Recently, I attended a function in the Hindu Centre in my city and observed something that was quite disturbing! The hall was full of chatting adults, playing children of all ages, servers serving food, volunteers from other charities that found it a good opportunity to talk to people about blood donation etc. and performers standing by the stage waiting to perform. In the mayhem ofcourse nobody paid attention to the host of the program on the microphone desperately trying to get the audience's attention. Suddenly, I caught the Host saying National Anthem and few seconds after that the speakers were blaring the Indian National Anthem Jana Gana Mana.
The audience was caught by surprise and while some of the adults and children stood up in attention and instantly stopped talking, others stood up and started to ask whoever they could see to stand in attention too (this of course meant that they were not standing in attention themselves but were talking and moving around while the anthem played) some others just looked confused and didnt know what to do and so continued doing whatever they were doing in a jerky half hearted manner that was almost comical and trhen of course there was a good chunk of people that simply did not care.
The result was that the Anthem began in midst of chaos and ended in the midst of chaos without a single second of peace and serenity.
Now, I have some serious beef with this! The organizaers ought to know that the audience will behave the way they did and thus not play the Anthem. The Anthem can not be used as a tool to attempt to bring some order in midst of chaos!!! Its a symbol of respect for the country to which the national anthem belongs and deserves to be played only and only when the audience is ready to receive it!
I shared the experience with our team here at Choices and everybody was suitably disgusted. Thats when one of my team mates forwarded me this You Tube Video that I think suits the mood of this post. Hope you enjoy it! and get the message too :)
Just for the more intellectually inclined, I have also attached a link to a nice article that talks about rules and guidelines for using the Indian National Anthem:
Rules and Guidelines to using the Indian National Anthem
