Happy Republic Day

26 Jan - The Republic Day of India . Across the nation the Indian flag would have been hoisted in schools , colleges , organizations , residential buildings...

Went for the flag hoisting ceremony in my building . White seemed to be the dress code . Most members were in white . I must have stood out conspicuously in my jeans and printed top . In the past few years I had not attended the ceremony . Hence the ignorance perhaps .

Jana Gana Mana had to be played . Someone had the smart idea to drive a car with a powerful music system to the place near the flag pole . And we stood silently while Jana Gana Mana was played and the flag hoisted . After that there was some competition of sorts for children in the building followed by snacks . The general discussion was one of catching up with neighbors , about the children . Can't recollect any conversation that featured the Republic of India .

Across the nation(s) it's possible that days like today are about some rituals like the flag hoisting (looks terrible if a building does not have a flag hoisting ceremony). What is the connection that the ritual builds with the idea of a nation ? of the idea of being Indian ? Especially in urban areas . To folks in the armed forces days like today possibly have a deeper , emotional significance. As also to the families of those who lost their loved ones defending India . 

20-30 years ago across India there would have been families there were directly or indirectly involved in the struggle for freedom . Men and women who knew what it was to live in a country that was not free . And therefore possibly cherished the Independence Day and Republic Day more than festivals .

What is the significance of Republic Day in present day urban India ? For the generations that have been born and raised in an independent India ? Newspapers filled with pictures of celebrities wearing clothes that have shades of the tri-color , saying what it means to be Indian. Sample this : the view of actress Asin on Rahul Gandhi - ' he has inherited his father's charismatic persona and intelligence  which could take the country places ' . I'm not sure I want me or India to go that that 'place' . 

Other than helping many publications take a break from the effort to write articles it possibly helps a lot of Chinese companies who supply the cloth for the flag .

( for anyone who plans to write in saying that most publications don't anyway print quality content on a daily basis - I totally agree . Most of the articles are not worth felling trees to produce the paper it is printed on ).

We can create new , meaningful rituals for Republic Day - as individuals and as groups :

- Give time , attention , money to those less fortunate

- help educate a child 

- enable vocational training for an adult

- take initiative to get an area cleaned and to keep it clean

- plant trees

- campaign to save mangroves

- 

- the list can be meaningfully expanded 

We need to rise above the idea of nations and see the human species as one . Until that can happen we can attempt an expansive and inclusive definition of what it means to be Indian . And be cognizant of our responsibilities and rights the other 364 days of the year .

Happy Republic Day to all citizens of this magnificent piece of the pale blue dot .