National Anthem - To Sing Or Not To Sing

bmaquarius · Oct 25, 2017

Indian National anthem.
Time taken 52 seconds is all the taken to play.
That's less than your 2 minute Maggi.
Less than time taken to upload your latest profile pic and status on your WhatsApp and Facebook.
Less than your favorite song.
Sadly 52 seconds is asking for too much for a nation in hurry.
Out of 150 minutes of movie time, if we cannot spare 52 seconds of our lives to stand up for the national anthem, it could well be a sign of our emotional bankruptcy.

If less than a minute too much of a bother, from our popcorn and coke, then we are a nation not worthy of respect. Tilak rightly said to Gandhi, freedom received easily will not be valued enough in the years to come, while speaking in defence of revolutionary action of several other freedom fighters as juxtaposed to Gandhi’s non violence.
And, today, he is certainly proven right.

Now when we cite our freedom of choice to sing or not to sing the national anthem, how many among us can even sing the “jana gana mana” today without stuttering. Does anybody care about the history behind the national anthem or the writer. Exactly, the interest factor, we neither care nor will look anything that doesn't matter to us. We have no time for anyone not connected to us.
We don't have time for our fathers, leave alone, the father of the nation.

Then, why must chanting the national anthem be compulsory for schools. Surely, it's not required in later life, anyway. If we have right to make our choices as adults, then why not for children. Has anyone bothered to ask, what they want. Again why defence services must be required to honour the anthem. Why should they alone be the custodians of freedom, nationality and gallantry. Why should civilians be absolved of any duty of something as perfunctory as singing the national anthem.

To take the debate even further, why must we have flags flying full mast over government office and establishments ceremonially. Why must government office mandate a 2 minutes silence on 31st January, (wonder if anyone remembers)? Those two minutes could be used fruitfully, going by the liberal view. Some argue that respect is in the mind. Why display it up your sleeve. Why must government establishments observe a 'vigilance day' or symbolic 'hindi diwas'. As if single day devoted towards anti corruption drive or hindi propagation will serve any purpose? Why must we celebrate Independence day or Republic day Why have have a Republic parade at all? Why light up official buildings on national festivals? Why call them festival at all since we already have many throughout the year? We might as well save on electricity, if that will resolve our energy crisis. The list of things that we quibble about which are both needless and endless.
There's a joke going around. Standing up for national anthem isn't necessary but we must stand up when the judge enters thechamber.

When an Eiffel Tower or a Brazil statue stands decorated in rainbow colours or neon lights to honour victims of disasters it is “reverence”. We are quick to applaud their 'sensitivity and 'empathy 'and follow suit in our display profiles, accordingly. But, for our own freedom struggle we refuse to stand up, or change dp pictures. Not fashionable, perhaps. Time we showed some respect even if by way of tokenism, without arguments. We are not to question “why” always, but, “why not” at times. Not everything needs justification. Sentiments count. Symbolism matter.

I remember reading about Russia, where newly married couple is required to visit nearest martyrs memorial World War-II as a mark of respect and gratitude. We are left us misty eyed while appreciating this gesture, but try anything similar in India and, they'll be a nation wide uproar from guardians of 'rights' and 'freedom' of infringement of personal freedom and choice. We soon turning out into a country of rabble rousers.

We slugfest over non issues night after night on prime time TV, when we might as well do something constructive about real issues, but that's a tall order and a hard thing to do, so we might continue arm chair soldiers, since we are the argumentative Indian.

PushpavalliSrinivasan · Oct 25, 2017

A disabled person was assaulted in a Goa theater for not standing up when the national anthem was played. People go to the theater for enjoying a movie and so it is better not to play national anthem to avoid these kind of hurtful incidents. It is my humble opinion.
PS

bmaquarius · Oct 25, 2017

I understand your viewpoint for a disabled person, it is entirely out of question there, but we're talking about the bigger picture here. Sport persons have their arena where tri colour and national anthem is played out before any match and even post victory. Defence personnel have their domain when tricolour and anthem takes centre stage, schools have it compulsory. It's only the aam aadmi who don't have an opportunity to stand up or sing the anthem. Now when provided a platform do so, we have made out an issue of choice here. Ordinarily, nobody should have a problem unless a genuine problem. But media and certain segments have made it fashionable to have a difference of opinion even if there isn't much room for it.

