15th August 2009: Independence Day. I got to learn from my friend that flag hoisting ceremony is going to be held at Indian Embassy Paris on 15th August. All the Indians were invited by the embassy. My friend and me decided to go for that. It was exciting to celebrate 15th august outside India with group of Indians..
I managed to wake up early in Saturday morning. We went to embassy on time and see good number of peoples were gathered for ceremony. Staff there was co operative and manged to organize people in small ground. I was bit afraid of gathering because of SWINE flu!! Mr Ambassador was scheduled to arrive at 0958 and flag hoisting was scheduled at 1000.
Now the typical Indian behaviour started. Some of the people stated moving to back side of ground and pushing others. They didn’t satisfy until they got their desired position.!! At 0959 Ambassador didn’t arrive so there was some panic on organizers, but at last he appeared and hoist the flag. People started singing national anthem. There were around 100 to 150 persons but only 40 to 50 were singing!! Disappointed Ambassador asked again all to sing!!
President’s speech was followed by national anthem and was conveyed by Ambassador. Some persons began to talk and children began to cry!! Ground surface was covered with stones so if anybody walks on it then it will create a disturbing noise in silent environment. But who cares.. People started moving from here and there causing disturbance in speech. Suddenly some cell phones started ringing even though it was asked to keep cell phone in silent during speech!! And the height, one person answered call and began talking while other were listening to speech!! His friends were asking him to stop or to go out, but he didn’t bother at all.. It was like his home and he don’t give damn to others. Finally one person got angry and took his phone and cut it but he had to listen some bad words as well.
Light breakfast was prepared by embassy and was served after the speech. Again havoc started like they wont get breakfast!!
There were two lines for two counters which didn’t matter for some people and they directly go on counter while other were on queue. They were proud by doing so like “Baki sab fools khade he line me and me le aaya!!”. One of the embassy person’s relative or friends were on other queue. He went there and told them why are you standing in queue? Come with me directly.. What a crap!! It was like other people do not exist for him and he wanted to show his relatives that “uska kitna chalta he yaha pe”.
Dustbin? What it is? Every place is dustbin. Put your plate anywhere and go, person who is organizing will do all things. Big persons do not put theirs garbage themselves!!
People of embassy who were serving were quite decent and helpful. They worked were hard in organizing the event. My experience was mixed. Positive for people who are organizing and those who do understand the responsibility and behave like good human being and negative for those whose behaviour was rude and do not understand how to act on which situation. We Indians definitely need to improve on manners and respect of event. Not all people are like these, but because of some percentage of dumb people, all Indians have to suffer.
Anyway it was good to celebrate 15th august in other country. And the best part was the breakfast

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