Jann Gann Mann

Several years ago, the Indian government passed a law that gave freedom to 'ordinary Indian citizens' to hoist the national flag on any day, on any building, provided they abide by some basic rules of conduct.

Yes people, yes. Before that law came about, you and I could not have unfurled our own national flag on our houses because the people who made our laws did not deign it fit to allow ordinary people like us for it. Thank you, man who brought the bill in. Thank you so much, for letting us in on one at least one of our 'national' symbols.

And now, another one is in focus. One filmmaker has adapted the national anthem to convey the heart of his film. And the censor board has given a no, saying that it is an unacceptable tampering.

I am not a guy given to politically coloured diatribe (as a muslim in India you only need to constantly prove your patriotism and blindly vote for the Congress, do not try more, Jai Hind), but this one really got on to my nerves. 

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And parody (or lets say adaptation) is the sincerest form of tribute. And being an amateur filmmaker myself, I know that very well. When Rahman made his own rendition of Vande Mataram in '97, he wasn't trying to upstage the guy who wrote it. Vande Mataram is our national song; the status of which is only a notch below, if not the same as the anthem. 

But the response couldn't have been more different I think that was largely because no old people's club like the censor board was involved in there. 

Its not just draconian, its foolish as well. And worst of all, its insulting.

I find it insulting that even after decades, we still haven't shrugged off the (frankly colonial) mindset that symbols of our nation are in fact symbols of our government. When the tricolour replaced the Union Jack in every government office people must have thought; thats finally a flag we can call our own. But it was hardly so.

If that law a few years ago hadn't passed, your eigth std civics lesson would remid you that our national flag was as much our own as the jack. And 'insulting' it (which includes wearing it as a shawl, never mind the emotion behind it) would be a serious civil offence.

The national anthem is our own. We are responsible enough to not allow it to get permanently distorted. But let us sing it in our own way, maybe with a few extra words; if that gives it more effect. 

But of course, it is sacred right? How can the censors allow this?

Rgv, do one thing. Release the movie, as it is, over the internet; free. You might not make the kind of money you hoped for, but it will certainly teach those old farts who call themselves the guardians of our culture how out of touch and irrelevant they are.

Its 2009 stupid.