Patriotism is
the desire to see your country as one that promotes the welfare of every
citizen irrespective of religious, cultural and other differences. Patriotism has nothing to do with killing
people whose eating habits differ from yours.
Patriotism has nothing to do with playing the national anthem in cinema
halls or wearing the national flower on your sleeve.
The recent
order of the Supreme Court of India to play the national anthem in the movie
halls before the beginning of each movie actually belittles the anthem by making
it a prelude to mere popular entertainment.
Worse, most people who visit the cinema halls are not likely to be in a
mood to display their patriotic sentiments; they are there for
entertainment. There will be some
latecomers who will be still searching for their seats. There will be physically handicapped or
elderly people who may not find it easy to stand at attention. There are many practical problems, in short. What was the need for issuing this order?
Ask them what the SC order means |
Is anyone’s
patriotism going to be nurtured by listening to the national anthem? Patriotism should emerge as a natural
offshoot of one’s pride in one’s country, its heritage, its achievements, and
so on. India is still struggling with
poverty and unemployment, malnutrition and diseases, political corruption and
chicanery, and all sorts of other evils.
If I say that dealing with these evils is far more important than
arresting people who protest against an irrational court order, do I become
antinational?
Going through
certain comments on social media such as Facebook, one will naturally wonder
why today’s patriots speak the language of savages. Can love of any kind be enforced
ruthlessly? Seeing today’s patriots, I
feel my love for the nation eroding slowly.
I wish I could live in a better country.
Does my wish make me antinational?
I know I’m infinite
times more patriotic than these ruffians and hooligans who go around imposing
their physical might on others in the name of patriotism. But they won’t admit it. Because their patriotism has many axes to
grind.
Sadly, patriotism has become an artificial label than a true feeling.
ReplyDeleteArtificial, you said it, Kiran. It is a strategy, a ploy, a trick just to hoodwink certain sections of citizens.
Deletewell said!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gita ji.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right Sir. This so-called patriotism is only for the goons to implement under the pretext of the SC order.
ReplyDeleteAll these self-proclaimed patriots should be given compulsory classes in humanism.
DeleteAgree with u.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know that.
Delete