Mona

Our national anthem has made it to national news the second time around this year. First when Amitabh Bachchan was taken to task for not singing it correctly ahead of India versus Pakistan ICC World Twenty20 match this March and now with the Supreme Court’s ruling, which has again brought Tagore’s creation into focus. So is making the national anthem a must in cinemas before the show starts a push towards nationalism?Good moveSays Kamalpreet Singh, B Com student, “We as a country seriously lack national pride, so it is a step in a right direction.” “Unlike many other nations, in India elders preach self before anyone else. Nation isn’t even on the radar,” adds Kamalpreet.Agrees Ojaswee Sharma, a filmmaker from the city, “In the hullaballoo of life, don’t many of us just forget to recognise our nation as integral part of our identity? Sparing a minute is hardly a demand that cannot to conceded.” Bhupesh Rana, just out of a film show, rather enjoys it, “In our highly fragmented society, this is a great move?”Priya Krishnan, biotechnology student from UIET, labels it as a good move, but feels it would cut no ice. “While I am all for the current government and its decisions, there is so much more to be done starting right from our education system. There is a huge need to open up as a society before we make India realise its true potential and feel proud as Indians.”Flip side“Though I have not read the judgement, yet in my personal opinion it is not a correct decision,” shares Harish Mehla, advocate, High Court, and founder Chandigarh Creative Cinema Circle. “No one can be prosecuted for not doing fundamental duties,” he points out. He feels that such a decision might lead to disrespect on the contrary. “You cannot infuse patriotism by forcing anyone to stand for the national anthem,” he fears, duly clarifying that singing or not singing the anthem is no parameter to judge his love for the country.Here’s what Bollywood celebs have to sayKABIR BEDI Verified account ?@iKabirBedi Cinemas are great places to enjoy the #national anthem, in Dolby sound; our flag fluttering vibrantly, in Panavision. Good decision! Anupam Kher Retweeted

Sonam Mahajan ?@AsYouNotWish

When SC remains open at 3 am to hear a terrorist’s mercy plea, it’s justice.When SC directs you to sing #NationalAnthem, it’s fascism.arvind swami ?@thearvindswami

With all due respects, Why should the national anthem be played before the start of a movie? Can anyone explain …. ??Shirish Kunder Verified account

#NationalAnthem ruling is a good initiative towards patriotism. The movie Border should also be compulsory before every movie screening.Ram Gopal Varma Verified account Like lead actor giving anti tobacco msg shouldn’t lead character of every film compulsorily sing #NationalAnthem  twice b4 nd aftr interval?rahul dholakia ?@rahuldholakia

Why single out cinema halls for #NationalAnthem ? Why not play it in planes, trains, malls, every public platform ?? Shekhar Gupta Verified account ?@ShekharGupta  How will SC enforce its #NationalAnthem order? By ordering a cop in every show, or simply crowd-sourcing it to self-appointed vigilantes?mona@tribunemail.com

Saluting the Flag

Apex court over-reaches itself

It seems the Age of Firmans is firmly upon us. One day one constitutional authority issues a firman to demonetise currency notes, and, then keeps on issuing firman after firman, amending the original firman. Now the Supreme Court has joined in the fun. A two-judge bench has decreed that national anthem must be played in cinema halls before a feature film starts and all those present inside the hall would be obliged to stand up as a mark of respect. No one should have a reason to quibble with the sentiment behind the hon’ble court’s order. Their Lordships, though, have left it rather vague as to what happens to anyone who may seem to be in less than total compliance with the judicial firman. Their Lordships have made it clear that they expect all the Chief Secretaries to enforce the judicial order. Suddenly, one more minatory layer stands imposed on the citizens. All nation-states are artificial constructs. Consequently, all societies find themselves having to devise collective symbols of veneration and respect; and, all societies expect their citizens to observe the rites of outward obeisance to national symbols, flags, anthems. The society and its institutions like schools take it upon themselves to inculcate among the young a sense of collective solidarity, a bond of belonging. We have also exquisitely crafted republican rites like the Republic Day Parade and the Independence Day celebration at the Red Fort. Like other nations, we have our own rituals and ceremonies to reaffirm and restate our collective existence.   Yet there is something less than reassuring in this essay in judicial populism.  It is neither the role nor the place of the judiciary to insist on instilling “a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism.” That is a task best left to social reformers, political demagogues and cultural taste-makers. Nationalism is a noble sentiment; its spiritual luminosity is sufficient in itself of extracting a coherence of belief, loyalty and instant respect from the citizen. An enforced nationalism can only be a shallow, and perhaps, a shabby bond. Even without the benefit of a judicial firman, India and its people are perfectly capable of producing a joyful celebration of our collective destiny and dreams. Jai Hind!