Let me not forget the ‘tehezeeb’ and address you as a common Indian would do. Who am I you may ask. Well I am an Indian, one amongst hundreds and thousands of other millennials who are so caught up in their work-life balance that anything else needs to have an appointment to fit in.
I like many others tend to keep my eyes, ears and mouth shut. You know talking could be judged as blasphemy or conspiracy or even betrayal against the nation. So, I keep my mouth shut when women my age, and way younger (even kids I must add) are raped and murdered brutally, kidnapped from the very sidewalks I have traversed. I close my ears to the shrieks of people who are harassed, chased away on the pretense of their eating habits or religious preferences. I look away, hiding my eyes from the piercing looks of the mothers who have lost their children.
People die of poverty, lack of shelter, lack of water, lack of protection, lack of healthcare facilities. People are discriminated due to the lack of understanding, education, law and order. I on the other hand contemplate about the impact of GST. I worry about the war in Syria, the terrorist attacks.
Was I always this insensitive, I ask to myself. No, there was a time when national issues left a deeper impact, there was a time when rising a voice made a difference. Today with the wide spread range of social media, the pro-active media,thousands raise their voices. Some succumb under pressure, while some fizz out. Only a few reach out to all, and create a positive impact. Well, this and many other social reasons have turned us into what I call, biannual patriots.
Our Patriotism shows up in form of Facebook posts, tweets, and Instagram hahtags (#independenceday #freedom),on every 26th January and 15th August. But, the same hands are pinned down worried about what our aunts and uncle would say if we are to post something like “Stop Mob Lynching”, or “Stop Body Shaming”. But, is that all that we can do?
Let’s rethink our definition of Patriotism. Let it not be like the bicycle in the image, decorated and fully covered for a day, and empty the next day.
Let it not be a one-day thing!
Patriotism or love for your country is not a one day thing. It has to appear in the smallest of your actions. Be it by reducing waste or pollution, by doing your part at putting an end to corruption at the grass root level, by being responsible vigilantes to prevent assaults and rape attempts, abuse and domestic violence, and the latest evil called the blue whale challenge (seriously!).
Though it’s 70 years since India became Independent, but we still have many shackles that tie us down. It’s really a matter of dismay that while the nation runs short of resources and dedicated manpower for developmental activities and disaster management, more than enough is invested on vested interests, politics and power play.
I may not be a true patriot, but I value and respect my country and it’s heritage, but I hope that the pseudo-patriots stop directing public views to fit their own ideologies, and that no more blood is shed under the pretense of casteism and on moral grounds (what’s the criteria really?).
On that note this is Satrangee Parachute, signing off. Wish you all a Happy Independence Day.
Awsome thoughts.