On 15 the August India celebrates its independence day .
This line almost feels like opening sentence from of a school time essay and deservedly so .It was probably only in that age of innocence this day used to thrill almost every kid.
For most of the non school going Indians this day means just little more than a holiday .And to many it might mean just another holiday. A saving grace could be those scanty blood donation camps or likes that people arrange today . Give or take few good citizen who are engaged in socio-national work through out the year and on whom media runs stories on this day , without fail .
This is not to say that all those Mahnedra Kapoor and Lata Mangeshkar songs played on 15th august don’t feel good .They do ,but the day doesn’t .In fact such a response is more of an extension of the childhood conditioning than an individuals sensitivity .
If you every felt angry that so many Indians only sit at home on this day doing nothing for the nation or watching TV .Or felt that 15th August has lost its relevance .The fact is that the day might have never had any relevance to Indian masses !
Its not that Indians are less patriotic than citizen of other countries .But we just don’t know what it means to celebrate a day ..
A day devoted to celebration of the national Independence or the republic formation is a nationalist concept . .Its more of a westerns concept so to say .The day celebration concept , be it I-day or R-day is aimed at remembrance of the core values that the day is supposed to represent .Its is designed to focus mass attention to these values every year .And to further strengthen them.Its for this reason the celebration happens .
And this is precisely the place Indians find it out of place !
Its such kind of public display of nationalism that is unknown to Indian masses.Patriotism or to be more precise Nationalism is an emotion a little too unknown to Indian mind set .We cant wear out national flag as a dress but we can die to be able to wear it .
Now India is a celebration freak nation . We can and do celebrate anything under the sun .And i love it for that .If you have beginning to notice the contradiction… hang on .The thread that runs common in Indian celebration is the key here .
All of our celebrations are ritualistic in nature .They revolve around specific rules and only the details are left to Individual choice . Imagine the Diwali , the Eid or the marriage and you know what I mean. The word is Ceremony ! Ours is a ceremony culture .
An event like I-day calls for a free spirited nation and the masses that are vocal about their individualism . And we are exactly not that . We are shy about our individualism and conservative about the free spirit ( pun intended 🙂 ) .
Say tomorrow we form a colorful and detailed set of activities that an Indian is supposed to do in 15h August . Acts that are nationalist in nature but are as ritualistic as a pooja .Something that can be of a shape of a tradition .Then on you might just see a nation buzzing with activity on days like 15th August .
For philosophical nature we have, we as a country don’t know how to enjoy themselves . But we as the people are busy in a grand and ongoing celebration called life !.Its here our Independence has to be made relevant than forcing it to be wished as a Happy day .