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Happy Birthday India..!

By Robert Clements. Dated: 8/17/2018 11:03:59 AM

There's a big birthday bash for India today, as all the countries line up to greet the young seventy-one year old. " Happy Birthday India!" says China as it marches up with jade bowl gift and a smirk, "May you become as great a super power as I am!"
"I already am," smiles India, "with a billion and more people who can think what they want, say what they'd like to and not get butchered in Tiananmen Square when trying to express themselves! I am a super power!"
"May your rulers rule long!" sniggers Pakistan.
"Ah," smiles India indulgently, "my rulers rule as long as my people wish them too, not like yours who rule at the whim and wish of your khaki clad generals who bring down governments which don't tow their line! My rulers are the people, and may their rule be long!"
Tibet who has been standing behind China and Pakistan, smiles and goes up to India, "I wish you peace my friend!"
"Thank you," says India hugging the bleeding country, "I wish you the same; that you be allowed to get back the freedom you deserve, that the great dragon bully who crushes your people will be thrown out by peaceful methods, and that your Dalai Lama may return from his country of exile."
"But there is bloodshed in your country!" cries Burma, "People are lynched and raped!"
"But," whispers the young seventy-one year old, "I have courts not guns. A constitution, not military law, and even if these courts take time they bring justice to all!"
"Happy Birthday India," shouts the confident voice of the USA, "Don't see too many gold medals being won at the Olympics though!"
"Ah! no Mr America, we're too busy winning with IT and software and gearing up to beat your economy in a decade or two!"
"You have a million soldiers," says Russia after greeting India, "Send some to Syria, we'll pay you good money."
"Ah no, bringing down legitimate governments, then bullying and wiping them out is not our cup of tea Boris, even if you gift us an aircraft carrier free!"
"You are cheeky for a young seventy-one year old!"
"Seventy-one years of democracy gives you more right to be cheeky than a hundred years of dictatorial communism! Right?"
"Happy Birthday mate! I dare say you've grown confident and bold!" says England as she stretches out a friendly hand.
"Thank you," says India shyly, "After you left my shores, I tottered and stumbled, slipped sometimes, and fell often, but got up, stood, and walked, sometimes shakily, often crawling. I was chided, criticized, and chastened, but I pushed on with grit into my long walk with freedom! Now I'm ready to move on to greater heights!"
"Happy Birthday India!" cheers the World together, as we Indians proudly shout, "Jai Hind..!"
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