Friday, August 24, 2018

Celebrating Patriotism

It's more than a week past the Independence day and to most of us patriotism is a 'non-trending' affair now. I say it because we tend to be patriotic just twice a year - on Republic Day and Independence Day. And most of it is limited to painting various parts of our body, buying a flag, posting a few patriotic messages and that's it.

One such color came to my view this independence day and triggered me to write.

I happened to be in a mall on 15th when I saw huge crowd near the entry. I figured it out to be part of increased security measures on day like this. But soon I realized it wasn't crowd for security check; it was a stall that kept the surrounding busy and crowded. People were getting the tri-color painted. And in the crowd was a couple that had just got their cheeks painted and were clicking selfies with ice cream in hand. While I walked out as my son wanted to ride a toy car, I saw the couple following out of the mall as well. And then they threw the ice cream cups on the street celebrating the independence of their hands from trash. Wow! The essence of patriotism was fulfilled with tri-color painted and the rest seemed beyond them.

Alas! Most of us sail in the same boat and reason it out - 'Everyone else does it! Why should I take up the responsibility solely.'
'Why should I take up the responsibility to drive in lanes and follow traffic rules when every other person is NOT. We can fashion to be patriotic just by wearing tri-color on the independence day.'
'Why should I take the responsibility to take a carry bag with me to the market when the street seller is offering me a polythene bag. We can just contribute by posting a picture on social media when the street drainage system gets blocked in rainy season.'
'Why should we bother to take responsibility to get in the queue and wait for our turn when everybody else is paying under the table to get their work accomplished. Well we could infact be on the receiving end to take the ransom. Patriotism can be displayed on national days by standing up for national anthem.'
'Why should we bother to take a role in a national disaster when everyone else is ranting about how government is failing to do anything and the victims are suffering. We can join them in the rant and that will do for our part of contribution.'

There are a few who do care, who own their responsibility, do a little bit as and when they can but they are still a very few on the count. What we fail to understand that one single step each by the millions - millions that make up this country - can contribute large. We fail to understand our day to day responsibility that sings the chorus of patriotism. We fail to understand that it should be part of our day to day life as taking shower is, as eating food is.

I cannot end this write-up with a punch line and tell what we ought to do because each one of us has to decide individually on our part of contribution, do that and make it a daily ritual. The responsibility of patriotism will be fulfilled then. The celebration of twice a year will be a daily celebration then.