A collage of thoughts on the occasion of another Republic day celebrations.
1. The Republic day celebrations.
Do the pomp and pageantry associated with the R Day celebrations really affect the common man? I mean, does the occasion really make us more patriotic and induce vigour in our feeling that we're Indians? Sadly, it doesn't and to my mind, for many including the organisers, it's reduced to an activity that needs to be done as a matter of routine.
The parade at Delhi was elegant as usual with the show of our military might coupled with a slice of our cultural heritage drawn from all over. The live telecast was being watched at home after the morning's hoisting of the flag and associated activities.
Lekha's nephew, all of four years, insisted on flipping the channel on the television to watch a Malayalam movie on the air. That exactly, seems to be our outlook towards the celebrations. And no, I'm not hinting that the interest shown in the activities or lack of it is an indicator of our patriotism. Yet, something isn't right, right?
2. The double standards.
David Headly, the mastermind behind the Bombay blasts of 2008, has been found guilty on all the charges against him by a US court and has been punished with a jail sentence of 35 years. Didn't he deserve the capital punishment? He has to answer for the many innocents who'd lost their lives in the mayhem.
Aren't Indian lives precious? Would the verdict have been different if it had affected the citizens of the US? I would be inclined to believe so.
A sure case of double standards.
3. Refusal of the Padma award.
S Janaki, the nightingale from Andhra Pradesh, who has sung over 24,000 songs for the south Indian films was in the list of the 'Padmabhushan' awardees on the occasion of this R Day. A recognition that has come too late for the 70 year old singer. And rightly, she has refused the award.
Why is it that the prestigious award gets embroiled itself in controversies, year after year? Is genuine talent being overlooked to make way for other considerations?
Tailpiece.
And it's 50 years since Lata Mangeshkar had sung 'Ai mere vatan ke logon'. Kavi Pradeep's immortal classic had come alive when she'd sung it before the then PM, Jawaharlal Nehru, moving him to tears. And the day was 27 Jan 1963!
1. The Republic day celebrations.
Do the pomp and pageantry associated with the R Day celebrations really affect the common man? I mean, does the occasion really make us more patriotic and induce vigour in our feeling that we're Indians? Sadly, it doesn't and to my mind, for many including the organisers, it's reduced to an activity that needs to be done as a matter of routine.
The parade at Delhi was elegant as usual with the show of our military might coupled with a slice of our cultural heritage drawn from all over. The live telecast was being watched at home after the morning's hoisting of the flag and associated activities.
Lekha's nephew, all of four years, insisted on flipping the channel on the television to watch a Malayalam movie on the air. That exactly, seems to be our outlook towards the celebrations. And no, I'm not hinting that the interest shown in the activities or lack of it is an indicator of our patriotism. Yet, something isn't right, right?
2. The double standards.
David Headly, the mastermind behind the Bombay blasts of 2008, has been found guilty on all the charges against him by a US court and has been punished with a jail sentence of 35 years. Didn't he deserve the capital punishment? He has to answer for the many innocents who'd lost their lives in the mayhem.
Aren't Indian lives precious? Would the verdict have been different if it had affected the citizens of the US? I would be inclined to believe so.
A sure case of double standards.
3. Refusal of the Padma award.
S Janaki, the nightingale from Andhra Pradesh, who has sung over 24,000 songs for the south Indian films was in the list of the 'Padmabhushan' awardees on the occasion of this R Day. A recognition that has come too late for the 70 year old singer. And rightly, she has refused the award.
Why is it that the prestigious award gets embroiled itself in controversies, year after year? Is genuine talent being overlooked to make way for other considerations?
Tailpiece.
And it's 50 years since Lata Mangeshkar had sung 'Ai mere vatan ke logon'. Kavi Pradeep's immortal classic had come alive when she'd sung it before the then PM, Jawaharlal Nehru, moving him to tears. And the day was 27 Jan 1963!
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