Friday, January 25, 2013

Republic Day Ramblings




“Going for ‘Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola’,” says one. “Need to take the kids for a haircut,” says another. “How about beer at the bird sanctuary?”
This is how most of us will celebrate the 64th Republic Day. Again.

As a child I wanted to watch the parade - live. Not anymore. Patriotism is hard to measure by the ability to watch state tableaus or patriotic movies. Nevertheless, I salute those who brave the chill to practice and perform in foggy mornings. Not the ones, who arrive in red beacons dressed in band galas. 

So yes, mighty Pranab da will emerge from the ramparts of Rashtrapati Bhavan to address the nation. The protestors, who cued up outside his palatial abode and braved water cannons, arrived early. They should have waited for the Republic Day for a ‘presidential darshan’. 
Talking about speeches, the PM in waiting has already delivered his emotional speech allegedly written by Jairam Ramesh. Since Jairam Ramesh is in no mood to write another speech, get ready for a deadpan meaningless sermon. The message to the nation on national festivals often rekindles hope you’d associate with anticipating a new Himesh Reshamiya flick.
Free tickets of ‘Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola’ for remembering what Pratibha Patil said last year? Or in her entire tenure? 
Excuse my cynicism, but deadpan reminds me of someone who would be delighted. Not his turn this time. He has already delivered one speech in the month of January on popular demand. Two will be too much. Plus he is busy rehearsing the 15thAugust address to the nation.

In keeping with the celebrations, we will get to see tableaus of various states. How about the Bengal tableau depicting their leader practicing her boxing skills on a dummy of ‘you-know-who’? No, we won’t call her a hooligan. Promise! 
This year, there is no particular reason to display our military might.  Arnab has already displayed our verbal prowess in the ‘Times Now’ studious. But ‘Sushma Missiles’ which claim to get ten heads for every one enemy head can be particularly exciting.

Six decades ago, Dr Ambedkar gave us our constitution. Perhaps it’s time to associate the Republic Day with other meaningful ideas of giving. Our leaders can begin by giving us the long overdue police reforms, judicial reforms and electoral reforms. 
Anything but sermons, bandhs, dharnas, logjams.
The nation can celebrate by giving - time, books, clothes, toys, medicines…...smiles, suggestions.
Anything but opinions.

Me? Well, I begin with a smile.
Happy Give Public Day.

Pic Courtesy:Google Pics(jordandentistry.biz)

54 comments:

  1. Happy 26th January to you, too. Me? I am just going to cuddle up under a razaai and watch the Manoj Kumar moviethon.
    Popcorn Patriotism at its best.

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    1. Ra One and Gadar are also on air. Tough choice na?

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  2. Happy Give Public Day! I share in your cynicism. Fortunately being single and not being in a full-time job opens you up to multiple ways of celebrating or remembering the day. This Republic Day I spend it with college kids who will be performing street plays on violence against women. But I remember the days when I used to work crazy hours and had a family--those times, all holidays were merely holidays. I never had energy to do anything else. Now it is different.

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    1. Respect. Glad to know that someone will be celebrating the day in a meaningful way.

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  3. unfortunately, for majority of us Republic day or Independence day is just another holiday when people like to do all those things which by no means is associated with nationalism or patriotism for that matter.....moreover this year's Republic day holiday is more pleasant as there is sunday following it.....

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  4. Absolutely brilliant write Alka! Wry acidic caustic humour! Loved it!

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    1. Thank you Deepak for sharing and appreciating.

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  5. Great idea and brilliant satire as usual :)

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  6. In early days,Republic Day used to give that feeling of " Being there" ?Unfortunately,not any more.
    Now 26th Jan has only significance is a holiday.
    In any case,what can one expect with security all around

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  7. Only in 90's Republic Day and Independence Day were remembered as the day of importance. I used to watch the parade with my grandparents. Perhaps people are too busy these days that they have to compromise with their patriotism or country isn't giving enough to celebrate.
    I'll celebrate 26th Jan with a beer, no it's not an excuse to have a beer.

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    1. One can feel more patriotic while watching a cricket match than listening to our leaders.

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  8. Great post Alka. It is time that we did some giving too. And what better way than to begin with a smile? Only wish our leaders did some meaningful giving in return for all the taking they are doing from the nation.

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    1. :)
      The message has to trickle down from the top. Since, it wont happen in the near future, we have to begin the change to make national holidays more meaningful.
      Hope you are getting the post notification in your mail box?

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  9. Thank you for reminding me of the Lazarus and the Nero. I'd rather end my life in a show called Matru ka Bamgola or whatever passes by that name.

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  10. Happy GivePublic day to you too. Nice rename! And what is better than a smile.
    Enjoyed the political satire in the post Alka. You are best at it.

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    1. Thank you dear. Here's another one for you.....

      :)

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  11. There was a time when missing even a single jhanki of the Republic Day Parade was a big No-No. But not anymore... it is just another day... sad but true!

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  12. Oh I could not agree more. All I could think of was what was happening with the Nirbhaya/Damini case? Were Delhites boycotting the function? Or is all forgotten with the Indo-Pak crisis going on currently? even news channels have moved on.

    Reforms reforms and reforms. That is precisely what we need right now. And as for the giving part, yup, we did that a couple of days ago. So yes, that part makes me feel better.

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    1. For the media, News is a transient commodity. We the people have to keep the issue alive in some way.

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  13. So well said...and I couldn't agree more! That is the need of the hour.

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  14. No better example of change is the only constant with time, Alka!

