Emotionally Speaking

This is a pictorial documentation [15 pics] of the 62nd Independence day celebrations in the JNU university campus, New Delhi. Like 95 per cent JNUites, I used to stay away from the flag-hoisting in the campus [you know JNUites leave the bed rather late!]. But this time I went out with my camera and documented the celebrations at three places in the campus : the official JNU administration flag-hoisting near the JNU central library, the JNUSU flag hoisting at Teflas and the Sabarmati Hostel celebrations in that order [I missed the Tapti hostel and the Ganga Dhaba]. It has many interesting photos including a flu mask, kids, my ladoos and the first lady of JNU among other things.

The JNU Administration flag hoisting photos

Me reaching the venue near the JNU library at 8.37 am. Madam Vice Chancellor [on the right] preceded me. It was  a good crowd with a lot of kids and non-teaching staff [JNU professors except officials and JNU students, barring a few, were conspicuous by absence].

Professor Rajendra Prasad [aka RP], Rector 1, JNU  hoists the flag at  8:38 AM. JNUVC was not in the campus. *salutes*

School kids sang the Jana Gana Mana…and many patriotic songs [including Vande Mataram and Jahaan daal daal pe sone ki chidiya...]. While the last song was beginning “mike short ho gaya” and the kids were slightly disappointed but they continued without it. [You know JNU mike has a reputation for going phut ] The kids who sang were given special prizes/gifts wrapped in boxes by JNU officials.

A broader picture of the ceremony

Very grand! The ‘elite’ g4s guards. “Group 4″ security guards in JNU campus move like NSG commandoes and are a sine qua non of security in the JNU campus.

Sweets from Moonlight sweets, Munirka, gift packets from Big Bazaar, Mango Mood toffee, Candyman toffee etc. from JNU administration for kids. There were two ladoos in a brown envelope for everybody [see the last pic].

The swine flu scare! The girl after singing a song with the harmonium put on her mask as she stood in the crowd. She removed her mask [kind of shy] while I went near her to shoot the pic so I shot this from some distance! Click here to see a nice ‘Public Dispaly of Infection’ cartoon and read the Swine Flu diary by Poonam.

The same girl on the harmonium without the mask. Some JNU administration officials standing behind the kids for the cameras.

Some kids at the venue

The first lady of JNU, wife of JNU VC Prof. B.B. Bhattacharya posed for the photograph and said “thank you” with a beaming smile! My pleasure, Madam!

JNUSU flag hoisting at Teflas

The JNU Students’ Union [JNUSU]  too hoisted the flag like every year. There were only 20 people there including yours truly, 10 kids and the security guard(s). Sandeep Singh, the JNUSU President, was conspicuous by absence and Shephalika the vice president of JNUSU hoisted the flag. Mobeen Alam, JNUSU joint secretary [the bald man in the pic] was also present. Ladoos from Aggarwal Sweets were enthusiastically distributed by Shephalika while a group 4 security guard gave toffees to kids!

Flag Hoisting at Sabarmati Hostel, JNU

It is very rare to find a hostel hoisting the national flag on Independence Day. The Sabarmati Hostel students collected money among themselves [I had contributed only 15 Rupees] for the function and the senior Warden  hoisted the flag and followed it with a short speech.

All ready and waiting outside the hostel at  9:17 am looking up at the first floor where the flag is positioned.

The warden hoists the flag aided by students including the hostel President Mr. Vijay Pal on the left.

My Rewards: Laddoos’ photo

Two of the three ladoos in the front row from JNU administration, third one from JNUSU, and the Kalakand and Motichoor ladoo from Sabarmati Hostel! Will a calorie-conscious me eat them?! Keep guessing [I ate the Kalakand LOL immediately after shooting it]! Click here to see my body pic and read what I do to remain fit and forever young!

That’s all from JNU and me. Do come back later for more or explore the links below.

Want more on JNU

Click here to read and see how JNU Holi is celebrated. Click here to see the JNU caves. Click here to see the JNUMC River Rafting trip documentation. Click here to see all the posts on JNU on this website [including JNU political wall posters etc. Click here to visit the Official website of JNU.Click here to read a Hindi poem ‘Mera Hindustaan’ by a JNU Student.