A few days ago I read an article about as man who had filed a case against Sania Mirza for keeping her feet on a table on which Indian flag was also kept. In the best part of the report that man was quoted as saying: “Me and my friends will move around the city from 2pm onwards on Republic Day collecting flags lying everywhere and destroy them in private with full dignity.” Yes even flags have dignity and, in all probability, feelings! I hope he and his friends had a good time that day! I am sad that this is what we have reduced patriotism into.
India has advanced so much in the last couple of decades, but we still have not got the confidence that a matured democracy should have. We are still so thin-skinned about symbols of our nationhood, and that’s a shame.
As a nation that won it’s independence with such difficulty, if there is one thing we should be proud of, and should continue to aspire towards, it is freedom. Not just freedom to vote, but freedom in every sense.
I have a school near my place and the time I leave for college in the morning clashes with the morning assembly in that school and coincidently the students there are usually singing the national anthem when I leave. Now does anybody expect me to stand on road till they finish the anthem? Don’t say ‘yes’!
As long as we don’t breach into the freedom of others, we should be free to watch the movies we want, read the books we want, express our sexual preferences, and yes, freedom to disrespect the national flag or refuse to stand up and stop moving when the anthem is played. In fact I won’t call ‘disrespect’, it is ‘not giving phony respect’. What is the point of being a free country otherwise?
India has advanced so much in the last couple of decades, but we still have not got the confidence that a matured democracy should have. We are still so thin-skinned about symbols of our nationhood, and that’s a shame.
As a nation that won it’s independence with such difficulty, if there is one thing we should be proud of, and should continue to aspire towards, it is freedom. Not just freedom to vote, but freedom in every sense.
I have a school near my place and the time I leave for college in the morning clashes with the morning assembly in that school and coincidently the students there are usually singing the national anthem when I leave. Now does anybody expect me to stand on road till they finish the anthem? Don’t say ‘yes’!
As long as we don’t breach into the freedom of others, we should be free to watch the movies we want, read the books we want, express our sexual preferences, and yes, freedom to disrespect the national flag or refuse to stand up and stop moving when the anthem is played. In fact I won’t call ‘disrespect’, it is ‘not giving phony respect’. What is the point of being a free country otherwise?
posted by Sangeeta at
6:32 AM
3 Comments:
i was attending my class in college today. the topic being taught was a bore and the person teaching was worse. i wanted to go out of the class but coudnt. i dont understand whats the point in being a free country?? :)
By
Anonymous, at 10:58 PM
Let's discuss some interesting facts.
1) Literacy rate : 52%
2) Rural population : 72%
3) People below poverty line : 28%
And still you say India has advanced so much in last 2 decades.
Sitting in air conditioned room in a big metropolis, and eating pizza from Mcee, and watching the launch of satellite on TV, doesn't mean country has developed. Delhi, the capital city of india, after 60 years of independence, still cries for proper water supply and electricity.
By the way, the original topic about thick skinned people you raised, I agree with that :-) .
By
Anonymous, at 9:00 AM
Patiotism is not just standing in attention when National anthem is being sung. But do always remember the tricolour which is often disrespected is the same for which thousands of our brothers are standing defiant in extreme conditions. Lot's of them laid their lives too young than even us and that too with a pride. I concur with that young man whom you are talking about. Its nothing but natural that being in a peaceful and luxurious environment, we forget the valour of those heroes of the nation who too had their families among us. So at least for me, respecting the same flag is like saluting those and many more unsung heroes.
During the medal ceremony in Olympics, when Abhinav Bindra was given gold and the anthem was sung with tricolor hoisted on top, I was nostalgic. Weren't you? This shows why it of so much of value to us, knowingly/unknowingly...
Jai Hind
By
Vivek Anand, at 4:51 AM
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