Why cinema halls, make our MPs sing national anthem first

As far as I know or remember for over a decade now the national anthem has been played before every screening of a movie. Right? Yes, in Maharashtra, at least. Since 2003. Everybody has stood up. Proudly. Ever Indian citizen. At least those that were able. Even silencing those that spoke or uttered disrespectful noises during its rendition.

We’ve read with horror in the newspapers about “bhakts” who have been retarded enough to beat up/pulverise senior citizens and handicapped unable to pay their obeisance to the national anthem due to physical inability. And tch-tched Bollywood actors’ atrocious singing of the same to promote their films.

Yes patriotism cannot and must never be purchased or sold – we all agree. But why this sudden brouhaha now? To give people reason for more violence? More unreasonableness? More unrest?

And more so - why is this jingoism/national anthem’s importance only ever attached to cinema? No other avenue or profession gets you the media attention, huh?

So dear Supreme Court...

I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Never mind that you did not make the watching of porn or “chappal throwing” in Parliament an inexcusable behaviour, or rape of minors punishable by death.

What you have mandated rather proudly instead is for the national anthem to be played at cinema halls before the screening of every film.

Slow claps. 

Really. It’s a law our country so needed above all and everything else, no? Especially, with all these Pakistani actors acting in Indian movies?

So now that we understand why you so hurriedly passed that law, can you also please explain why our parliamentarians should not be forced to sing the national anthem before every session of Parliament?

Why every change of shift at every police station across the nation should not be started with the singing of the national anthem?

Why every school, office or factory should not be forced to start and end their day with the start of the national anthem?

Why every member of Parliament/local legislative Assembly/ municipal body/BMC or any government officebearer should not be compelled to do a one-kilometre jog every day outside his office waving the national flag? So as to set a sterling example to the rest of the mortal citizens of this great Indian nation who so badly need to be taught some lessons in patriotism?

Why every MP/senior government official, and why the Supreme Court judges themselves should not compulsorily have Vande Mataram tattooed on the side of his forehead as a mark of ever undying respect for his/her great motherland?

Surely, it’s a small price to pay for the motherland? The Nazi loyalists had their uniforms ensuring that the swastika was clearly seen, no? The neo-Nazis have the swastika tattoed on their bodies, don’t they?

Jai Hind! [Or, should I say Tutak Tutak Tutiya?]

Also read - Are cinema halls any venues to display patriotism?