Patriotic - who makes one? Let me rephrase - what makes a patriot? Is it rallying and sloganeering? Is it boisterous chest thumping? or is it a loud "Happy Independence day" (maybe even a message/email - we are a v.tech savvy nation u know!)? no wait, maybe its wearing the colours of the flag? or maybe, just maybe its standing up when the national anthem is being played...or saluting a brave jawan? or respecting a Shahid..
Mostly, most of the most obvious loud demonstrations of patriotism seem to be just that - demonstrations. They are not some-how the real thing; getting lost on the way to showing what it should be like, maybe we forget what it really is to be one...Pop-patriotism is the order of the day when you play holi with saffron gulal, wear khadi in international fora and chastise your kids for getting their hindi wrong - afterall its our matrabhasha bhai!
No offense to our collective sensibilities, it is definitely always a good idea to declare your patriotism, but should we not, as thinking people, take the definition beyond mere actions? It is not a way of life? to accept your shortcomings as a nation, to be aware but yet to believe..We know we lack, but we know we shall overcome...
Dharma, karma - these are not mere words. They indicate a way of life - a life of valuing, preserving and cherishing what you have..
Who defines a patriot? Maybe, purchasing the Mahatma's possessions is an act of patriotism - its not about speaking the "right" words, wearing the "right" attire, or living the "right" lifestyle - its about thinking the right thing!!
Maybe, even though its not made by an "Indian", "Slumdog" is a patriotic film - it may not be the best you have seen but its about victory and underdogs, a theme Indianness well identifies with..
Patriotism - I leave it to you to define, somehow I can't!
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