Vande maataram!!!

I got this message forwarded from my cousin. This message has made its rounds around the world by now. I wanted to share it wirh all of my nation-mates here.

Dear Friends,

Here is a personal experience, as well as a moment of national pride,
which I want to share with you. Hope you find it worth the time you put
in reading it :

"In the middle of 1965 India-Pakistan war, US govt - then a close friend
of Pakistan - threatened India with stopping food-aid (remember
"PL-480"?). For a food deficient Indiathis threat was serious and
humiliating. So much so that in the middle of war, Prime Minister (Late)
Lal Bahadur Shastri went to Ram Leela Grounds in Delhi and appealed to
each Indian to observe one-meal-fast every week to answer the American
threat. As a school boy, I joined those millions who responded to Shastri
ji's call. I continued the fast even when the war was over and
Indiabecame self sufficient in food. Hurt deep by the national
humiliation suffered at the hands of the USgovt, I had vowed to stop my
weekly fast only when India starts giving aid to USA.

It took just 40 years. Last week THE day arrived. When Indian ambassador
in WashingtonDC handed over a cheque of US$ 50 million to the USgovt, two
plane loads of food, medical aid and other relief materials were waiting to
fly to the USA. Time to break the fast? With no bad feeling about the
USA, and good wishes for the Katrina victims, this humble Indian
feels proud of the distance India has covered in 40 years. Let's
celebrate a New India!"

- Vijay Kranti.
Dean - IIT Madras
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