Just when you have lost all hope in India, right at that moment, someone very simple and "ordinary" comes up with something extraordinary. If the Delhi CWG 2010 have taught us anything, it was that patriotism in any way or shape has been completely extinguished from our hearts. Those who looted the tax payers money and still did nothing are as yet proudly strutting along. Like the guy here - Suresh Kalmadi. When he looted millions and yet delivered zilch - then the Indian Government - culprit in the crime, spent even more money to fill up the ditch that the unscrupulous bureaucrats had dug us into! That all the money, looted and then spent again, belonged to tax payers and NOT to the Government made no difference to the "solution" found. That, the Army personnel who were brought in to build the fallen bridge and other infrastructure were not paid for that work - but to keep our borders intact - made no difference to anyone. Army is like a footmat for every bureaucrat and politician. Treat them the way you want. Ditto for the nameless and powerless citizen!! Worse, the whole fiasco is now being given a completely different character - where the citizens who were just looted - are asked to start showing pride in their sorry state! But there was a time, not so long ago when people fought selflessly. When they didn't have any ego or offices to fight for. When they didn't do things for their own Swiss bank accounts. They did for their Motherland, however romantic their idea of it was. One of those was Bhagat Singh. In his life, he was condemned by the very people he fought for. It is a fact that Gandhi played down his contribution and even denounced him and his associates. It is a fact, that when he was going to be hanged no one amongst the Congress leaders ever did anything for him. Not that he expected or needed it. He wanted to die to start a revolution. Which he did. He is all but forgotten. And that is why it was surprising to see a poor Shoe Polish vendor in a small town in Punjab - Nawanshahr - giving away free shoe polishes on the Birth Anniversary of the great man - Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh himself! (photograph and translation courtesy: Jasleen Matharu)The signs next to him read: "Shaheed-E-Aazam Sardar Bhagat Singh de 101 janamdin tey Boot Polish bilkul muft" English Translation : On the 101st birth anniversary of Sardar Bhagat Singh (Martyr), free Boot Polish! So, we have unimaginable contradictions of India. A rich bureaucrat loots millions and yet delivers nothing to the society; and a poor person takes nothing yet cleans the dirty shoes of people in his society - a tangible service.
patriotism is not dead and it shall not be. there are many patriots but these days the living has become so hard that one feels like to be more selfish to survive. but there are still men out there who are ready to do anything for the mother nation. all they need is the an opportunity to do something worthwhile. we need someone to ignite that fire in us.
The selfish people do not let the patriotism come up and this is why people who are really patriotic go unseen and unnoticed. However it is the higher cadre people like politicians and bureaucrats who can make the difference because they are vested with the powers to bring forth the change. The powers get vested because they deceptively behave as patriots to serve their nation, but later on they become indulged in the business of money making. Such rats must be culled out completely from our system to make India a cleaner country to live in.
Patriotism is not dead in but it has become dormant. It needs to be awaken. There are many people still present who loves their motherland intensely and is ready for sacrifices. Today, many youth yearns to join the armed forces which is definitely a sign that patriotism is still there in the hearts of people. Undoubtedly, there are people, especially the politicians who are more interested in filling their pockets rather than working for the development of the nation but that doesn't mean that patriotism is dead.
Patriotism cannot be said to be dead only by judging a handful of people from the population of 1.2 million. It is still alive in the hearts of the people. However, in my view, Patriotism is not about shouting and saying about their love for the motherland. It is the silent love for the nation which can be shown by fulfilling the duties towards the nation that every Indian Citizen are entrusted with.
I don't think patriotism is dead in India because still many youth of our nation aspires to serve the nation by joining the armed forces. Moreover, it is due to the fast and competitive life of today, people are not able to show their patriotism but it does not mean that patriotism is dead and a little spark lights up the feeling of patriotism. However, there is always exception and these corrupt minister are an exception.
