Tomorrow we celebrate another Republic Day. Another parade that is supposed to showcase the military and cultural might of the Country. But is this not a vulgar exhibition that had relevance half a century ago, but is no more relevant today? Of course, it has its moments of poignant importance when the Martyrs are honoured. But it is a symbolic sham. The way our country has treated our martyrs is deplorable to say the least. Compensations due to them are delayed, their family left to suffer and these martyrs who laid down their life so that their fellow countrymen live on will be squirming in their coffins wondering for what did they lose their lives for?
Before the advent of television, it was estimated that up to 5,00,000 people flocked to see this spectacle and it was common to hear about thousands of ordinary folks without the privileged entry pass that is so required today spending the night before in the unreserved enclosures to find a place to see the parade. Both republic day parade in the Rajpath and independance day flag hoisting in Red Fort used to be for the common man. That has changed since 1980s. Today the common man is not allowed within 10 kilometer radius of the events. The audience is manufactured and more often that not we can see well decked men and women from the delhi elite sitting frankly bored or school children who were forced to attend to make up the numbers. In the days of Doordarshan alone TV airwaves, we used to be glued to the TV sets. But today, hardly anyone watches it on their TVs for they are more keen on the filmy masala that is dished out by the various channels. People do not even hoist flags in their houses. So much for patriotism.
The Republic Day parade was an apt symbol of national integration. Unity in diversity was the leitmotif of the imposing parade, where religion, language and ethnicity were sought to be subsumed under the overarching pan-Indian identity. It was required in the early years to show the skeptics who predicted India disintegrating soon after independance, that we are a mighty unified country. But is it needed now?
In its current format, the parade is more about the might of the military and the might of the state and the focus is on the VIP. From the president's mounted bodyguard column to the fly-past and the innumerable security cordons, it symbolises the vulgar power of the State and the babudom. It also puts the Delhiites to considerable incovenience for one month. Also, the Republic Day parade is a highly visible terrorist target.
We can and should find other means of celebrating the Republic Day. It is time to involve the common man once again. A week long cultural activities spread across the country to celebrate our cultural diversity could be one option. We can do a rain check on the unfortunate dependants of the Martyrs every year and help them out. The military can have its own private ceremonies. Programs on Patriotism and Constitution awareness can be conducted in schools, colleges and offices. We can conduct exhibitions across the country on the history and future of our nation. We can create Republic Day talent clubs for children and organize activities all over India. And please let us scrap the national holiday. Let us work EXTRA on these to days as part of nation building. We need some zing and zest that involves all. It should be a solemn day. A day of introspection and reflection. After all being independant and being a republic are something that we take for granted but should not.
And finally, how many of us know what is meant by a Republic? I have been asking this question to my MBA students in Kuwait for the last two semesters. My students are in the age group of 22-50. All Indians. Sad to say, none of them knew the answer. This despite the word Republic of India stamped boldly in golden letters in the cover of their passports. That alone should be sufficient to make you realize the futility of having Republic Day parades and its failure to convey the proper message
