Revisiting patriotic fervour of Vande Matram

By Sandeep Datta

Indian diversity and its multi-religious character has been a big charm for people across the world. The Indian way of life appeals a lot of Britons and Americans, in particular, since their countries are witnessing a rapidly failure of society at large.

Briton and the US are faced with the challenge of regaining trust of disgruntled individuals. Since these people are falling in the trap of terror groups and targetting their own brothers and sisters.  It looks the governments in these countries now need to do a lot of homework to evoke love among people for their nation.

In this context, the Indian lifestyle and social set up should draw more attention of the western world. More importantly, due to the kind of passion the Indians have for their country. The very sight of national flag evokes a deep sense of respect and pride among people for the country, which regained its freedom from British rule. 

While leaving India in 1947, the British empire left its most discomforting shadow in the form of growing hatred between Hindu and Muslim communities. But it was the sense of nationalism which left a big hope of revival of brotherhood Hindus and Muslims.

Like the religious movements played a vital role in uniting Indians, beyond religion, caste and geographical locations, during freedom struggle, patriotic songs also played a huge role. One of them was Vande Matram.

Originally a poem taken from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1882 novel Anandamath, it was written as a praise of the motherland and to inspire respect and love for it. During Indian independence movement, the song was a great help in evoking a feeling to unite and fight out the British rule together.  

Today, many countries are facing terrorism, especially from brain-washed locals turning against their governments. And, like others, the Indians, beyond political leaders, need to protect their brotherhood threatened by divisive forces and the policies of appeasing some while depriving the rest. 

One can observe it on various social networking sites, how many youngsters are liking and promoting communal messages. The social platform of such a big scale is at times used to misguide and thus provoke hatred.    

The government needs to have a serious look at it till it gets too late like it has in Britain and America.

But amid everything, there is a big positive role patriotic poems, write ups or songs can play even at such platforms. Provided, the government agencies show interest and explore ways to promote such things beyond occasions like the independence day and republic day i.e. Aug.15 and Jan.26 respectively.

One such method could be to generate love and passion for our national song -- Vande Matram.

There is nothing more saddening that a song of such a great significance during freedom struggle has been given a communal colour.

I wonder how the controversy created by some fundamentalist Muslim preachers over singing of Indian national song Vande Matram being un-Islamic and some of hardliner Hindus forcing it down their throats was even allowed to take place despite government and court's existence.

We need to remember if India needed unity of thought and action till six decades ago, the nation requires it more badly in today's world when our enemy countries are brain-washing groups on the Indian soil. And, at a time, when most of us keep buying China made products and helping an enemy nation's' industrial rise.

Today, the countrymen need to have a strong sense of nationalistic feeling, unity among all beyond personal religious faiths and practices. The magic of patriotism and love for Swadeshi (Indian products) can do wonders.

It holds significance, especially when the country is faced by so many external threats. The anti-India groups and our sworn enemies are spreading hatred and divisions among all of us from inside and outside the country. And, many of us are stupidly giving in to their tactics.

Not many of us are realising we are actually looking fools by falling into the trap of those whose aim is to divide us all by carrying on rubbing salt into old wounds so that they never heal.

It is shocking to see how we, who form such a vast literate society,  are letting our social structure get sabotaged by divisive forces, operating inside and outside the country.   

The hate-mongers and divisive powers that have survived on the basis of communal lines can be silenced through nationalistic feelings. Thus, it becomes more important than ever before that Indians should look at their own motherland with respect and true love. .  

The government too is guilty of doing precious little to encourage and promote the nationalistic fervour in every nook and corner of the country and the world. 

The vote bank politics has compromised the respect for nation and mediums like our national song. It is projected as if by singing Vande Matram, one is towing the line of RSS or BJP or any other Hindu group. Does Bharat belong only to them?

One tends think why shouldn't the nation come first than any other thing? What is the use of that religion if it doesn't value a country, a geographical space of the world, which gave us a big identity, a place to cherish our lie and pursue our religion with full freedom and enjoy life with individuals of different religious faith? 

