“Happy Republic Day!” “Happy Independence Day!” – we tweet,
share status updates on Facebook, attend our colony’s flag hoisting, games and parties, and are back to our usual selves the
next day. Flags lie strewn on the streets a day after every colony has
patriotic songs blaring from rented loudspeakers. Our sense of patriotism gets
deflated in less than a day.
What is achieved by celebrating Independence or Republic
Day? At the national capital, the Prime Minister and the President speak hollow
words; the government shows off our military prowess in parades when it can’t
provide safety to its own citizens. Closer home, we attend parties which have
nothing to do with talking about becoming responsible citizens after flag
hoisting, play games and worst – liquor shops remain shut.
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| Google Doodle - Happy Republic Day |
This Unity in Diversity is hurting us more than doing us
good. The politicians are preying on pockets of caste, creed and religion and
each community abandons the other when it gets what it wants. We gel well and
accommodate each other but live as fragmented parts of society. We can’t take
someone grievously injured on the street to the hospital for fear of a police
enquiry on us. Cops, politicians, lawyers and government servants take more
advantage of their power than use it to fulfil their duty – protect common man.
Rapes, murders and other crimes are the order of the day. New infrastructure
takes eons to build, and when done, they lie idle waiting for some minister to
inaugurate. Each state has a separate history, separate Gods, taxes,
festivals... how are we ever going to feel united?
Do we need Republic/Independence Day to organize sports
competitions in our buildings? Can’t we do it on any given Sunday? Why waste
these days having fun? Why not try to do something (at least on these days),
that make us feel more Indian? Why not forget our caste, creed and more and
look at ourselves as Indians first? Shouldn’t we stop differentiating on the
basis of language? Ensure safety of people who live around us? Aid in spreading
education so that reducing illiteracy will make a stronger India? Or would we
rather prefer satire tweets and Facebook updates about how messed up our
country is?
The time is not only now; it is always. If we want India to
be better, we must start with ourselves. Make ourselves worthy to contribute to
society. Then pay back to our motherland who has given us so much but is being raped repeatedly by politicians and the likes.
image courtesy: Google
UA-22264662-1
Inspiring last lines Vishal!!
ReplyDeleteNicely put Vishal...Sadly for most folks in our nation Republic Day is the first holiday of the year. Period.
ReplyDeleteI mean they dont even think about the nation or the unity needed in the nation! Yes, as you said there are umpteen things that can be taken up by every Indian for every other Indian!
Deletev nice post on republic day
ReplyDeleteI don't update my status on any of the National Festivals. I curse my country for almost everything and I don't maintain double standards. In your post, we spoke the reality. As you said, we must start with ourselves, that's the way we can do something for our country.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments, ladies :)
ReplyDeleteHey Vishal, I agree with your points. infact we have seen this hypocrisy for years at stretch now. Still, we are at the same place. Nothing changed. Nothing changes (I am forced to believe). I take your last line and will add the following to it - "We must start with ourselves and continue doing good for the society despite the apparent lack of success"..
ReplyDeleteI agree with you totally, I am become so disillusioned with the India of now...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.myunfinishedlife.com