When I decided to move to England to race Formula 3, a lot of people told me that I would become Westernised but I think I am one of the few people who was abroad for four years and doesn't have a British accent.

I have always been proud of the fact that I was born and brought up in India.

Sometime back, I had the opportunity to become a US citizen but I turned it down. We have such a fantastic culture, fantastic heritage and fantastic history, and I wouldn't give up my being an Indian for anything in the world.

Independence Day is a very symbolic day for all of us Indians. It is special to us in another way because my parents got married on that day. Even as a small school kid, I liked going to school and participate in the flag hoisting.

For a number of years, we used to have the Indian flag flying from our house on August 15th. My father's family had a tough time during Partition, and my grandfather used to tell me all those stories.

My grandmother's family was in Pakistan occupied Kashmir but my grandfather's family was in Indian Kashmir.

I feel very proud to represent my country in my sport. The proudest moment in my life was when India's national anthem is played after I win. It is a fantastic feeling when a foreign country plays it, and you know it because you are representing your country.

Karun Chandhok spoke to Shobha Warrier