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A viewpoint
We have completed 55 years of Independence. The beginning of the 20th century saw us hypnotised with the tunes of `Inqalab zindabad'. But the fervour started fading during the second half of the 20th century and patriotism was confined to border areas and cricket matches.
National festivals like Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti, are no more than a `Sunday' in one's busy schedule. And on these days of national importance, one plans to sleep till 11.00 a.m and perhaps repair a bicycle in the evening.
The streets don't echo with the tune of the national anthem. On the other hand, we get very excited about New Year's eve, Valentine's Day or Friendship Day... and these occasions don't relate us to our cultural and historical heritage. In fact westernisation has engulfed our youth to such an extent that today people hardly watch the Republic Day parade.
But in this phase of change — we are losing our patriotic zeal — which has for centuries united our nation into one entity. The national festivals that are celebrated throughout the country without any regional or communal bias — help cement national unity. But their fading importance represents an alarming situation. It signifies that our youth are `trendy' but not patriotic.
Sugandha Srivastava, X B
Noida: Khaitan Public School
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