#36: Reclaiming Republic Day: Connecting with ‘We, the People’
As I grow older, I find myself questioning the logic behind many celebrations.
Every January 26, I wonder — grand parades in a distant city, attended by foreign dignitaries — what’s it to me? Is this just another holiday to sit back and enjoy? Around me, people plan personal days and even religious festivities. And I’m left wondering again:
Who is ‘We, the People,’ after all? And why even celebrate Republic Day?
This year, thanks to the support from Rahul Bhandare, I was able to shake off some apathy. Together, we realized the answer didn’t lie in looking to the government but closer to home — with the people around us.
We decided to reclaim Republic Day for ourselves by organizing a one-hour problem-solving activity for the children in our housing society.
Kids aged 8 to 12 stepped into the shoes of local corporators (municipal elected representatives) and tackled common problems citizens face: unsafe commutes, noise pollution, littering, and more.
Everything happened through discussion, consensus building, and reflection. Focus was on empathizing with people of different identities, acknowledging local problems, and nurturing problem-solving instincts.
I was nervous about how it would go. Would the kids engage? Would the parents support it? But my hesitation melted away as I saw young minds lighting up with ideas, hungry for experiences that asked them to think and act rather than simply follow. Parents, too, joined in the energy.
An unexpected bonus? In the background, unstructured discussions began brewing among adults about the issues our community faces and how we could solve them together.
At the end of the day, Rahul and I feel validated in reaching into our community and confidence in the heart of our Republic — We, the People.
This experience wouldn’t have been possible without the value-driven, evidence-based approach of Reap Benefit, where I first learned the power of civic problem-solving. Check out their website and discover how you can join an army of problem-solving ninjas!
