Stand At Ease

The 61st anniversary of the birth of the Indian republic will invariably focus on the Republic Day parade: a state-sponsored programme that seeks to encapsulate the diversity of the nation as well as showcase the military might of the country. However, given that Delhi is turned into a security fortress in the run-up to the parade - to the great inconvenience of the public - and the event itself is largely reserved for VVIPs, the orchestrated pageantry is an impersonal experience for the average citizen. Contrary to the ideal of a republic, our Republic Day celebrations are more about the state than its people.

This is precisely why January 26 means little to the common man. If the real significance of the date is to be driven home, civil society must be encouraged to participate in the celebrations. After all, it is the individual that is the most important entity in a republic. Republic Day should be about the aam admi, not politicians and dignitaries. Neither is the display of military strength entirely necessary. As the largest democracy in the world with confidence in its institutions, India has no need for aggressive patriotism. Besides, cultural celebrations are not the monopoly of Republic Day organisers. People should be encouraged to commemorate the day in their unique style. This will make Republic Day celebrations truly diverse and representative.

In this respect it is a matter of concern that apart from the parade we have no Republic Day traditions to speak of. Even Republic Day celebrations in schools across the country are modelled on the parade in Delhi. In a country as large as ours, Republic Day and Independence Day traditions are important to reaffirm a sense of oneness. The celebrations as they are today fall far short of this aim. Private citizens and businesses can help change this by creating new traditions, be it community events or organising theatre festivals and sporting extravaganzas.

It is only when ordinary citizens of the country star! t treati ng Republic Day at par with festivals such as Holi or Diwali that celebrations on January 26 will become meaningful. The sanitised parade in Delhi is too far removed to evoke much patriotic fervour. Nor does it recognise the true essence of Republic Day as the empowerment of the people. The accent ought to be on celebration, festivity and exuberance - as is the case with national day celebrations in other democratic nations - rather than on sacrifice and state pageantry.


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