Much has been debated about the recent
furor created over a family not standing during the National Anthem and then what followed, amidst angry
triumphant clapping and abuses, was the family being ousted at the start of the show
by self-confessed patriots!
All through school they taught us to stand
in attention while the School Song played, followed by the UAE National Anthem
and then the Indian National Anthem. We stood like pins and sang, irrespective
of nationality, language or religion.But a height order was maintained.
Many decades later I still stand while
singing, because it reminds me of school, it’s a chance I get to relive those
memories, plus I like the anthem.
Today, I also do it because of the mandate
“Please stand for the Anthem”. That too, reminds me of school.
Somewhere it resonates a sense of pride
within me, but doesn’t make me forget the hundred other times, I may have
wished to be in another country.
The debates I read over social media made
me really sad and scared. What started out as a family, soon became a ‘muslim
family’. Cricket, Pakistan, attire, mother, father, nothing was spared! Readers
who weren’t even there to begin with were exhibiting this angst.
I would like to know how many of us stood
in our homes when DD played the National Anthem? How many of us stand in front
of our TV during flag hoisting on the 15th
of every year? How many of us stood when the national anthem was sung in the
middle of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham?
For those of you who didn’t, but mean no
disrespect, don’t beat yourselves yet.
It is not a legal offense to not be standing
in attention or at all, while the Anthem is played. If a person is found,
disrupting or preventing others from singing the anthem, THAT is a legal
offense. – Here’s a thought every time
the cops want to drag you in, stand where ever the hell you are and keep
repeating the Anthem, till cows come home or the cop goes home, which ever comes
first - cause disrupting you would be an offence.
Was the family’s right of citizenship then infringed
upon by not being allowed to watch the movie and curbing free will, by no
fault?
This is just the kind of policing that has
declared Beef a patriotic Moo, 1 PM a good time to shut down clubs and short
clothes as reason for rape.
People who stand for the anthem want to. Here's another thought, let's start playing the Anthem at the end of the movie, let's see how many stay back to pay respect. The results will be shameful. Patriotism and respect cannot forever be demanded. How many of those in the
hall that evening, went home narrated stories of standing by what was right,
then littered the streets, spat on roads, bribed and called other communities
names – this all negates the patriotism that you just spend 2 mins standing
for.
I'm not for or against standing, neither do I think either shows respect or disrespect. But I'm not for the kind of hatred that brings out the ugly, slimy, purple faced, bone crushing, single eyed monster that Kiran Rao was talking about. Aren’t we all tired of this bullshit? And
we help Media propagate this by forwarding and re-tweeting. Make this stop.
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