So how do you show-off your patriotism? Do you think that
you have to express that openly all the time, especially when you are at a
public place?
I want and look forward to watch movies (English, Marathi,
and Hindi – in that order) and I go to the theaters and the multiplexes. (Almost
every week!)
And somehow I am biased to like the single screens more than
the small halls in the multiplexes. Actually, I go to the convenient and
closer-located place irrespective of the price of ticket.
Some of my friends think it is waste of money if the same
movie going experience, you can avail at rs. 180-160 rather than rs. 300. But I
feel this is very subjective. This is individual choice, for a person like me;
I always prefer the movies on the big screen in cinema halls.
OK, the piece goes something like the following.
So I went to this famous multiplex, got the tickets and went
inside to watch a movie. And there is this unwritten rule, in this part of
India (may be everywhere) – there is Jan gan man… our national anthem before
the reels of the movie start rolling.
That went fine and there was this scream of Bharat mata ki….jay!
- you know that well known enthusiasm.
Now in the process, I did not really sing the anthem,
although my friends and others were quite on the mark and they obediently
followed the chorus.
And suddenly then there were some heated discussions, the
movie credits and names still progressing.
My friends alleged I am not loyal enough to my nation – Hindustan.
And I need lessons in expressing my patriotism!
Reason? I did not sing with them!! I just could not fathom
for a minute. How am I less ‘Indian’? Just because I did not sing Jan gan man,
in a cinema hall, am I traitor?!!?
After that the movie started and the topic was put on hold.
And then we saw the movie and enjoyed.
But as usual my mind started piecing together the thoughts
on the discussion that we had.
Conclusion is - I feel that it is OK, if you don’t express
love for your nation clearly, only for few minutes on one fine day, in a movie
hall.
Doing your job good and behaving like a true educated and
rational citizen is enough.
It is what you are 24*7 and 365 days a year!
And honestly, I don’t need a certificate on my being a ‘Hindustani’.
