First and Foremost a Very Happy 63rd Republic Day to all Indians in India & Abroad. As I have always had this mentality of ‘Being Indian and Proud to be Indian’ – as I had posted my blog on the eve of 15th August 2011, https://mouthshut.com/blog/bhbcoptps/65th-Independence-DayWhen-will-we-see-a-Developed-India ,I couldn’t stop myself again by not writing about my country again on the eve of "26th January – Republic Day"
We will be celebrating our 63rd Republic Day tomorrow i.e.26th January 2012.Being a some-what-patriot if not a die-hard-patriot I asked one of my close friend what are his plans on Republic Day? To which he replied, “I’ll be getting up late, but if I get up early then I would attend the Flag Hoisting Ceremony in my building. Then I will come home and play Video Game on my PS-3.In the afternoon I would watch some latest pirated CD/DVD movie & then in the evening hang out with my friends.”
Hearing this, my mind started pondering:
Are we specially ‘Youth’ suffering from Attention – SPAN problem specially when it comes to our country? Has advancement in technology & online conversations electronically made us connect less emotionally? The reason I say this is because we & that includes me as well start to feel a True Patriot in us only during those few moments when we say or hear the national anthem, Patriotic songs or watch the Flag Hoisting Ceremony.I really feel we need to get rid of this problem and convert this feeling from those few moments during this two days i.e. Republic or Independence Day to the entire year and if possible extend it for a lifetime. I have seen people hesitating in public to salute our National Flag.
Few days back, I attended MTV’s INSPIRO – The Youth Fiesta Event in Somaiya Grounds, Sion – Mumbai. INSPIRO is a voluntary non-profit initiative that brings together a series of events for the empowered youth, offering them platform to transform India. I was surprised to see there that the Celebrities who attended the event get more applause then the family of the Martyr who were invited for the felicitation ceremony. I think time has come now where we need to take up some responsibility as an Indian citizen and volunteer for any social activity for 1-2 hours once in a week or month or quarter or year. This will indirectly cure our Attention SPAN problem & make us connected more emotionally towards our country.
A special salute once again to all the men and women of our armed forces, naval forces and air force and also their families.
Let me end this post with a parting thought of Simon Sinek : The small work hard to serve themselves in a big way. The big work hard to serve the world in a small way.
