New Delhi: The ongoing debate surrounding the playing of the national anthem in cinema halls has evoked mixed reactions from people.
Delhi-based software engineer Ramesh Dubey has a story to tell.
“I went to watch a movie with my wife and one-year-old daughter within weeks after Supreme court passed order last year over mandatory playing of national anthem in cinema halls. Both of us settled down and daughter was asleep in my wife’s lap and then suddenly national anthem started playing. I stood up but my wife could not because my daughter was asleep in her lap. I asked her to remain seated but I was sweating as I feared getting beaten up by people around. It was a horrible experience,” Dubey recounts.
Many question the need to play the national anthem in a cinema hall.
“I don’t even understand the need for the national anthem to be played in cinema halls. These places are meant for entertainment and show all sorts of content, from outrageously vulgar to very sensitive. It is a disrespect to play national anthem there,” says Mumbai-based architect Ashutosh Mishra.
Indeed there is a difference between hypocrisy and actual patriotism, and forcing one to do anything is wrong.
“Let patriotism remain in our hearts and soul. Why should the government or court make us stand at a movie theatre. The order of playing national anthem at cinema halls should be revoked. When national flag cannot be hoisted everywhere, why should national anthem be allowed to be played anywhere. Stop national anthem from becoming object of mockery,” says Delhi-based civil rights activist Ajit Sharma.
Interior designer from Delhi Niharika Das asks why a foreign national be made to stand up in Indian theatres.
“Cant foreigners watch a movie in Indian cinema halls? Of course, they can. But why must they stand for our national anthem. A foreigner has got nothing to do with India and its culture. He has come to see the place not to take part in a national anthem parade,” Das questions.
But there are others who feel patriotism is integral to one’s feelings to the land of his birth and of his forefathers. “We don’t need to show it to some rowdy goons in cinema theatres. Many of us work hard at our jobs, honestly pay our taxes and sincerely contribute to our country’s economy, many of us who are qualified, stayed back in our country though we could have moved out for a better living standard in other countries. This is real patriotism. But at the same time, there is nothing wrong to stand up for national anthem in theatres if its playing is made mandatory,” says Kolkata-based painter Shubhendu Roy.
Advocate Anamika Gupta from Delhi puts it logically and simply.
“Why play national anthem before the movie. It is not required. That being said if national anthem is played everybody needs to stand up and pay respect and there is no excuse of not doing it,” says Gupta.
