Thursday, September 07, 2006

Vande or not to Vande, that is the question

Recently, I felt an ephemeral twang of nationalistic pride when someone filed a writ petition in some state high court asking that Vande Mataram should be sung every day at all government-run and government-funded educational institutions. I say ephemeral because it was short-lived. As I started thinking about this petition, I found it a bit too far-fetched. Moreover, it feels wrong to compel someone to sing a song that they don't want to sing. Even if they do sing it, if it's not going to swell their chest with pride, what use is singing it anyway? It would be like making a monkey hit a green button precisely three times. What does the green button do? Nothing with a capital n. What would they think of next? Should everyone have a peacock in their home? Should everyone play field hockey, have a Bengal Tiger as a pet, a Banyan tree in their backyard, and sport a Lotus on their head to be termed a patriot? I think not.

Abhi picture baaki hai mere dost !

Freaks Inc.. Bengaluru.. 15 years 2 months and 8 days later.. Agenda for the meeting: Day 1 1. Paying our respects to the beginning of time ...