Independence!!!! Part two…

I was watching MTV this afternoon and suddenly this strange looking music video started playing. I thought the music sounded a bit familiar as if I had heard it sometime somewhere but couldn’t recall. I kept listening for a few seconds. And then it dawned upon me… the realization that this bunch of “rock stars” with drums and guitars was actually playing the national anthem. I mean how worse it could get than this crappy rendition of the piece of poetry that we stood up to in pride every time it was played. These bunch of a-holes actually ripped apart the heart and soul of the anthem and the emotions attached to it by shamelessly singing it like a Led Zeppelin song. Oh what has this world come down to…what we are subjected to in the name of liberalization and freedom of expression…who gave these freaks the right to dishonor the national anthem and play it on TV too…I got the answer after it ended…proudly sponsored by Nokia N-Series and MTV...I’m speechless!!!

Anyway, back to where this post started…why I decided not to attend the flag hoisting ceremony today (apart from the fact that I’m too lazy). Several thoughts come to my mind. What exactly does patriotism mean to me? Is it just the singing of the national anthem once a year while the Tricolor is being unfurled on Independence Day? Is that all I have to do show to everyone that I really am an Indian? To be honest, I don’t think so… even if I didn’t do it; I feel more of an Indian than at least those people in my society who stood in their balconies looking at the Tricolor being hoisted. I could hear someone requesting those guys to at least come to the park for a while rather than witnessing the event from the grandstand. But alas, his plea fell on deaf ears. They did come down though, as soon as the samosas and jalebis were being given out. So I guess I’m better than them in some ways at least by not being …you know… again… I’m speechless…

But what exactly does being an Indian mean to me…is it not helping an accident victim lying on the road who’s crying for help and no one’s interested in getting him to a hospital? Is it not helping an old man cross the road in the heavy traffic? Is not helping with campaigns like Teach India to help every poor child get at least basic education? Can’t it just be helping your mom with her household work for a Sunday to get some load off her mind a bit? Can’t it just be remembering the martyrs of the Independence movement by bowing your head every time you pass the India Gate? Is it not helping keep your country clean by not throwing a wrapper on the road every time you empty a pack of kurkure while driving? Is it not co-operating with the security agencies when they frisk you outside every shopping mall and Cineplex for own safety? Is it not wishing everyone Happy Independence Day by sms at least and not by some silly thing like orkut?

I mean…I could go on and on and on…but what’s the point? I know my reasoning is not flawless and not many of you would agree with me. Mommy told me I have already been branded a traitor to the nation by some of the auntyjis in my society for not coming to the celebration. It’s absolutely none of my concerns of course that those very auntyjis brought along their 20 or so visiting relatives to get their hands on the free Mango Frooty and samosas…
And as so often, it happens again, I’m speechless…