Because for some political parties it was all about singing the song on a particular day. Because for many others it was all about not singing it that day or any other- and they had their way. For even others it was about singing it but supporting the right not to sing it too. Maybe for the rest- it was just about - huh? Vande what? Well, never mind.
And it doesn't seem to matter to any of them now- because September 7th has come and gone- and you sung it, you didn't sing it,its yesterday's news, ok,goodbye.
Well I sung it. And I think everyone should too. Not because it's a beautiful song, and not because the first stanza- the only one that's expected to be sung has nothing but nice thoughts and praise for our country, and certainly not because it has my name in it (ok maybe a little bit because of that :)).
But because it is our national song.
And it has been since this country became a nation. And when we continue to allow doubt and to second guess its meaning - then we just taint a national symbol.
It's not like our track record in national symbols is that great anyway. We do have a national flag and a national anthem that we respect and remember. But what about the rest?
We have a national language- that a majority of Indians don't learn, and in fact will never need to learn. How does it matter, you ask? Well, as a journalist, I am one of the people most handicapped by the fact that no language, let alone Hindi, can get me through the length and the breadth of my country. I have heard the arguments- that Hindi is as alien to most people in the country as any foreign language. That learning Hindi will force other languages to die out- a sort of cultural imperialism of the north- and I was almost convinced.
And then I visited the Andaman Islands after the Tsunami. No, let me be more specific. I flew two hours east from Chennai to Port Blair, and another two hours south down the islands to the southern-most island of Campbell Bay- really as far as you can get from North India. My assignment: to speak to 9 survivors who had spent 38 days in the jungles, surviving on berries and wild boar. We had to return the very same day, and I knew I wouldn't get much time with the group. And as always when I am traveling, the worry was language. How would I speak to them on camera, and once I would return to the mainland, how would I translate what they said?
But of course they all spoke fluent Hindi, besides their own, because the islands (closer to Indonesia than anywhere else) are part of our Union Territories. In far flung Arunachal Pradesh too, one encounters a similar fluency in the national language, I am told. A couple of generations of instruction is all it took, if that. And an acceptance of a national symbol- the language, another one that we seem quite easily to reject.
I guess I need not say too much about the rest of our national symbols. It took a bollywood movie to put the spotlight back on our nation's father- and to point out (as Circuit does) that most assume a completely unrelated dynasty actually represents him now.
The numbers of our national animal are dwindling drastically with no one to protect it both inside and outside our 'national' parks- one majestic member found shot through the eye just a few days ago at Corbett. Our national flower now belongs, as an officially allotted symbol,to a political party. Oh, and yes, we have just been thrashed at our national sport at the World cup in Germany, without even one win.
I say, lets just drop the 'national' word from them all if we care so little for them. The symbolism is dead.
About the AuthorSuhasini Haidar Suhasini Haidar is Diplomatic Editor, The Hindu. Earlier, she was a senior editor and prime time anchor for India's leading 24-hour English news chann...Read Morefirst published:September 16, 2006, 12:32 ISTlast updated:September 16, 2006, 12:32 IST
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The Vande Mataram controversy seems to be over- a very brief, self-contained fire that died out without many embers left behind.
Because for some political parties it was all about singing the song on a particular day. Because for many others it was all about not singing it that day or any other- and they had their way. For even others it was about singing it but supporting the right not to sing it too. Maybe for the rest- it was just about - huh? Vande what? Well, never mind.
And it doesn't seem to matter to any of them now- because September 7th has come and gone- and you sung it, you didn't sing it,its yesterday's news, ok,goodbye.
Well I sung it. And I think everyone should too. Not because it's a beautiful song, and not because the first stanza- the only one that's expected to be sung has nothing but nice thoughts and praise for our country, and certainly not because it has my name in it (ok maybe a little bit because of that :)).
But because it is our national song.
And it has been since this country became a nation. And when we continue to allow doubt and to second guess its meaning - then we just taint a national symbol.
It's not like our track record in national symbols is that great anyway. We do have a national flag and a national anthem that we respect and remember. But what about the rest?
We have a national language- that a majority of Indians don't learn, and in fact will never need to learn. How does it matter, you ask? Well, as a journalist, I am one of the people most handicapped by the fact that no language, let alone Hindi, can get me through the length and the breadth of my country. I have heard the arguments- that Hindi is as alien to most people in the country as any foreign language. That learning Hindi will force other languages to die out- a sort of cultural imperialism of the north- and I was almost convinced.
And then I visited the Andaman Islands after the Tsunami. No, let me be more specific. I flew two hours east from Chennai to Port Blair, and another two hours south down the islands to the southern-most island of Campbell Bay- really as far as you can get from North India. My assignment: to speak to 9 survivors who had spent 38 days in the jungles, surviving on berries and wild boar. We had to return the very same day, and I knew I wouldn't get much time with the group. And as always when I am traveling, the worry was language. How would I speak to them on camera, and once I would return to the mainland, how would I translate what they said?
But of course they all spoke fluent Hindi, besides their own, because the islands (closer to Indonesia than anywhere else) are part of our Union Territories. In far flung Arunachal Pradesh too, one encounters a similar fluency in the national language, I am told. A couple of generations of instruction is all it took, if that. And an acceptance of a national symbol- the language, another one that we seem quite easily to reject.
I guess I need not say too much about the rest of our national symbols. It took a bollywood movie to put the spotlight back on our nation's father- and to point out (as Circuit does) that most assume a completely unrelated dynasty actually represents him now.
The numbers of our national animal are dwindling drastically with no one to protect it both inside and outside our 'national' parks- one majestic member found shot through the eye just a few days ago at Corbett. Our national flower now belongs, as an officially allotted symbol,to a political party. Oh, and yes, we have just been thrashed at our national sport at the World cup in Germany, without even one win.
I say, lets just drop the 'national' word from them all if we care so little for them. The symbolism is dead.
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