It's stand up time!
I very rarely go to movies these days. Imagine coughing up 150 bucks for a movie like Black&White!! I wouldn't watch it the second time even if Ghai saab offers me 300 for the endurance test. I am still wondering how it could get a tax relief. Anyway, that aside, even before the movie started, the national anthem was played by the multiplex owners. And before the anthem started, a message was flashed saying, “Please respect the national anthem and stand up." And I reluctantly got up and endured the one minute rendition. You think I should not made that comment? Let me justify myself.
I studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya. So that would imply that we used to sing the national anthem everyday after the Assembly. And if I keep aside my KV allegiance, I am pretty sure it is the practice in all most every school of India. After the anthem is over, the school pupil leader would say, school viserjen' and we used to say Jai Hind. That has endured till today. So much of indoctrination that every time I listen to Jana gana mana, I involuntarily shout school viserjen and Jai Hind at the end.
Another momentous occasion was on the day of Gandhi Vardhanti. At the time of Gandhiji's death, a Siren would go out in the town and all the students would observe one minute's silence. I was told that electric supply would be off for a minute. And that all trains too would stop for a minute. I have no idea how much of it is true but that is the image with which we were brought up. For us, it meant that the nation would come to a stand still for that minute. As we entered higher classes, the 'silence' became voluntary and self imposed. So, once we were in the cricket field. When the siren went up, all of us freezed in our position. Batsmen in hi s stance, bowler on his runner up, fieldsmen in their ensemble poses. Apart from being fun, it was our interpretation of the nation coming to a stand still. Time moved on, the number of times I listened to the national anthem came down drastically.
And then, I saw for the first time, commercialisation of our anthem. While watching K3G, the familiar song is played out on screen. The whole of the auditorium sat. Except for a motley 3-4 people. Not that I have any regrets or misgivings.
Later, very recently, while we were watching a rather pathetic play on patriotism, the national anthem is played out. All of the audience stood up in the midst of the boos and we stood up until the anthem was over. I saw an ad wherein the anthem is played inadvertently on the radio and everyone who is listening to it gets up and stands in respect. I am told it’s a brilliant ad, the brilliance eludes me though.
I don't want to be held ransom for a song. My argument is that there should be an occasion for everything. We go to a movie hall or anywhere with an intention of having some fun. And suddenly, the national anthem is played. And the first thought which comes to my mind is, oh no, not again.
One might argue that it’s only for a minute and that we should unquestioningly stand up and respect it. But why? Why should I always prove my patriotism and allegiance ? Especially when the rendition is a commercially spruced up version. Shubha Mudgal going on and on with the raagas while we are shown Bofors guns and kashmir on screen. Why should I stand up? What if Sunny Deol suddenly becomes patriotic and decides to play JanaGanaMana ten times in his movies. Are we supposed to stand up every time. And I am willing to bet that no one is going to stand up unless a written message pleading us to stand-up is explicitly showed.
I think it’s high time that we stop expecting people to wear their patriotism on their sleeves all the time. There is a place and time for everything. Please don't commercialise it. And yes, we don't have to be reminded our duties towards the nation every now and then.
Tailpiece: :Like a good Christian would say, "Don't take gods name in vain" !!
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