India's 75th Independence Day - My Exclusive Country India Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

My exclusive country India
with twenty eight states and eight Union Territories
where patriotism and brotherhood prevails
in every nook and corner of our country
with feelings of jubilation on our Independence day.
My exclusive country India with twenty two languages
where each state has its own dialect
yet we understand each other with our words and tears.
My exclusive country India
with eight religions to cherish and practice
with many temples across our country
where Hindus perform their worship,
while Muslims rush to pray at the Mosques,
while Christian go to churches
and other religions follow their own devotions.
My exclusive country India
with assorted foods and cuisines,
with each village in the south serving dosas and idlis
and each town in the north cooking tandooris
while our nation relishes every dish deliciously.
My exclusive country India
with each city wearing its own attire
whether it is the salwar kameez or sarees
each one prefers to wear what is modest and attractive.
My exclusive country India
with many school children rich and poor
sitting together in classrooms shoulder to shoulder
even from various slums and villages
yet, there is no discrimination even at workplaces.
My exclusive country India
where local conflicts vanish quickly
and international friendships continue forever
as countries of the world commend our cordiality.
My exclusive country India
with a wonder of the world called Taj Mahal
which a King had built for his queen as a gift of love
and the world still rushes to see it
and to even climb the Mt. Everest though it is so risky.
My exclusive country India
where lions and tigers roar in the jungles at night
and peacocks dance in the forests in the day
but at the celebrations on the Independence day
many elephants and horses decked in flowers
and colorful attire join the national parade
to showcase the beauty and integrity of our nation.
My exclusive Country India
where our history and culture,
our customs and traditions silently linger in our homes
as we practice Yoga and meditation,
as we revere nature and Ayurveda,
as we sing together our songs of freedom
thus inspiring each other
that our country and our simplicity
is what makes us Indians,
and that our unity and our identity
is what holds us together.