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  15. The Republic day might have become a hardy annual- a ritual of unfurling the flag followed by a speech by the President of India, colourful display of the country’s diversity in the tableau, a show of pomp displaying the might of the country and the underlying basic unity of the country. But it is good to remember that it is on this day We the People gave ourselves our constitution, our fundamental rights and directive principles..
    As we grow old the attendant pomp and show may have lost its sheen to the elders but for the youngsters Republic day gives them joy as the elders had in their younger days. It holds great significance, gives them the patriotic feeling and the oneness of the country. The children must be encouraged to watch the programme in the TV.This is not an occasion to evaluate our performance

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    1. Respect your opinion.
      I encouraged my son to watch the parade but he never displayed any enthusiasm. He is a patriotic individual who has donated blood for soldiers on several occasions. So I cant doubt his patriotism or fault the value systems.
      Warrants deep introspection.

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  16. Good one Alka. Happy Republic day. Well I took the son for the flag hoisting and saw him singing national anthem with full enthusiasm. Good to see that young still believe in the India we gave up on.

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    1. Good to know that. I don't doubt patriotic fervor among the young but we need to make national festivals more meaningful.

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  17. That our future lies in the hands of Rahul Baba is not a comfortable thought. Doubt if we'll be able to grin and bear with it anymore.

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    1. Perhaps he will follow his mothers footsteps and hold the remote. Power without responsibility is a scary thought indeed.

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  18. I never used to miss the Republic Day telecast before I got into school. And this was in the early eighties. Once in school I couldn't watch the telecast as we had our own function in the school. But the enthusiasm of 'something special' always remained. But by the end of the nineties, that enthusiasm wasnt there. Even though I would be home due to a holiday in college, I didn't have any interest watching the live telecast.

    Last night while browsing, I came to a link which provided the complete recorded telecast of yesterday's parade. Just out of curiosity and a feeling of deja vu, I started watching it. Though a lot has changed in these two or three decades, I could still relate to something from the old times.

    The things which really struck me hard were the image of an old Sardarji, a retired army officer probably in his seventies, saluting the flag during the National Anthem while all other VIPs stood mum as dummies. Then, in between the marching troops was a group of retired armymen. They weren't marching in sync as the others, weren't in top physical shape too, but the expression of pride on their faces said it all. And lastly, watching so many little kids watching the show with their parents with utmost excitement gave a sense of confidence that our future generations will not be deprived of that 'something' which we had.

    We may be having a lot of problems in our country, but let us hope we will overcome them with time. We need a lot of positivity to get the change we need. And if these national days provide even an ounce of positivity, let us take it.

    Happy Republic Day to you and all Indians ! :-)

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  19. The march past by our soldiers is always inspiring. The young are patriotic and responsible no doubt. But we need to make national festivals more meaningful so that not only kids but young adults also feel the enthusiasm and patriotic fervor.
    :D

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  20. Alka,

    Very wishful thinking. But come to think of it, how can one achieve what one wishes to unless one dreams. Hope this dream does turn into reality.

    Take care

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  21. Will take part in your cynicism....:-)..yep, I make a promise to give.

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    1. Thank you dear. Your comment Is inspiring.
      Makes my day.

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  22. Republic day... less of a national day, more of a holiday. Sad but true!

    Weakest LINK

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    1. Let's change the way we celebrate our national festivals.

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  23. Haven't they become so meaningless. I didn't even listen to patriotic songs this year. Sort of gets tiresome. Was unwell so stayed put.

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    1. Hope you are better now. Yes, its about time we make our national festivals more meaningful.

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  24. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  25. I saw the parade after so many years and I found that it has changed in ways I do not like. There were less number of children performing, less tableaus and the brave kids were not on elephants anymore. :(
    Somehow I did not like it. Even Robert Wadra and Priyanka Gandhi were missing.

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    1. No glamour? Sad. The best part are the spirited kids and the motivated jawans.

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  26. When I read the title, I knew some satire is coming up:)
    I did not see the parade, just carried on with the day's work as usual...so many people were working on the Republic Day just as the other days they work on...work is the only way we can help our nation, we can contribute to the overall GDP.
    I had put a tweet that day asking ppl to boycott the parade as Nirbhaya has not got justice and women/ children are not safe in our country. Pat came a reply from an over enthusiastic patriot of India, "Don't douse others' patriotic pride!' Boycotting the parade as a protest against the false Republic that we are, was being equated to my not being a patriotic citizen!

    I'm sure the satire in your post will not be taken with an open mind by many readers. Give Public Day sounds much more human than Republic day..salute to your thoughts!

    Me and hubby have started supporting a microlending NGO called Milaap, where women and men from the villages take loans to start their business ventures. We can start with small amounts and although there is no guarantee the amount would be returned, the incentive for a lender is the 'goodness' he/she feels in an otherwise crazy world. I don't know the folks at Milaap but I respect their choice of starting a social enterprise, despite being well qualified to have many profitable avenues.

    India is standing on the shoulders of many such young, dynamic and good souls..I wish a Happy Fruitful Day to them anytime:)

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    1. Yes, some readers did not take it in the right spirit. Patriotism can not be measured by watching parades. The sentiment is there...in fact it was more visible when youngsters stood together while protesting against rape.
      I salute your optimistic spirit and your efforts. Its reassuring to know that the country is in safe hands.

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  27. Never missed a single speech or the parade on TV while growing up.I sometimes wonder whether it is my cynicism that is responsible for my kids not treating this day as special. Have you noticed people making faces during national Anthem in the movie halls ?
    Yup...just another day but certainly not in paradise.

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    1. Time to change and overhaul the yearly ritual.

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  28. The days of national importance that is Independence day and Republic day have just lost their importance! It has now just become holidays!!!

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  29. I did participate in the parade....a long, long time back. It was teeth-chattering cold, foggy and drizzling. I do still nurture a weakness for the jhakis, a carry-over of the childhood fantacies perhaps. But as you rightly said no sermons please.

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