To Hollywood movie buffs the title may seem familiar but this article is neither about the Will Smith's 1996 flick nor is it about United States of America. Rather it is all about 15th August, the Independence day of my beloved country India (Mera Bharat Mahaan, Kajol's favorite dialogue in K3G). How various incidents within 24 hours can shake someone’s patriotic emotions, is the essence of this column.
It was a Friday evening, the day before Independence Day and I was stuck in the busy Hyderabad traffic at Jubilee check-post on my way to a friend's house. Some casual thoughts were flashing through my mind “This time Independence Day has somehow fallen on a Saturday again & I have lost another sure-shot holiday." I am sure this must have definitely been in the minds of all 5 days office a week MNC cultured folks where as all the 6 days office a week people must have enjoyed this extra holiday in the weekend. But none between the two classes is least bothered to celebrate the Independence Day. Actually 15th August has become another holiday in the diaries of Indian people except the so called politicians in white khadis. They are indeed the busiest people on this auspicious day as they have got the official right to hoist the tricolor national flag. Amid these wild thoughts my a
ttention got diverted towards a kid when he touched my hand. He was a small boy may be around 7-8 years old (a typical traffic signal brand) and was selling the tiny plastic tricolor flags. "Take some 10 flags sir and I will give you a good discount" uttered the seller with a great enthusiasm. My inquisitive mind casually asked him "What are these flags for? Is there anything special tomorrow?". His gloomy stare with a smile on his face depicted more of his curiosity than ignorance. As the signal turns green and traffic moved forward but my eyes were still fixed at those innocent eyes that had lots of unanswered questions. Couple of horns from the back and I was forced to drive ahead. There was only one question in my mind “Will the kid ever know the significance of tomorrow”?
When the clock stroke one I woke up from my dreams and only then I realized that I have missed another flag hoisting ceremony of my life. I can't even recollect when was it last time I attended a flag hoisting ceremony or watched the live telecast of PM addressing the nation from Red fort. Actually I am not the only sinner of this brand in fact majority of my generation endorse the same brand. Sometimes it looks to me like my generation has already lost its interest in this auspicious day. Whom to blame? But are we solely responsible for this apathy? - These are really debatable questions. But if I reflect back into my childhood memories, 15th August used to be one of the busiest days in my school life. As a Boys' Scout commander I have led my troop in various parades & saluted the tricolor in uniform with the most patriotic spirit. But every time the long somnolent speech after the national anthem sounded the same even though time, place & speaker changed. Never ever I have heard a speech, which is spoken from heart; which can inspire people; which can recite the true significance of our Independence day. In Russia it is a custom for newly wedded couple to visit a military park on their wedding day to pay homage to the war heroes because of whose sacrifices they have been able to live peacefully where as Indians like me don't even bother to wake up early on a weekend to attend the flag hoisting ceremony of the Independence day.
It was around four in the evening and I was at a barber shop. While the barber was busy shaving me I was struggling to watch one of my favorite bollywood flicks "K3G", which was being played on the TV, in the multiple reflections of the mirrors. When the scene where the British students sing the Indian national anthem came the barber asked me to stand immediately. Half-shaved I, when stood up hastily, felt the same sense of pride in listening to the anthem as I used to feel in my childhood. Standing at the cross-roads of torn patriotism I was really amazed at the patriotism of this barber who not only respects his national anthem but also makes people like me realize the same.
The same evening I was at a dinner party with my friends. These days we need some excuses or other to go for a treat on someone else's money. The giant screen at the restaurant was playing some patriotic videos. There were kebabs & cocktails almost on every table. There were laughs & jokes coming out from some table every now & then. Something happened I didn't know what but I stood up instantly. Before I realized what had propelled me to do so I saw the tricolor flag waving on the giant screen & heard the national anthem being played. Lost in the melody of the anthem for few seconds when I looked around there was a deadly silence on the entire floor. The waiters froze for a while when everyone on the floor was giving standing obsession to the national flag & the national anthem. It was then I realized "This is my real India". We might have dozens of languages spoken with their various dialects in different parts of the country, we might believe in different Gods from different religions, we might hate each other viz. Hindus vs. Muslims, metro vs. rural or even four-wheelers vs. auto-rickshaws, still the country prospers, still India has the second largest growing economy. What is that hidden force that drives us among all these diversities. I understood that it is this patriotic feeling of being an Indian which unites us, propels us which is in the form of curiosity in the eyes of the 7 years old kid, I met yesterday, to know what is the tricolor meant for; which is in the form of enthusiasm in the voice of the barber that makes others show respect to the national anthem ; which is in the heart of sinner branded Indians like me who still love their country India (Mera Bharat Mahaan) even though they are pretty much influenced by the western effects.
There I could hear my heart pounding with every beats of
"Jaya-he .... Jaya-he.... Jaya-he.....
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya-he .........".
