Mera Bharat Kahan?
This question seems to dominate most of our waking hours these days. Our media – both conventional and new – are screaming this question. Certain events in the past few months – JNU row, porn ban, even Salman Khan’s acquittal were hot buttons. We have our own opinions on these, and based on them (events), make up our mind on which way Mera Bharat Mahan is going.
However, we seem to forget where we, as individuals are driving country? Are we any less important citizens of this country than a Salman Khan or a Kanhaiya? NO! Definitely not!
Then why do we not have an opinion about jumping red lights? Why don’t we think twice before using a proxy server at work to access websites that our workplace firewalls. Why did no one stop that fateful night in Delhi when Nirbhaya lay bleeding on the road?
A lot of sat in front of TV sets to watch the India-Pakistan match last Saturday, but how many of us go out to vote on polling day.
Somehow, we follow the ‘Bhartiyata’ of convenience. We outsource the job of nation-building to others and while we practice our nationalism from the comfort of our living rooms perched in front of a TV or by following Twitter hashtags.
It is important to take a stand on beef ban and sedition charges. But it is also imperative to give oneself the importance of being an Indian.
It’s time to ask #MeraBharatKahan ? We would love to read your ‘national’ and ‘anti-national’ views. Speak up, write it and send it to us at citizenQ@thequint.com.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)