responsible which would inturn help the country.

I had anyway decided to work on this day this year and hope to do so in the forthcoming years too. I couldn't let my team go too, as my non-Indian client expects us to work. But, the most irritating aspect at work today was the way my team and I had to park the vehicles behind the building so that it doesn't show off that some people are working. We also had to go out for lunch - if the lunch vehicle comes in, someone might smell that there are people working inside. The reason I heard was that the company had to shell-out some bribe or fine if some officials found out that people are working today. I think this is entirely nonsensical. The government may have every right to declare a holiday, but cannot coerce anyone not to work, if they wish to work.

This does not mean that I am not patriotic. I am proud to be an Indian every day, not just Jan 26 or Aug 15.