I always preferred Republic Day to Independence Day…..

I suppose the preference got created in school where Independence Day ‘celebrations’ were about sacrifice and biographies of martyrs and leaders read out by a tinny voice on a terrible loudspeaker. the voice – by the time it reached the crowd of students – would seem disembodied and unclear … Also August in Mumbai – is not fun to be out in the open – it is either raining like hell and uncomfortable; or it is just pre rain – in which case it is humid as hell and uncomfortable …

Republic Day on the other hand was fun. My early memories of the short stint in Delhi (my parents moved to Mumbai when i was 7) include going the Republic Day Parade – seeing all the pomp and glory. Later on in school, it was a day for activities and individuality. Not a day for dead heroes but a day for us – the students…..

When i grew up and understood better, i realized that Independence Day has an emotional poignancy the overcoming of – the shame of slavery, the tears for loss, the trauma of partition – for me it is the day the country became independent.

Republic Day is the day the Indian Constitution was adopted, the Indian Republic came into existence and ‘we the people’ became Free and Equal. For the first time in history – every single one of us – as defined legally – was free, independent and equal. For women – it was the first time in history they became more than property …. individuals in their own right. For Dalits – it meant the right to be treated as citizens . For everyone else, it was the first time in history they were as equal as anyone else. Republic Day is unrestrained exuberance – freedom and equality tend to result in that kind of heady feeling.

__________________________________________________________________

In our building society we hoist the flag, sing the national anthem, have samosas and hot jelebis – kids (sub 10th standard) put on a show. There is general purpose back slapping and bonhomie. Everyone turns up. some in their night dresses with a dupatta on top, some others in shorts and vests, and yet others dressed like they are off to a wedding.
__________________________________________________________________

So, on Republic Day – can i hoist the flag ? Of course, I can – it is my right to do so.
The next question is where all can i hoist the flag – the building society compound – definitely. the terrace, yes. there is another place – next to the watch man’s loo – but some people found it objectionable so that idea was derailed ( mind you 1 gas the right to hoist it outside the loo – but…….good sense tells us not to).

______________________________________________________________________________
And, that happily brings me to the point of the post – the BJP’s yatra that is going to culminate in the hoisting of the flag at Lal Chowk in J&K.
– do they have the right to hoist the flag – Yes
– do people have the right to protest against the hoisting of the flag – Yes.
both rights are enshrined in the Constitution – the”LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;” bit of the preamble. ….

(before someone says Flag Act – i believe that all parts of the Constitution that contravene the preamble need to be looked at reviewed)

– Does the State have the duty to keep the peace and ensure that Indian citizens in the State. Yes. that too is enshrined in the Constitution….

So on a day of celebration – where we the people of India – every one of us gained the equality, liberty, fraternity & justice – two sets of testosterone ridden groups are going to face off to prove a point….and, the state will intervene to keep the peace – thereby underlying the natue of the Republic of India…

I would rather live in a system that allows for symbolism – after all that is the purpose of Flag Hoisting – and its opposition in liberty than not… maybe we should be looking at both the flag hoisting and the protests against it in the same way — the right to express. For, after all that is what we are celebrating on that day…

_______________________________________________________________________________

And finally, given that the BJP has the right to hoist the flag – should it ……

well, the BJP’s policies & persona have been always based on Face Offs. So, it is not surprising that they have chosen this route again to prove a point….If anything that i.e., protest –  is is their USP.

If they were politically mature and wanted to be part of the solution – the way Atal Behari Vajpayee was – then they would have engineered an all party, all sections of society flag hoisting based on good will and bonhomie….

But, they aren’t … and that is possibly why despite a  a f***ed up 6 months in politics where the BJP should have emerged as a logical leader in the political space, they are still floundering ….

If they aspire for power they have to stop throwing tantrums or displaying excessive machismo … neither are attractive traits for anyone, especially not an entity that hopes to run the Republic….