Friday, January 27, 2006

Republic Day

First of all a very happy Republic Day to all of you :)

I got the following message from my friend on Jan 26.

“By sending this message to you, I am wasting 2 bucks when we all know that in the other side of the border, Re 1 can avail a roti. So, let’s take a pledge on our republic day…Let’s keep sending messages to each other and starve the PAKIS”

When I read the message, I just started at the screen for some time since the absolute inanity of the message took some time to sink. I mean, nothing in the message makes sense. I wouldn’t have taken this message seriously if not for the last line. It completely put me off.

How does Pak bashing justify our patriotism? I fail to understand it completely. Sending stupid messages like these just spoil the mood of Republic day. People don’t really understand the significance of republic day. For many of us patriotism is aroused only during an Indo-Pak war or worse during Indo-Pak match. Che, whoever is the originator of the message is an absolute waste mind.

Also, seriously do we really need the republic day parade? The show of the military might on the occasion of republic day bothers me. What kind of message are we sending to the world? What are we sending it to our countrymen? If the government needs to display its military might, there can be another day for it? But please stop doing this on a republic day.

I think there are other wonderful ways to celebrate the republic day. In further years to come, I am afraid that republic day will be relegated to just another formal occasion and a holiday for the commonfolk in India. I think we really need to think out of the box in order to celebrate the republic day so that more and more youth who have been born decades after the freedom struggle relate to it, symbolically. Also, I think display of the arm power is unnecessary during a republic day. Rather than showcasing our arms strength, why can’t we showcase people’s power? India is one of the biggest and healthiest democracies. India is also one of the most populous countries in the world. Why not celebrate the great human resource that we have?

We have community festivals like Mumbai festival, Celebrate Bandra, Juhu harama etc. Why can’t we have similar such festivals all over India on Jan 26? I mean we could have all the schools in India coming together with something creative. The youth of India can redefine Indianness. I mean all we need is to toss some ideas, think out of the box and well, we could celebrate republic day in a real better way. I am sure loads of you reading this post might have ideas brimming. Please do share it with me. I think a change is long overdue.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder the same thing every year...

Anonymous said...

simply superb things u ve been updating offlate>:D< luvv yaa:D
seriously...keep it going!!!


hmm..like u said...the day isnt about anti-pak, so why not celebrate this with them(or youth frm other countries too) itself...
How??thtz gotto be a detailed plan now.
another idea- give the unprivileged a chance to showcase their tallents..the whole event managemnet being done by interested youth of schools and colleges.

tell me straigh if its bukwaas..will think of other better ones :-/-
shonu (titzbitz)

Anonymous said...

Hi Shobha,

Remember when we were in college...and we sat in class listening to Prof Gita.... those were good lectures weren't they?

If you believed any of the things we discussed in those lectures...if you believe in life and humanity and Non-allignment and if you are patriotic...then lets not let Bush come down to India and tell us what to do....the world should be asking him to step down from his throne and let there be peace.

"The World Don't Need Another Hitler.....Down With Bush......................out of the basement and on to the roads.......why do these bastards get away with everything??"

I'm an Indian...And I don't want that murdering, lying rich-man's bastard telling my Govt what to do.

Join me when he comes down here. This is not politically motivated....it is just for humanity...from one peaceful person to another, from one human to another.

Vidya said...

I thought that SMS was quite funny... I can see the humour in it - but obviously it is a lot more serious for you...

Vighnesh said...

It was just a joke! :|

I assume PMS to be the culprit here :)) Buhaha!

*hides from blasting*

Unknown said...

The parade isn't all about military might. Its also about showcasing what makes us all proud of India as a country, and showing unity in a country which is so diverse.

Only celebrating Juhu festival, Mumbai festival and the like actually contradicts this view - wherein you celebrate only being part of a community or region smaller than the whole of India. You have to agree that on Republic Day, however we celebrate, we have got to feel a part of the whole country.

In a way the cultural floats, the way the army marches past and pays respect to the president and prime minister - does showcase people power. Cultural floats of course are all about people - as are awards for heroism and national service. But even the military parade is a symbol of how all of India's armed forces - while powerful - are there for service and not for arrogance.

A recent article in Indian Express wonderfully expresses the need for a parade.

Anonymous said...

What makes you think that Republic Day is already "just a holiday" for people. Why people? For me. Going to school where pompous idiots make inane speeches does not make sense. A holiday does.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I meant: What makes you think that Republic Day isn't already "just a holiday" for people. Why people? For me. Going to school where pompous idiots make inane speeches does not make sense. A holiday does.

Anonymous said...

Well, I really could not see the funny side of it. And I've cracked lots of jokes which might be considered in bad taste. Apart from being in bad taste, it is also boring- which is something a joke shouldn't be- if that it was meant to be.

AAA said...

Well said!

Anonymous said...

hey!
Republic Day makes no sense to me as well...I dont think its anything speacial cos we dont do anything on that day... I also think the parades we hold r crap... i agree with u totally... The showcasing of the weapons goes way over my head...
Do u think anything will change the parades?

toocooltolooseweight said...

There are 2 parts of India-one for whom war is a harsh reality with which they deal with every moment of their lives...then there is this "lucky" part of India who has no idea of what happens at the border , for whom the weapons go above their head. I remember when my husband was in coma due to a shell attack at a remote border post , a lot of people in Delhi( and I am not even going down south)asked me in a puzzled "What war?"