There exists a country called India,
Somewhere on this vast planet Earth.
To each of her billion children,
Her vivid hues are of limitless worth.

The people and culture of this country
Have an essence too multi-hued to capture.
And I will make a sincere attempt to describe
The rainbow that sends me into a rapture.

Almost every citizen has intense saffron faith
Which they are ever ready to defend…
And dazzling white trust in their God
Though calamities their homes do rend.

There is no Indian who won’t surrender
To the beauty of a sudden friendship yellow.
Or pass up a chance to be of maroon service
To an ailing or helpless fellow.

The village farmers will confess freely
How much they value their fields green.
And city dwellers love their materialistic world too
It never seems to lose its silver sheen.

Shrewd politicians strut in their purple cloaks
And Bollywood does the same under golden arclights…
Healers in India are as soothing as sky blue
And the Mithaiwala dispenses candied pink delights.

Then there are the policemen and drivers;
In their khaki uniforms they serve…
And our brave navy blue Armed Forces
Don’t ever hesitate or lose their nerve.

A rainbow contains all colours
Not discriminating the ugly from the pleasant.
And that is why even in India
There are some repulsive colours present.

India unfortunately contains many criminals
Thieves and murderers with hearts pitch black.
And of the millions of grey market traders
It is not possible for anyone to keep track.

Though every hit and run accident and
Conmen and liars make me see red.
It saddens me further to see the poor
Toiling in brown drains to earn their bread.

Amongst all the darkness, India still shines bright,
Our desi brains have won many accolades…
May we continue to strive for the greater good
And put up a show as colourful as our National Day parades!