Why the song n dance?

Vande mataram is a one day affair. Centenary celebrations of anything in India is always a farce. There will be one stamp released, some yojanas and schemes will be announced. Next day on, it’ll be life as usual, corruption et al

Theatres all over Maharashtra play the National Anthem compulsorily before every film. It is usually accompanied by sounds of giggles, popcorn passing, and some idiots who walk in mid way and stare at everyone as if the song were being sung for them while some others who just don’t bother to stand up. The most interesting bit is when invariably some kid or the other shouts at the end of it”good morning teacher” Funny I agree, but that’s the way we have been ‘taught’ these national treasures- by rote. The kids reactions are conditioned, they don’t understand head or tail of what they’re reciting.

Sadly, the last time Vande Mataram became salient was when A R rehman did an album on it……it of course got replaced onto the Chart Toppers 

The national song is tough to follow and to recite with understanding. Rather than squabbling over making everyone recite it like parrots, shouldn’t we rather be focusing on making it accessible and understood by all.

Comments

Sharan Sharma said…
i think that's the problem with forcing national sentiment on people. I mean you're coming to the movie theatre to see a movie...where does the national anthem fit in?
September 09, 2006 2:44 am
Anonymous said…
whether or not the national anthem fits in the scenario of a movie theatre.. whether or not it is a case of people having to recite it like parrots.. is no excuse for people themselves demeaning the Anthem with their childish antics. There is no reasonable claim why any citizen of India should end the national anthem of India with a cheers of "good morning teacher". What is being tried to prove here? That the national anthem is only something to b sung by school-going kids??

I agree that efforts r required in the direction of making the public realise the meaning of the Anthem, but tht in no way should take away from the respect that the Anthem already deserves..
September 11, 2006 2:11 pm
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