I have been living in a rented house in a co-op. housing society premises for the past 7 years plus. The thing that has never failed us is the loudspeaker blaring Manoj Kumar’s patriotic songs in the morning of the Indian Independence Day, August 15th. True to form, we had the same record/tape/CD/DVD blaring the same songs today, for about half an hour. The balcony of my house overlooks the area where a few people congregate to salute the flag when it is unfurled from the pole that sits atop my house. Now you can understand how I go through this – I have no option but to – forced patriotism. Had I been allowed to by my wife, I would have jumped from my balcony.
This patriotic feeling is eternal, as it has been a part of my life for seven years. Yet, it is ephemeral because it is demanded of you only for half hour, every year.
When will Manoj Kumar fade from our memory? Never. There are two reasons. One, we have learnt our patriotism only from Manoj Kumar and we forget him only at our own peril. In my very humble opinion, his type of patriotism beats the plasticity of the smiles of beauty pageant contestants. Yet, we need Manoj Kumar because we have not learnt of any other kind.
Two, in the current days of multiplex cinema halls, synthesizer music, and fluff story lines, we just do not have music that will evoke even plastic patriotism. By the way there is no music beyond cine music and no cinema beyond Hindi. Manoj Kumar will do. He will have to do.
And, who can listen to plastic patriotic songs on regular, non-Independence Day days? Not I. I suspect, you too.
Raghuram Ekambaram
When will Manoj Kumar fade from our memory? Never. There are two reasons. One, we have learnt our patriotism only from Manoj Kumar and we forget him only at our own peril. In my very humble opinion, his type of patriotism beats the plasticity of the smiles of beauty pageant contestants. Yet, we need Manoj Kumar because we have not learnt of any other kind.
Two, in the current days of multiplex cinema halls, synthesizer music, and fluff story lines, we just do not have music that will evoke even plastic patriotism. By the way there is no music beyond cine music and no cinema beyond Hindi. Manoj Kumar will do. He will have to do.
And, who can listen to plastic patriotic songs on regular, non-Independence Day days? Not I. I suspect, you too.
Raghuram Ekambaram
8 comments:
True Raghu, we have to get past stereotypes when it comes to patriotism. If the destiny and prestige of nation comes into most thought of ours, there is no need for these rhetorics
Thanks a lot IS. I endorse your last sentence whole heartedly.
Raghuram Ekambaram
It is Balu here Raghu
I knew that already Balu; I did not know whether you wantd your identity to be "outed" ;)
Raghuram Ekambaram
Well, though I am spared listening to continuous blaring of Hindi songs before 15 August, for a full month before the Republic day we are subjected to similar sound onslaught from the India Gate lawns on either side of Rajpath all through office hours.
Tokenism and rhetoric are part of us, whether or not some of us wish to shake these off.Irony.
So, you did not want the list of ironies to end, Aditi! You got a whopper there!
Would that be one reason that people may not a want a Central Government job, listening to Manoj Kumar's songs? ;)
Thanks.
Raghuram Ekambaram
I confess ignorance: i don't know who Manoj Kumar is.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel," said Dr Johnson. Quite right even today?
Ignorance is bliss said some poet but his message as it has filtered through the ages has lost the thrust of what the poet meant, Matheikal. Any which way, you are blessed with ignorance on this matter ;)
You may be able to live with the songs only you do not know its context!
By the way, what Dr. Johnson said is an eternal truism, not just about politicians, I may want to add.
Raghuram Ekambaram
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