Naari · Oct 25, 2017

While you make a very valid point, I agree with the other response. If the enforcement or let's say expecting voluntary compliance with something creates more confusion & unrest in the nation than not having it at all, I would say better not to mandate / play the national anthem. There will always be some lazy, disrespectful Indians who won't comply, much to the dismay of the patriotic ones. And then the pointing of fingers; why enforce something like this at all?

And, looking at the macro picture, respect & standing up for the national anthem is really a symbolic gesture, it would just be really commendable if ppl could come together & co-operate in solving the root issues plaguing the nation like corruption, poverty, unemployment & even smaller ones like cleanliness. When we can take care of the real issues, we can move on to such symbolic pieces, isn't it?

Elsa · Oct 26, 2017

You can almost never have everyone in a family agree on something, how can you expect a country of over a billion people to not have different opinion on something that is imposed on them, especially when they pay for their 2.5-3 hrs of entertainment.

In an ideal world, yes, I agree it just takes a minute to stand up while the national anthem is played. But did it ever occur to you, why should the aam admi show how patriotic he/she is only in a movie theatre? Why not always? Also, the defence and sportsmen are working or playing on behalf of our country. And it is but natural to expect national anthem to be played before a game starts. But why of all the places a movie theatre?? Why not any other place?

HariLakhera · Oct 26, 2017

Playing national anthem before the start of the movie was tried earlier too. I have seen people entering the hall only after the anthem is over. I have seen people sitting. I have been told the cinema owners are not happy because they are not paid for playing it.
Anything forced is resentful and that is natural. Some people have gone to the extent that Tagore wrote this in raise of the British -Bharat Bhagya Vidhata meaning the British.
Another reason could be the total disregard for the politicians who are trying to impose it. People are fed up with their hypocrisy.
Respect cannot be imposed, it has to be ingrained from childhood and the preachers have to practice what they say.
You may be knowing that Afro Americans players have been demonstrating their anger by not respecting their national anthem or even flag referring to Second Amendment - freedom of expression.
But nation has always stood as one when it came to facing any aggression by any foreign force. That's our strength.

bmaquarius · Oct 26, 2017

I am happy to elicit response from like and unlike minded readers. My point was exactly to make us sit up and question the happenings. Admit, we are not a disciplined society with all honesty. We never have been able to get people to do do anything voluntarily as simple as queueing up for anything, cheerfully. We are restless and resentful and prefer to rush in push or jostle than line up. We jump signals hate to pay up our fines, duties or taxes without grumble. So standing up for the anthem voluntary or otherwise will always be resented. We hate change of any form which will shake us up from our comfort zone. Let us make a small beginning at least by standing up for anthem, before we crusade on corruption, like the diwali cracker ban. At least we made a small beginning to reduce pollution by banning bursting of crackers, even if we cannot contain industrial and vehicular pollution,(by the way ban had to be imposed- voluntary doesn't work in our country).
Sometimes compulsion is required even in a liberal state like US where you got to sign up for the services for a particular duration. No choice. In maharashtra doctors have to work in rural areas mandatorily, voluntarily it wouldn't have been possible to get them there. For promoting something as simple as 'swatchata abhiyan' the PM had to wield the jhadoo. Ministers, bureaucracy, film stars, sport persons, schools, colleges , why, we sarkari karamcharis too were enlisted to make the impact and get everyone on board. So we have to think out of the box. Symbolism matters. Respect cannot be forced, yes, but, we are taught to do, so, respect has to be inculcated. If respect cannot be forced, disrespect must not be tolerated either.

Balajee · Oct 26, 2017

It is the Indian Supreme Court that is responsible for this unnecessary debate. by ordering the anthem to be played in cinemas. It let out the genie from the bottle and now, probably seeing its adverse consequences wants to put the spirit back into the bottle.. Ther can be no two opinions on whether the anthem should be respected. It indeed should be. But does playing it in places of entertainment like cinemas enhance this respect? Today they want it to be played in cinemas and tomorrow as an extentsion of this order clubs and bars too could be forced to play it. Frankly the anthem should be played only in places where its gravitas is enhanced likie schools, and government, police, paramilitary and armed forces; functions.

kcb · Oct 26, 2017

I agree with @Balajee

Playing National Anthem in cinemas seems so ridiculous especially after watching the kind of movies coming these days with lot of sex, violence and crime. I don't think people will be in a patriotic mood to pay respect to National Anthem after watching these type of movies.

bmaquarius · Oct 26, 2017

Agreed, patriotism cannot be administered in dosage. But a simple act of standing up 52 seconds won't hurt our feet, or ruin our movie. Maybe, we might earn the respect of the younger lot who look up to us in many ways.