Happy Sixtieth!

August 15, 2007 12:03 AM

The largest democracy in the world celebrates its 60th anniversary, in a year which saw horrendous floods, the election of its first woman president (previously mentioned here), the signing of the 123 Nuclear Agreement, and the recent victory over England after a span of 21 years.
posted by hadjiboy (22 comments total)

That wasn't a victory, it was a tie, since the first match wasn't really a draw. Yeah, but since the series score reads 1-0, the Indian team's going to gloat over how they kicked Pommy ass.
posted by Gyan at 12:27 AM on August 15, 2007

Also, hadjiboy, did you see yesterday's TOI cover? Cheesy.
posted by Gyan at 12:36 AM on August 15, 2007

since the first match wasn't really a draw

Yeah, that one was going Pommy's way:)
posted by hadjiboy at 1:18 AM on August 15, 2007

I find the massive voter turnout at Indian elections quite shaming - politics matters and people in the West seem to take it less seriously. It takes an amazing nation to hold together and stay free despite all the pressures and problems it faces.
posted by The Salaryman at 1:28 AM on August 15, 2007

Well you beat me too it, so here's a few more links:

New Yorker: The Legacy of Partition.

The Guardian: Voices of the Nations.

BBC: India & Pakistan 07 & video archive.

Waggah border ceremony.
posted by markdj at 1:34 AM on August 15, 2007

Happy Birthday, India! Don't blow anything out except candles, ok?
posted by DenOfSizer at 4:08 AM on August 15, 2007

I know that India has it's share of problems but the fact that they have managed to run a functional democracy for sixty years with over a billion people just amazes me. Especially given the level of language, cultural and religious diversity that they have to work with. Americans should be ashamed that we seem to think that tiny little accommodations to diversity like Spanish language choices on our ATMs are going to ruin our "culture".
posted by octothorpe at 4:55 AM on August 15, 2007 [2 favorites]

Happy birthday to India, happy birth.... Here, have some yellow birthday cake (it doesn't matter that you haven't signed one of those pesky NPT's).
posted by strawberryviagra at 5:35 AM on August 15, 2007

.
posted by Poolio at 5:35 AM on August 15, 2007

Thanks for the links markdj!
posted by hadjiboy at 5:48 AM on August 15, 2007

VANDE MATARAM!

BHARAT MATA ZINDABAD!

(times one point something billion)
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:16 AM on August 15, 2007

I find the massive voter turnout at Indian elections quite shaming - politics matters and people in the West seem to take it less seriously.

voters in the west would take voting more seriously if goondas hired by the strongest community were doing their utmost to persuade you to vote for their man...
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:21 AM on August 15, 2007

To India! (and to my hopes of them as an effective and strong democratic counterpart to China in this century)
posted by amberglow at 7:11 AM on August 15, 2007

Would be nice to see India effectively address that suicide problem. It's not surprising that such a rapid shift to market-democracy brings about such things. If people think Americans are off-kilter, give the Chinese, South Koreans, and Indians another generation or two.
posted by Gnostic Novelist at 8:00 AM on August 15, 2007

recent victory over England after a span of 21 years

Oh. Cricket. Yeah, test matches...kewl.

I was hoping it was football. (Or soccer, as we say 'round here.) I haven't heard much about the Indian national team.
posted by pax digita at 8:18 AM on August 15, 2007

Dear India,

Congatulations on 60 years of post-colonial freedom. Yes, you've been around, in various forms, for thousands of years, but surely you appreciate the unprecedented importance of your current status. Free, united, democratic, up-and-coming, technologizing, modernizing, moving fast, influencing the world.

I know we've had our differences, India. Days when I raged and hated you and called you things like "backwards" and "insane." And I still think you have a lot to work on: the treatment of women, the lack of equality and social mobility, the identity politics.

But I want you to know I still love you. You changed me and humbled me and taught me so much. I still think about you all the time. I think about all the things about you I still don't understand. I'm awed by your survival, that a country so big and diverse and complexly chaotic can even be a democracy. I'm awed that you don't just exist, you thrive.

Happpy birthday, India. I miss you.
posted by bookish at 8:31 AM on August 15, 2007 [4 favorites]

Happy Birthday India! You're amazing.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:27 AM on August 15, 2007

Oh, and India...thank you for all the incredibly cool, talented, friendly people you've produced whom I've gotten to work with.
posted by pax digita at 12:51 PM on August 15, 2007

Happy Birthday India
posted by homunculus at 2:01 PM on August 15, 2007

Hang on, doesn't this make Pakistan 60, as well?

*chants*

Pakistan ZINDABAD!
Pakistan ZINDABAD!!
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:20 PM on August 15, 2007

A belated Happy Birthday to Pakistan as well!
posted by hadjiboy at 9:11 PM on August 15, 2007

Pakistan is the evil twin. ; >
posted by amberglow at 3:23 PM on August 16, 2007