The great Indian hypocrisy
As India commemorates 62 years of its independence and we ride high on the laurels of economic self sufficiency and technological development, somethings still remain unchanged like the conventional Indian mindset.
PRIOR TO any Independence Day or Republic Day, newspapers, magazines and blogospheres are inundated with articles reflecting strong patriotic sentiments: Rising India, India in 2020, India- My Pride, etc. A surge of ostentatious patriotism spreads throughout the country. These celebrations go beyond state or territory lines. Every shop window or doorway adorns the tricolour. Miniature paper or plastic flags and badges depicting the tricolour are sold at every traffic junction and street corner. Radio channels in accordance with the occasion churn out patriotic songs and at regular interludes play the most recent rendition of the national anthem. The entire country in unison celebrates the occasion.
The Constitution of India grants the national flag the highest degree of honour. It should be displayed at specific times in specific manner only. It even lays down guidelines for the proper disposal of a damaged or soiled flag. A damaged or soiled flag should be accorded the same respect as is given to a dead body. It should be either buried or cremated. However, the status of the national flag in our country has digressed to that of a festoon or an embellishment that is taken off the moment the celebrations are over. The tricolour that adorned countless shop windows and doorways is unceremoniously ripped off the very next day and chucked away in trash. Roads and gullies are littered with national flags, tossed away after the festivities of the previous day, wherein they are trodden and trampled upon by many. How many times have we seen this typical scene: a national flag lying abandoned on the ground espied by all but no Indian venturing forth to rescue the proud standard of the sovereign state of India from the ignominy in which it is lying!
Amongst all the people who watched the film ‘Chak De India’, how many stood up in the theatre when the national anthem sounded in a scene in between the film or for that reason, any other film where the anthem sounds as a part of a scene? Possibly none and if some elite few did, they were probably reprimanded by those seated behind them. The moment this question is raised, a fiery debate ensues regarding the inappropriateness of the usage of the national anthem in the film and the filmmaker is accused of exploiting patriotic sentiments. A self proclaimed moral brigade places the filmmaker at the dock for violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act, 1971. But the flaw does not lie with the filmmaker but with the system somewhere: The transparent system of democracy, empowering in it nature but hardly being stringently righteous where it ideally should be. What other reason can possibly explain the apathy on the part of the authorities or the general masses?
In introspection, would we feel ashamed of picking up our cell phones or wallets from the ground? Then, why do we feel so about doing the same for our national flag? However, the biggest travesty is the outrage that we feel when pictures of our beloved neighbour burning our national flag surfaces over the Internet or newspapers, even though we do the exact same thing, disrespect our national heritage. Such abhorrent disparagement of our nation is unforgivable but we feel strongly about it only when the crime is committed by our neighbour, although we, the responsible citizens of India, perennially derogate our national heritage. Any form of disbelief on this account can be countered by a visit to any of the majestic forts of Delhi, built during the Mughal era or even earlier yet containing brash proclamations of love of a certain Rahul-Neha or Amit-Megha any other 21st century lovelorn couple who visited the monument.
National pride is indeed a rare commodity, probably the rarest. But it is a quality that can perhaps be inculcated through small insignificant actions. So, the next time you stoop to pick up a flag lying on the ground, amidst the stares and glares of bystanders, remember that you are doing it for no one but yourself because it is your country and your national flag, your own and it deserves all the respect. Even though people around you don’t stand up for or pay regard to the national anthem, take initiative and do it because you are doing the right thing. You are doing what everyone else around you ought to be doing. These tiny gestures might not make a lot of difference to you but it can make all the difference to those around you.
It doesn’t matter how inopportune the moment or the number of times it plays, it is the fundamental duty of every Indian to stand up and honour the national anthem each and every time it is played. The August 15 and January 26 are not just a celebration of Indian Independence or the Indian Constitution; it is a celebration of a force larger and worthier than any religion or faith, even life. We celebrate India.
Amongst all the people who watched the film ‘Chak De India’, how many stood up in the theatre when the national anthem sounded in a scene in between the film or for that reason, any other film where the anthem sounds as a part of a scene? Possibly none and if some elite few did, they were probably reprimanded by those seated behind them. The moment this question is raised, a fiery debate ensues regarding the inappropriateness of the usage of the national anthem in the film and the filmmaker is accused of exploiting patriotic sentiments. A self proclaimed moral brigade places the filmmaker at the dock for violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act, 1971. But the flaw does not lie with the filmmaker but with the system somewhere: The transparent system of democracy, empowering in it nature but hardly being stringently righteous where it ideally should be. What other reason can possibly explain the apathy on the part of the authorities or the general masses?
In introspection, would we feel ashamed of picking up our cell phones or wallets from the ground? Then, why do we feel so about doing the same for our national flag? However, the biggest travesty is the outrage that we feel when pictures of our beloved neighbour burning our national flag surfaces over the Internet or newspapers, even though we do the exact same thing, disrespect our national heritage. Such abhorrent disparagement of our nation is unforgivable but we feel strongly about it only when the crime is committed by our neighbour, although we, the responsible citizens of India, perennially derogate our national heritage. Any form of disbelief on this account can be countered by a visit to any of the majestic forts of Delhi, built during the Mughal era or even earlier yet containing brash proclamations of love of a certain Rahul-Neha or Amit-Megha any other 21st century lovelorn couple who visited the monument.
National pride is indeed a rare commodity, probably the rarest. But it is a quality that can perhaps be inculcated through small insignificant actions. So, the next time you stoop to pick up a flag lying on the ground, amidst the stares and glares of bystanders, remember that you are doing it for no one but yourself because it is your country and your national flag, your own and it deserves all the respect. Even though people around you don’t stand up for or pay regard to the national anthem, take initiative and do it because you are doing the right thing. You are doing what everyone else around you ought to be doing. These tiny gestures might not make a lot of difference to you but it can make all the difference to those around you.
It doesn’t matter how inopportune the moment or the number of times it plays, it is the fundamental duty of every Indian to stand up and honour the national anthem each and every time it is played. The August 15 and January 26 are not just a celebration of Indian Independence or the Indian Constitution; it is a celebration of a force larger and worthier than any religion or faith, even life. We celebrate India.
 | Previous Post |
.Dear Devleena De,
I honestly agree with you, we certainly lack Nationalism as it only has the power to set things right in this country. Why is it that our Nationalist Heroes like Rani Jhansi, Shivaji, The Pandavs, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, AZad and many others have never found place in the hearts of us Indians as places of revered pilgrimage and not a single picture on the walls of any Armed forces building. is still not a more severe example of hypocrisy?
Login
 Login through Social ID
|
