DC Debate: Saare jahan se achcha...?

DC Debate: Saare jahan se achcha...?

DECCAN CHRONICLE.    Published Dec 8, 2016

Playing the national anthem before movie shows is no way to inculcate patriotism.

It will be a repetitive ritual

Sandeep Dikshit

The order of the Supreme Court to play the national anthem before every feature film in cinema halls is a curious act. Where does the Supreme Court get the power to issue executive fiats, and on what basis is the court encroaching upon purely executive and legislative functions which is itself a dangerous move. That apart, the point that the court tried to make is the necessity of playing the national anthem before a feature film (where people go purely for entertainment), and that it would instil “constitutional patriotism” amongst people.

Does hearing and standing for the national anthem instil patriotism? Quite largely, it excites us and makes us feel emotionally attached and proud of our nation. In public situations it builds a common bondage, a camaraderie and reinforces a larger common national identity. But beyond this does the playing/singing and standing for the national anthem does anything more substantial? Not really. Patriotism has many meanings and nuances, apart from feeling good about your nation. Does the constant hearing of the national anthem push the many “desired” traits of a patriot? Does it make you more law-abiding, does it prompt greater consciousness of the spirit and elements of our Constitution, does it make you more humane, compassionate and respectful towards all fellow citizens? The answer is a clear no. A reasonable frequency and appropriate time, and place and event for the national anthem does reinforce this feeling of joy and pride in our nation. But as you increase the frequency of symbols and symbolic gestures (as the anthem is), and distort the logic of symbolic gestures an their association with appropriate events, you cheapen and weaken the force of the impact and relevance of such gestures. I believe the Supreme Court has done that.

Do judges really believe that if you keep hearing the national anthem you will feel more patriotic and join the armed forces, or start reporting anti-national activities, or be more prepared to die for your country, or rule of law would prevail more, or less women would be abused, or tax payments would be more honest, or officers will not take bribes anymore, or politicians (who on an average hear the national anthem more than others) would become better and greater leaders, or police persons would start catching thieves and stop harassing innocents, or people won’t kidnap fellow citizens anymore, or fundamentalists would stop spreading hatred, or communal riots would stop, or 1984 and 2002 Gujarat would not happen again? This list is endless, and that the answer to each is a firm no, just shows how facile and superficial this order is.

The other part of this judgment is playing the anthem before feature films in cinema halls. There are places and a time for anything and everything. But what is the basis of believing that playing the national anthem before a feature film would increase patriotic feelings? If somehow their lordships believe that the mood prior to being entertained is fertile to instil patriotism, then why leave other forms of entertainment, or do they believe that films reduce patriotism, therefore, it is necessary to reinforce just before they start?

The playing off and the standing for the national anthem is an exciting and exhilarating experience. It makes us proud and joyous, but if it becomes a routine, facile repetition, before events like movies, where we go for much more simpler needs of entertainment, then we are only reducing these fine moments to a repetitive ritual, which as all things repeated unnecessarily would lose value and impact.

I firmly believe that judges have actually done a disservice and this shall over time weaken the impact that the singing of the national anthem normally does to a citizen of my country. There is a law of diminishing marginal utility in everything.

Sandeep Dikshit is Congress spokesperson

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle