While watching the last fifteen minutes of the movie ‘Bhag Milkha Bhag’, where Milkha wins the race at Pakistan and is decorated by the title ‘The Flying Sikh’, by the Pakistan Premier, I had goose bumps and an enormous excitement, though I had watched the movie several times earlier. Was it Patriotism?
I watch cricket, very religiously and piously to the extent that my heart rate doubles with a wicket or a six. With a win, I almost dance in glory. With a loss I am miserable. This affects my entire psyche and working.
Is it Patriotism?
I watch and listen to our Premier talk in the foreign land with grit and extreme integrity. I adore his style, his demeanour and his persona.
Is this Patriotism?
I see people getting off their seats in the packed cinema house to pay respect to the National Anthem and virtually sing the melody in unison.
Is this Patriotism?
To me, NONE of the above is patriotism.
To me Patriotism is, when a person leaves everything and fights religiously, whole-heartedly for a social cause, directly related to the building process of the nation, works day and night and even dies for the cause.
I need to see a Bhagat Singh and a Gandhi to believe in Patriotism.
Sitting on a foam couch in an air-conditioned ambience and applauding somebody else’s achievement is only self gratification and a pseudo assurance. It is patting one’s own back for somebody else’s laurels.
Wish, I too behave properly and try to emulate the ideals of the idols, in the rest of my bestowed years and then say…oh Anuj! You are PATRIOTIC?
Only then, I have the right to rightfully say and imbibe in my psyche, मेरा भारत महान.
