Patriotism because of fear of law?

Given the spate of decisions that have come from their respective quarters in recent months, it is moot if the central government and the judiciary are not locked in a race to grab headlines. Supreme Court's verdict on National Anthem is just similar to, as some priests and pandas will tell you, taking a dip in the holy Ganges.

If we have come to a stage where theatres need to remind us of the value of patriotism, the Indian value system has failed. If our family could not teach us, our school its curriculum could not teach us and peers could not teach us and the time comes when a forceful therapy is needed to inject the feeling of patriotism. So, be alert here comes the dooms day of the Republic.

Patriotism therapy just before the three hours of entertainment in a movie theatre is all needed today?

I can still walk past victims of road accidents, watch quietly as women are harassed in public, even can ignore the screams of the women who was being beaten in her home, stay silent when female foetuses are killed, not pay my taxes religiously, ignore the Army's calls for recruitment, spit my paan-gutkha in public. But as long as I chant national anthem I rightly call myself a patriot. The feeling of patriotism rises in me when I see a tricolour furled when Indian team win in any category of sports. For example at Beijings when India made us proud by winning an individual gold at olympics, gave us the real pleasure when the whole stadium rose to the national anthem. I am sure that every Indian while watching the moment on their TV sets felt patriotism in their veins. This is all what we needed. Even I believe in rising from my seat in grief when I see a soldier being sacrificed his life at border while protecting our own nation.

India needs such moments of pride and glory to relish the sight of national flag, standing with pride for national anthem.

In my opinion India needs culture of patriotism but not patrio-tization of culture. If patriotism is to be force-displayed because of fear of the law, it means deep down we lack it. Respect for national flag, anthem and emblem are natural reactions and can't be forced upon in a civilised society.