The Agony Over The National Anthem

I read a Facebook forward a month back where this girl says “This time at MAMI (Mumbai Film Festival), I did not stand up during the playing of the National Anthem before the films. That was at least 3-4 times a day. I have to say that while the audience at MAMI was tolerant (no one attacked me or gave me dirty looks, or questioned me) there was only one other person who joined me in this sitting PROTEST. It felt good nonetheless. I hope the PROTEST catches on. BTW playing the National Anthem in theaters amounts to insult according to a recent court ruling and home ministry communication. So don't feel pressurised to stand if you don't feel like. Law is on your side.


There was a response to this tweet “ Well I wish people could show Rebellion for many other injustices than just this, and personally though not a great believer in any form of Patriotism across the world, not only India, yet I don’t think this is a great cause to Harp upon, court or no court, any ways people who cannot get up from their chair five times in a day are actually “Thakela” (drained out people).


I so agree with the response and I was quite baffled that you feel happy that you do not have to stand up for the National Anthem. Our army is giving up their lives at the borders and here we talk of protesting about the playing and standing up during the national anthem. I am not able to understand people’s agony over this. Is it because of the attitude “ Hey Government, don’t force nationalism down my throat, you are not my boss.” I think largely it is that. Quite natural then that children tell these very parents “ don’t tell me what to do”. Because to me we are behaving that way. Cinema halls are playing the national anthem and the court has no punishment or penalty if you don’t stand up. It is left to you. Sometimes in this confused world, it is important to bring that pride for your country time and again. I believe this is so important for the younger generation who go to cinema halls to watch movies.


I find the protest response of a well known filmmaker childish. Ram Gopal Verma tweets “ Shouldn’t the National Anthem be played in all night clubs before drinking and dancing begins”. Shouldn’t National Anthem be played in temples, churches and mosques before prayers begin.”. What is his agony, that only cinema halls are targeted?. Obviously, the chosen place is the cinema hall where large crowds of all ages gather at one point of time and it is convenient to stand up and it does not disturb any proceedings.


The word Churches took me back to my convent school days. Before every class (we had 9 classes in a day), we had to stand up and say the prayer - Name of the father, and of the son and of the Holy spirit, Amen. One may look at it as a Catholic school forcing down its prayer. But nobody protested, neither parents or students. While many of us found it boring to stand up and say the prayers, but you do it mechanically. Somewhere you know the school is trying to instill in its children the importance of prayers.


I take a similar view to the standing up for the National Anthem before watching a movie. Standing up for the National Anthem, maybe at least once a week or a month (or maybe everyday for some:)) keeps reminding us the pride we have or must have for our country.


Lets view our government as parents and we their children. I think sometimes it is okay to force some things which are totally harmless and effortless but may be for the larger good. And lets not waste time PROTESTING.