A few days back, (despite some light showers) we stood outside Buckingham Palace in London,watching the very interesting and colourful 'Changing of the guards', a ceremony that takes place at 11am every day, 365 days a year.
This Mounting guard duty is normally carried out by the Guards of the Household division in their distinctive scarlet tunics and bear skin caps, but when the Guards units are busy with operational duties, other regiments step in
Then a couple of days ago, I read this in a news report-"Guarding the Queen is hard, but worth it." says Simranjit 'Sim' Singh, who is one of two Sikh soldiers to guard the British queeen.I found this particularaly interesting as it is a clear indicator of how things really have come a very long way.....
For a country which once ruled India and then had a series of racist episodes, till recently, to take such a step is fairly creditable.It is an indicator of a changing wind and one that gives all Asians and other coloured people in the UK, a feeling that they are now likely to be well integrated into mainstream British society.
And while I dont wish to digress from my main story, I just have to mention two other intersting facts of life, as I saw them.
While walking the streets of London, I had an amazing realization. For walking those same streets with me, taking the same tube trains, eating at he very same restaurants were a majority of 'coloured people'. In fact, way more than the white population.
Then an even more fundamental truth.
At the Gradauation ceremony of our daughter at the Nottingham University, the number of students who came upto the stage to receive their degress was even more amazing. At my best 'guestimate', I'd say that easily about 70% of students reciving an Hons. degree in Finance and Accounting/Management studies were International students.
Yes indeed, a reflection of the changing times
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