This also applies to the love of language. Be it Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit or any other Indian language, every Indian should value it and respect its usage as an Indian language in any sphere of life. 

Be it standing for or singing the glory of one's motherland...through Vande Matram or Sare Jahan Se Acha or Jana Gana Mana..all should be viewed as the ultimate prayer and respect for the Martibhumi, Mitti or, Vatan which has nurtured us. 

Likewise, there should be no hesitation in singing ....Vande Matram! 

For detail on British rule in India...
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/east-india-company-british.html

Sometimes self-inflicted injury is not worth it

By Sandeep Datta

Falling in love despite knowing its consequence is perhaps equally stupid than falling off one's motorbike due to a silly personal decision. 

I felt it Thursday (May 9, 2013)  while going to meet someone in a hurry despite drowsiness of the previous night shift. 

I was heading to Nirman Bhavan, near India Gate, to collect a copy of our property documents from an agent whom I had met a few minutes ago while returning from Green Park office. 

I had just reached home but he called me back. I rushed on the same route in the sweltering heat having taken a glass of water at home. I was sleepy and exhausted already, but had little choice except to go.

It is about 12 km from my Malka Ganj located house to Nirman Bhavan. I was too desperate to get the document so could not delay collecting it on the next day.

Just as I reached the road, which leads to Gole Market area, near Connaught Palace, on the route to Nirman Bhavan, I fell off the motorbike while taking a steep turn at the Mandir Marg traffic signal, near Birla Mandir.

The bike skidded on an oil puddle. The oil had  perhaps dropped out of some passing vehicle just a while ago. The moment my flat hind tyre, already declared risky by mechanics for being old and too much used, touched the puddle in speed, it lost its grip of the road. And, me and the bike went out of control.

It felt as if suddenly someone had taken off the back tyre. The motorbike skidded a bit, making me lose entire balance and falling off on my back with my head banging on the road. 

Thankfully I was wearing a helmet which saved me head injuries as my head hit the road.

A youngster, driving a motorbike just ahead of me, probably with his girl friend, stopped just as I fell. He  helped me park my bike on the roadside and checked my left knee which had made it difficult for me to to walk without difficulty.

He told me about the oil on road and said: "Aapka pichla tyre bhi pura ganja ho chuka hai" (your hind tyre has also turned flat). I realised what led to my fall. 

I was limping and feeling the knee had been badly hurt. Though there was a little bruise, it was paining and had started swelling. I thanked the couple and others and told them to carry on as I could take care of me. 

Since the incident occurred on a traffic signal, all eyes were on me with discomfort. Just as it turned green, all disappeared to my big relief. I checked my belongings. I found the stitching had come off a bit too much from the middle of my new pant. 

It felt embarrassing to feel the underwear being visible. But I decided to carry on, by covering my back with my hanging office bag, despite limping and torn apart pant.

I restarted my motorbike in God's name and went on to meet the guy I was supposed to collect the property documents from. 

But on my way, I realised there was perhaps no other reason for my fall except me. First, I was in a hurry and had turned completely oblivious to my barely alert mind, having being awake for whole night. .

It had turned very important to collect the conveyance deed since I had been seeking it for the transfer of property in mother's name for last few weeks. 

But I did not have the right papers to verify if my brother had already transferred the property in his name or not. 

So, I had made an arrangement with a staff in the land and building department of Nirman Bhavan, the central government office which maintains records of property ownership related documents. 

Sumit, the concerned person working in the information facility centre, was to handover a copy of our documents on the same day in lieu of Rs.3,000 as bribe. Otherwise, I was told it is a weeks-long procedure. 

Having already waited for about three weeks for the same documents from a local court near our house, it had turned frustratingly urgent to get them by hook or crook. 

Finally, I reached his office within next 15 minutes, only to get an incomplete set of documents. But I had no choice to miss it and stupidly took it. 

