La Mitad Extranjera

The first doubt that sprang up in my keyboard class: Can I play National anthem sitting down? Can I play it whenever/wherever I want? The first civics lesson taught to a kid in primary school, “Stand up for National Anthem”

My independence day was not special. As a citizen of India, I started my day watching Prime Minister. Manmohan Singh address Indian citizens on DD. With my very little Hindi, all I could observe were only the celebrities and  kids in white, saffron and green seated to depict our flag. I switched on to my independence day special playback of national anthem at home. After a few attempts, I decided to spare our national anthem at least on independence day.

Like most Indian citizens, I was also glued to my television set the entire day. We’ve heard a lot of people ask “Why do you interview an actress/actor on Independence day and Republic day? Did they get freedom for us?”

I wonder if anyone would watch documentaries about our freedom fighters for at least 4 hours. But applause to Vijay TV for providing some sensible material to watch. There was a good mix of entertainment and ….(er,.what do u call that??) stuff that doesn’t make you feel very bad because you blew the whole day watching TV?

Another Kannada music channel also wanted to answer those questions through their I-day shows. They expressed their independence day spirit in a style which gave me a hearty laugh for minutes. Colors of the Indian flag adorned the background of this Live music request show. The VJ was wearing a military uniform which looked more like a new suitcase cover stitched as a shirt. He was holding a gun( most probably it’s the air gun kids play with. I wish it’s a bubble gun and he should have triggered it ). To top it all, he didn’t have any non-verbal communication. He did the entire show holding the gun across him with a perfect fighting posture and asking for music requests.

Besides drinking Complan, I’ll also write some substance here to depict I’m growing up. A few questions that sprang up to my mind today: Is expressing nationality right? Are we saying because I’m born somewhere near N 9 55.075, E 78 07.205 and it belongs to a region defined as India, should I call myself Indian? If so my parents and my grand-parents were born in a caste called ………… Are we not promoting the same groupism? Should we think we belong to a bigger group called Homo Sapiens? Should I also say, “Mahatma Gandhi did not take up his non-violent fight for India but for the human race in India”?

Were Vande Mataram, our flag and the Indian national anthem, a means to spread this group emotion with freedom as purpose? Just like the new AR Rahman’s Vande mataram and our cricket idols who also spread the same emotion with a well defined purpose – to win a match against Kenya? Why do we have to propagate this emotion at all when basic facilities has not reached common man even after 60 years of freedom? Would we need the new Vande Mataram, the movies and sports as a channel to fight against our own corrupt politicians in future?

Before I trigger the bubble..

Other than VJs and RJs, I believe I’m the first person wishing you. Happy Independence day