Unlike
Arvind Kejriwal, I am not complaining that I had not been invited to the January
26th shindig along Raj Path in Delhi. I am enjoying the TV telecast
of the annual, and should I say repetitive and boring, parade.
Yes,
if one is honest with himself or herself, the only thing he or she would
appreciate about this ritual is the capability of the government to organize this
function, security and all. Of course, our PM showed courage to invite the
mighty – I will have much to say on this later – US president to this event as
the Chief Guest which none of his predecessors had the gumption to do. But, the
question is, should our prime minister have done that?
No.
Sorry for raining on Obama’s parade. Did I raise your eyebrow by saying that it
was Obama’s parade? Apologies, but qualified – I was left with no option. As
the parade was going on, I saw a line on the TV screen that proclaimed “SPECTACULAR DISPLAY FOR OBAMA”, yes, all
caps and bold, but definitely ugly. It was not a display for the people of this
republic called INDIA. Gag me with a fork, please.
For
the past one week all one heard about the occasion of the nation’s 65th
Republic Day Anniversary, was that the US President will be the Chief Guest. We
learned everything about His (capitalized deliberately) itinerary, how He would
be welcomed, what He would be served and on and on. Oh, Agra lost out on His
gracious visit, blame the Saudi Monarch who chose to die at such an
inappropriate time. How dare he? Obama, at least till the events close, is God,
for all who believe in God.
No
one mentioned that Obama is enjoying the last few months before he will be
anointed a “lame duck” president, if that has not happened already. We are, in
a sense, basking in the reflected glory of a has-been, on OUR Republic Day!
There
has been hardly a mention of how India has veered away from the principles of a
Republican Government, by focusing more on the power structure by those in the
formal structure of governance and outside of it, mostly the monied and capital
class, which governs the country rather than the people who are the repository
of the powers to govern – res publica,
if you please. As I see it, the Indian public has not cared to restate, much
less reaffirm the founding principles of OUR REPUBLIC.
I
wonder how many Indian citizens, even among the supposedly well-educated will
be able to make the distinction between the Indian Independence and Republic
Days – of course, in the former, the Prime Minister gives the speech from the
Red Fort and in the latter, (s)he sits alongside the Chief Guest for the day
watching a boring (yes, I am repeating the adjective, because it is well deserved)
parade. The President of India merely carries on the charade.
This
is the Indian public. Do they deserve a Republic Day of its own? Maybe not.
That is how January 26, 2015 became a “SPECTACULAR
DISPLAY FOR OBAMA”.
We
deserve what we got.
Raghuram
Ekambaram
6 comments:
Spectacular sarcasm. Many don't know why Republic Day is celebrated and as far as fundamental duties are concerned, least said the better
Thanks so much for catching the spirit of the post Balu.
RE
Very true Raghu. It is very sad how the Indian public stands alienated. Can not write what I would have liked to, for reasons that you know.Very well written blog.
Thank you so much for the sincere appreciation. Yes, I understand the fetters around you. Perhaps you may take this as your proxy venting.
RE
Suffer from similar constraints as Aditi.
I understand Balu.
RE
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