A sure way to turn a spontaneous emotion into a mechanical gesture is to make something mandatory. Do time travel if you can and ask the citizens of the Soviet Union what they made of Victory Day ‘celebrations’ with rousing speeches and march pasts, and compare it with, say, Americans celebrating 4th of July with beer and fireworks, and you’ll get what we’re trying to get at. Showing one’s patriotism, especially on 15th August, is a splendid idea. But are ‘Soviet’ strategies, like the one being enforced by Haryana’s education ministry replacing ‘Good morning’, ‘Good afternoon’ with ‘Jai Hind‘ from tomorrow, a great idea? Beyond the gesture, enforcing ‘Jai Hind’ will likely remain just a, well, gesture.
Instead, why not institutionalise what many restaurants and dining establishments do anyway? Make I-Day a giant party for all citizens, impressionable kids included. For the generation that witnessed India‘s earliest Independence Days, it was a genuine cause for revelry. Merrymaking is in no way antithetical to showcasing one’s happiness and pride. We suggest that tonight, we all celebrate I-Day Eve, not just commemorate Independence Day, with our celebratory modes of choice – whether via libations or music, dancing or feasting. Every August 14th-15th night, we should have our annual twist with destiny. On full party-mode, not out of duty.
