Sunday, August 15, 2010

(In)Dependant.

I tried to convince myself about not writing this particular blog post but could not resist. The point of writing a post titled '(In)Dependant' when your phone does not stop beeping and your inbox is full of messages titled "Happy Independence Day"- is pure gimmicky. Yes! I am sorry but my nationalism/patriotism is not all aboutmy facebook display picture donning up the shades of the Tiranaga or sending 'Happy I Day' messages full of bulk sms writers wisdom laden meaning of what "Freedom" means. Seriously, it doesn't. Also, I have nothing against Valentines Day or for that matter any day and I love all those celebrations and goodies on V Day that randomly show up every year, but it's a humble request- Don't kill the spirit of this Day, the 15th of August, the one we always pray to coincide with a weekday every year (This year it wasn't). Don't make it another Valentines Day. 'I Day' sounds hep- don't know what Surjya Sen would have thought about it, but please don't send me those sms es.
For every individual the term 'Independence' has a strict set of connotations attached to it. For me Independence is all about being yourself and supporting what I think is right. It's a moral decision somewhere. And factual too. When you send me all those messages about India celebrating it's 63rd I Day- get your facts correct. Count 15th August, 1947 too! Yes, dear...it is our 64th Independence Day and the 63rd year of Independence. subtlety you see-bulk doesn't work every time. Also, when you fly that tricolour outside your house or buy a paper version of it (am sure, many did that today considering our fetish for everything Karan Johar produces and that includes the mass copies of the Manish Malhotra creation found in KarolBagh and Burrabazar)- show it  it's due respect. I have seen the tricolour being drenched in the rain or being put in a half mast(not deliberately but may be due to the wind) long after the ceremonial flag hoisting and the bhashanbazi is over. Or paper flags strewn all across the street. Try picking them up on 16th August or tey to stand up every time the national anthem is played in your 200 bucks worth Multiplex. These are very symbolic day to day measures which count in favour of your independent spirit. The one that separates you from the herd. The herd that goes on to study Engineering (while craving for Literature). No offences meant there. But that's one very apt example which I thought will make sense for many young souls raking their brains over making a decision.
I am a law student and it's part of my coursework to dissect the Constitution and research over all  those tomes written over the haloed principles of justice, liberty and equality. Somehow in Law School, one thing I really enjoyed was studying the Constitution and everything related to it. But as a nobody I will suggest to everybody to read up the document. No, dear am not mixing up 'I Day' with 'R Day'. It is one of the most succinctly (I am aware of it's original length) put and brilliantly drafted piece of literature I have ever come across. Never mind all those ninety five and counting amendments that our legislators decided to put across. We have a habit of screwing brilliant stuff. Ask Sourav Ganguly, Shashi Tharoor etc. Nothing puts forward the true spirit of Indian Independence as beautifully as the constitution. When we had dominion status between 15th August 1947 and 26th January, 1950- our Constitution framers took extra effort to make sure it is an ethereal document out of bounds of time and space (I mean it. We do no need those amendments or those debates over basic structure.) It reflects the aspiration of a country born after it's 'tyrst with destiny at midnight'. A country which was torn apart and the flame lingers on till date (Kashmir anyone). A country where there was versatility of thought from the very inception (?) of the freedom struggle. A country we call our own. our Home. And even when that NRI jerk presumes over that matrimonial chat that the lady on the other side of cyberspace is homely and does not know what biking means you give him a piece of your mind and say dude! come to the Himalayas. Also, it's the 'reverse' gear you know- let's make that a trend. 
Be the Generation 'W'. Respect the fact that worshiping goddess Durga on one hand and stiffling the voice of your daughter in case she wants to marry in some other caste or play football is passe'.
Be Independent.

3 comments:

  1. absolutely right! made a great point :)

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  2. Strong and absolutely to the point! You hit it correct, gal :-) With you, on this! I didn't send a single I-Day sms - I found it absurd to 'wish' each other! Rather, let all of us wish our country a happy future :-)

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  3. @eesha and debosmita, thank you. Good to know there are people who think this way too :-)

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