How an officer celebrate Indian Republic Day in Imphal?

Today is 25th January, 2009. It is 10.40 p.m. and just few hours away from India remembering its Republic Day. Few hours from now on, another day will dawn as one of the most auspicious day for every Indian. 26th January, 2009 will be celebrated as the Republic Day of India like every year. Or is it so for every Indian?
The big question is, " Who is every Indian?" or rather Who is a true Indian? Behind the glorious facade of India and its magnificience, its unity in diversity is being questioned in the remote areas of North East and also in the Northern tip.
For a district government officer, it acquires a whole new perspective. Every year on this day, the whole of North East insurgents declare a public bandh. As a result, for lesser souls who are not provided safety and security, the only alternative is to stay the 25th January night in the office. All the arrangements are made by each individual for their own comfort. They bring their warm clothes and other necessities to spend the night so that they are able to attend the State Function, failing which they are warned of dire consequences through various types of government orders. The celebration is another case! No civilians attend except the officials and the security people in almost all the places. The irony of the situation is such that just the day before the Republic Day, Imphal becomes like a fortress, with barricades and police frisking in almost every corner of the city. This is how we celebrate our Republic Day of India in Imphal, Manipur.