A Curious Little Monkey Learns the Story of India's Freedom and Unity
Poco, the little monkey, was sitting under a big mango tree, nibbling on a ripe fruit, when he saw his Granny stitching a tiny flag with three beautiful colours—saffron, white, and green. The flag also had a blue wheel with spokes in the middle.
Curious as ever, Poco scampered over to her. “Granny, what are you making? And why does everyone seem so busy decorating the forest today?”
Granny chuckled, patting Poco on the head. “Oh, my dear Poco, tomorrow is a very special day. It’s Republic Day!”
Poco tilted his head, scratching behind his ear. “Republic Day? What’s that, Granny?”
Granny adjusted her glasses and motioned Poco to sit beside her. “Let me tell you a story, Poco. It’s a story about our country, India, and how it became what it is today.”
Poco’s eyes widened with excitement. He loved stories, especially ones that Granny told with so much heart.
A Tale of Freedom
“A long, long time ago,” Granny began, “India was ruled by the British. They came to our land and slowly started taking control over everything. Our people were not free to make their own decisions. Life was tough for everyone.”
“Were they mean?” Poco asked, wrinkling his nose.
Granny nodded. “Some of them were. They made many unfair rules and took away our treasures. But our people didn’t give up. Brave leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel fought for our freedom. They believed in unity and worked hard to make sure we could be free from British rule.”
“Did they fight with swords?” Poco asked, imagining warriors charging into battle.
Granny chuckled. “No, Poco. They used peaceful ways to fight. Gandhi ji led movements where people refused to follow British rules. They marched, protested, and even made their own salt to show they didn’t need the British to survive. Finally, in 1947, India gained independence.”
“Wow! So we became free like the birds in the sky?” Poco flapped his little arms as if he were flying.
The Birth of a Republic
Granny smiled. “Yes, but that was just the beginning. After independence, we needed rules to run our country properly. Imagine if the forest had no rules—everyone would be stealing each other’s food and fighting over tree branches!”
Poco giggled. “That would be chaos!”
“Exactly,” Granny said. “So, a group of very smart people got together to write the Constitution. The Constitution is a big book of rules that tells us how to govern our country and treat everyone equally. It took almost three years to finish writing it.”
“Three years?” Poco’s jaw dropped. “That’s such a long time!”
“It was worth it,” Granny said. “On 26 January 1950, India’s Constitution came into effect, and we became a Republic. That means the people of India got the power to choose their leaders. Every year on this day, we celebrate Republic Day to remember how special it is to live in a free and fair country.”
Understanding the Flag
Poco’s eyes sparkled. “So, that’s why you’re making the flag?”
Granny nodded. “Yes, the flag represents our country. The saffron colour stands for courage and sacrifice, the white for truth and peace, and the green for growth and prosperity. The blue wheel in the centre is called the Ashoka Chakra, and it reminds us to always keep moving forward.”
Poco looked at the flag with newfound respect. “That’s so cool, Granny! But how do we celebrate Republic Day?”
Celebrations and Joy
“Oh, there are so many wonderful things,” Granny said. “In the capital city, Delhi, there’s a grand parade. Soldiers, dancers, and schoolchildren march together to show how proud they are to be Indian. Floats from different states display their culture and traditions. It’s a sight to behold!”
“Do they also have sweets?” Poco asked, licking his lips.
Granny laughed. “Yes, everyone enjoys sweets and good food. Here in the forest, we’ll have our own celebration tomorrow. We’ll hoist the flag, sing songs, and share bananas and mangoes with everyone.”
Poco clapped his hands. “That sounds like so much fun! I want to help too, Granny. Can I?”
Granny ’s face lit up. “Of course, my dear. You can help me finish this flag and tell your friends about Republic Day. It’s important for all of us to understand why this day matters.”
Poco nodded seriously. “I’ll tell everyone. We should all know how lucky we are to live in a free country.”
Granny hugged Poco. “That’s the spirit, my little one. Remember, it’s not just about celebrating once a year. We must always work hard to keep our country strong and fair for everyone.”
A Lesson in Unity
The next day, the forest was buzzing with excitement. Animals of all sizes gathered under the mango tree. Granny hoisted the flag as everyone sang the national anthem with pride. Poco stood beside her, waving a tiny flag and grinning from ear to ear.
As the celebrations went on, Poco looked around at the happy faces and felt a warm glow in his heart. He realised that Republic Day wasn’t just about flags and parades—it was a reminder that everyone had a role to play in making the country a better place.
Lesson from the Story
From that day on, Poco made it his mission to learn more about India and tell everyone he met about the importance of Republic Day. After all, as Granny always said, knowledge and unity were the real treasures of a free country.
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