The Supreme Court ruled that the National Anthem has to be played before the screening of movies in movie halls and while it is played, the doors of the halls should be kept shut.

I have been more than an average patriot, am and will always be. However, I consider it bizarre for the court to have decreed as such in relation to National Anthem. Respect has to come from within the heart of every citizen, which cannot be forced. Earlier days movie halls used to play the anthem at the end of the movie and many people used to hurriedly exit either during the play of the Anthem.

Jindal won a phenomenal victory as a citizen, getting the restrictions on hoisting flags on private buildings reversed in the Supreme Court. How many residences display the flag?

The present generation, which is born long after independence of our nation, does not know the sacrifices that our leaders and masses made to drive the colonial rulers out. It is a hair-raising event to view, when our soldiers hoist the flag in places like Kargil, in life threatening conditions as in the sports stadiums. The National Anthem was misused and abused in every possible way, often for commercial gains and stopping that is a welcome step. Political parties should also be barred from the use of the colours of the National flag for their parties.

The present flag-bearers of the country, the lawmakers in the government and in the opposition, seldom fall in the category of great leaders, evincing awe and a voluntary respect from the ordinary citizens. Demanding a respect, either by statute or by force therefore may defeat the purpose of instilling patriotism of any kind.

The court could well have stayed away from such forced measures, may not evoke any national fervor or patriotism to all. People like me will salute the flag and stand in respect, whenever and wherever the National Anthem is played, regardless of how the judiciary has felt about it.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide voix