Today is the 60th Independance Day of India. Way back in 1947, India became a free nation, breaking the shackles of three centuries of Colonial presence and rule.

Below is Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech to the Constituent Assembly in New Delhi at midnight on August 14, 1947.

Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.

At the stroke of midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, then an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.

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It all started with those seven islands. And that’s how we all came to be.

On the occasion of India’s Independance, Mumbai Metrobloggers bring you the 7 things about Mumbai Series.

Over the next two weeks we will bring you 7 things, tastes, events, places, mannerisms, fads and a lot of other things that are unique to Mumbai. The idea is to bring out the best/worst of our city and then use that to improve whats bad and highlight whats good.

So watch out everyday, for a new list and jump into the discussion….no holds barred.

I sometimes hear people describe Mumbai as a place where people treat each other equally and that this city doesn’t face the societal seggregation that Chennai and even Delhi have. I disagree. This city has its own version of a caste system. It is subtle and isn’t immediately apparent, especially to people who haven’t lived here for very long. Bear with me while I alternate between ‘thoroughbred Mumbaiker’ parochialism and an objective viewpoint, as I explain.

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We Mumbaikars have learned to live with the zillions of obstacle we face due to over population and over pollution. We have learned to find ways around the particular obstacle and have adjusted our lifestyles to it. Probably this is one of the reasons the State government cares a rat’s ass to addressing public issues. One of the major problems every Mumbaikar has made his/her part of life is the traffic jam in the city.
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Yesterday I had a meeting with my tax consultant. According to him if I don’t invest a lac this year I am likely to pay approx 24000/- as taxes to the government. Now I will absolutely try and invest as much as I can to save some tax. But nevertheless I will end up paying at least a couple of thousands towards IT. I strongly feel that every one should pay our dues to the government, and if we have been provided some tax saving options (I am talking about the legal ones) then we should take full advantage of it.
For the office going aam janata like me, there is very less we can do to stop paying taxes even if we want to. After all the salary comes after tax deduction and there is pretty much nothing we can do.

This is what I came across today’s DNA
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