stop this nonsense.....

It was the morning of 27^th January, I knew I was getting late for college and will need to hurry. In a haste, I opened the gate and dragged my bike and was just about to kick start it when suddenly my eyes got stuck at a heart-breaking sight. I was  disappointed but not surprised by what was lying just in front of my eyes.  The national flag, our very own ‘Tiranga’ was lying helpless as a mendicant in rags who is dying of leprosy but there is no one sensitive enough to provide a helping hand.

For if this humiliation of the national honour was not enough there was more to come. I got of my bike, picked that paper flag kept it aside with respect  and bowed my head out of respect to the mother nation. This very normal activity looked so strange and awkward to one of my neighbor that it took him just a second to yell out at me “are pagaal ho gaye ho kya, aise to hazzaro jhande sadak  pe pade hai, kitne utaoge”. This was again very much expected and I ignored his discerning advice and took my way to college.

Well, my neighbor was very correct when he had predicted the fate of the flags. I saw myriad of flags in real awful condition. I was helpless or may be not patriotic enough to get down and give them the respect and honour that they rightly deserved.

This is the normal scene which is witnessed on the next morning of ‘The Republic Day’ or ‘The Independence Day’ .  School  going children purchase these paper flags out of sudden eruption of patriotic feelings augmented by desh-bhakti  songs played by the very popular FM channels, play with them in the school and on their way back home, they throw the useless piece of paper on every possible street they explore.

The question is why am I writing all this now when its already 8^th feb today. The reason being that this day lies somewhere close to the ever controversial  ‘Valentine’s Day’. No need to mention that lot many new recruits of the so called “Moral Police” are training for the D-day. They shall be kicking and beating the young couples whom they will catch ‘damaging and  showing profanity’  to our pious and pure Sanskriti.    I raise this topic to question these “Moral Gaurdians” of the culture that where were they when numerous flags were brutally lynched on roads. Where were they when my neighbor was making a mockery of my act.

I know they would not have picked up the hapless and helpless flags and I m very sure, they will not do this even in the future. The reason being , scavenging for flags will not yield any media attention or any political mileage.

I want to change this altogether. I don’t want to change my neighbor but his mindset. I don’t want to change the people but their outlook towards the country. Its not just about saluting your national flag, its not just about standing on national anthem, its not just about other similar issues. It is about a much larger concern, it is about respecting your mother nation, it is about showing reverence and sincerity to mother India. I hope the coming years will witness the Tricolor fluttering high with dignity and self-respect.

So be it........ JAI HIND