My first entry on blogger.

Let me start by penning (typing) my response to a question a friend asked today.
What does patriotism mean to me? And to others of this generation?
Can there be a straitjacketed uniform answer?

First of all, patriotism to me means being proud of the strangest or simplest things Indian. This could be the latest AirTel ad ("wow! we are creative geniuses"!) or a visit to one of the Cottage industries anywhere in India (our craftsmen produce such beautiful things) or a trip to any of the historic places (takes my breath away every time I go to one) or when I am greedily tucking in to gajar ka halwa or aloo parantha (and in the process saluting our culinary prowess). Alternately, it could mean being proud of the national anthem and how rich and sonorous it sounds when a huge gathering is singing it in one breath, or when I am reading some obscure event in history and marvelling at our "never-say-die" attitude. Patriotism, I think, can therefore mean every delightful, small and big thing we call Indian, things we can be proud of.

To me, however, it also means not being any of the following. Sadly, these are traits that I think are increasing at an alarming rate among us:
1. Not knowing what our national holidays are. I once met a young, beautiful, on-the-surface-smart twenty-something who laughingly said, "God! National holidays?! I have no idea which one is which. Probably just excuses for taking holidays and not working."

2. Littering. Again, smart, sophisticated men and women who have no qualms in driving snazzy cars and throwing things out of those snazzy windows.

3. Not respecting the national flag, not knowing the national anthem. I have actually met people who've insisted that saare jahan se achha is the anthem and there really is no point in standing up for the anthem. You can be lounging around in your bathrobe and humming jana gana mana. No!

4. Spitting on the road and specially if it is our famous Banarasi Paan or any sort of paan and gutkhas. Its really a pathetic sight to see people colouring India in Paan red.