12th Jan 2018 10:01:PM Editorials
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday revoked its interim order on mandatory playing of national anthem before movie screenings in cinema halls after multiple instances of vigilante patriotism.

The apex court had on November 30, 2016 directed that all cinema halls must play national anthem before screening of films saying that "it would instill the feeling within one, a sense committed patriotism and nationalism".                                             

The national anthem used to be played in cinema halls across India, once upon a time, but the practice faded away. In 2002, Narendra Verma of the Nationalist Congress Party lobbied and got the Maharashtra government to order cinema halls to do it again. His logic was that it would help unite people. But instance of vigilante patriotism targeting people who don't stand up for the national anthem shows it is achieving the opposite effect. Movie-goers who didn’t stand up are called seditious and anti-national resulting in altercations.

To the common man this directive from the apex court had evoked mixed feelings. While few were okay with it, there were many who saw no rhyme or reason behind doing so.

 The national anthem is sacrosanct. Played on important national and international events and celebrations, the national anthem has the power to unite people, reduce them to tears—and it should be played when respect is to be paid to the nation. But there are few cinemas which have been playing the national anthem before each screening and it is also absolutely fine.

The moot point is you can’t force patriotism and nationalism. It is an individual choice and the revocation of the order is welcomed because playing of the national anthem is not mandatory now. Such values must instead be cultivated in the young through a robust education system.

 


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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