HYDERABAD: “The celebrations are becoming redundant. We have been distributing sweets, releasing balloons into the air and listening to speeches – which are supposedly patriotic. The arms display and laying of wreathes don’t seem to hold much relevance, especially when we have forgotten the real principles of the likes of Gandhi and Ambedkar. Why don’t we just have a holiday and feel good?,” says Arjun from Himachal, currently in the city.
“Growing up in an Army School, I remember speeches and being given a holiday which was a luxury. Apart from that we never realised what Republic Day is or why it is celebrated,” his friend Vivek Das adds.
“The school management distributed sweets and I remember getting dressed up as freedom fighters and practiced a few lines like ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ or ‘Jai Hindi’. Oh yes, a few enactments from the freedom struggle. Nothing seems to have changed in over a decade,” says Swathi who teaches in a high school. She also points out the students’ reluctance to be a part of the march past sessions and the practice sessions involved.
Vishank from Gujarat says, “Republic Day celebrations are an integral part of India and this makes us proud to be Indians. I am happy that at least on one day we give space and time to our soldiers to showcase the latest in the defence sector through the parade and tableau.
The army parades and the dance troupes at Rajpath on Republic Day takes months of practice just to have a two-minute march in front of the guests and dignitaries. The guest and dignitaries seem to be even disinterested in the activities which had taken numerous resources,time and effort. So why waste resources on that when there is so much more issues to be looked into? Trying to invoke patriotism and nationalism through speeches when some communities, religion,regions are not considered Indians is hypocritical.
Most of the citizens in the rural populace are unaware of the constitution and even their basic rights and duties as such the government should focus more on educating them. The celebrations should not just be concentrated in the fun fare, speeches, marches and holiday. Celebrations should be oriented so that the citizens are involved one way or the other expresses some youths. “The students are not even aware of the meaning of the national anthem. Let us make a start with the anthem,” says Swathi.