I reached home and again rushed to meet our advocate in Kashmiri Gate only to find that the document was not worth it.

In the evening, I visited our family physician, who advised me against going to the office at least for that night. I agreed but expressed by compulsion. But my boss, Dr. Rahul Dass, was kind enough. 

He talked to the executive managing director and the editor-in-chief and requested for leave on my behalf. They agreed. Interestingly, I had requested for one night. He issued a public message in the company about me being off for next three days.

After everything, I recalled how I had been forewarned by mechanics to get both the tyres replaced nth time. I took it very casually. Perhaps, a slip on the road was due to take place for a long time. It was just a matter of time. 

But, it all happened because I tried to save money for the time being. I chose to spend money on only replacing the first tyre. It was perhaps not a wise decision.

But not replacing both tyres, except the most urgent one -- the front tyre a month ago, was purely a financial compulsion which I could not explain to wife or anyone but only my mother understood it immediately.  

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The Kurta

By Sandeep Datta, May 6, 2013

It was Sunday, a comparatively lenient day for most of the people, even in media. The general mood is to enjoy a feeling of half-day off, with friends and foes in office alike.  So I arrived in office, wearing a fluorescent green Kurta instead of formal shirt.

For the last two years, I have developed a special liking for Kurtas. As I have delivered my three public speeches wearing them. Also, Kurtas offer a special or distinct feeling, whether one wears them with a trouser or jeans.

But I never realised it was not just the Kurta but its colour which could evoke so much response. I failed to understand it a few days ago when my news editor, an affectionate and friendly lady, wore a orange coloured-Kurta. 

People termed it 'saffron', a general connotation for being related to Sangh's off shoots instead of the first colour of national flag. But it was actually looking very bright and appealing on that lady who always greets all with a genuine smile. 

Yesterday, it happened to be my turn. I wore the fluorescent green for the first time in office. I had actually bought it for the environment day in our locality. I wore it as it was sweltering heat outside and I preferred looking a bit 'green' like leaves. lols. 

But I was surprised to see the kind of mixed reactions I received in office.

Since the fluorescent colour strikes the eyes, for not being worn usually except by the residents from North East India due to their love for colours, it evoked varied responses. 

A girl from Bihar, the state known for Madhubani art, looked shocked when she said: "Oh MY GOODD!" and a male colleague, in lighter vein, described it to be a "Nimbu" and another one said "Chamkiley". 

But there were others who liked it and put their first reaction to the colour in a quite dignified way -- "Bhai, wah! This is the beauty of fluorescent green. It is not green", "Badhiya hai sahab", "Kya baat hai janab, wadiya hai". 

The day passed on and individuals kept coming and expressing their sense of surprise in different ways. 

But I observed one thing through all the reactions. At times how much it can matter, the way we react to something or about somebody at times. 

While dragging my punctured motorbike to the nearest petrol pump after calling it day in office, I brooded over the variety of reaction I got. 

Though I give a damn to others' sense of liking or disliking when it comes to what I am wearing or doing, I still kept smiling over their responses. 

Having topped in textile designing from J.D.Inst.of Fashion Technology and having learnt over 50 designing and painting styles, I always take pride and mostly appreciated for the scheme of colours I apply in anything. 

So I never allow it to matter whenever someone suggested anything related to 'colours' to me. Rather, I always smile at their limitation to first understand and then react about one's joy of celebrating life with colours. 

If I have to, I take the advise of a selective few whom I value for their choice of colours. But, certainly, not of just any other person.

It surprises me to notice how most of the people fail to observe the natural surroundings. They come into this world and just pass way, hardly ever taking out time to see, feel and enjoy the vast beauty that is spread around our world. 

Perhaps, they need to learn that each colour has its distinct appeal. It is the occasion, the mood, the season, the environment, and, most importantly, the state of mind that influence senses in our selection of colours of anything or the dress for the day. 

Regards

Chaudhary Sandeep Datta