By Mohammad Safwan
Notably, the SC had earlier ruled that all cinemas across the country HAVE TO play the national anthem before the beginning of a movie or a documentary and audience must stand to show their respect.
Today, SC says that it is not mandatory to stand up for national anthems played during movies or documentaries. So subtle in being liberal that we almost failed to recognize this!
The reason behind the verdict
The reason behind modification of the earlier rule is the assault on a 59-year-old man at a theatre in Mumbai for not standing up when the anthem was being played on screen in movie ‘Dangal’.
The earlier verdict of the court has caused various attacks on individuals who are disabled or were hearing impaired.
In Tuesday’s verdict, however, the court clarified that people with a disability should be at their maximum alertness.
MY VERDICT
Our nationalism seems to be quite selective.The modification in recent judgement shows double standards of the SC.
The Supreme Court of the country clearly adjusted and changed its judgement due to the assault to pacify some who oppose the forced patriotism.
I think the SC in one way or another trying to prove that it supports its decision while not holding completely to it. Perhaps our nationalism wakes up only when there are no controversies to be bothered with.
Had nobody been abused like the case in Mumbai, people would still have been comfortable with it.
Moving onto Dangal, there’s a scene where the national anthem is played. At that time in the theatre, I was shocked as I saw people shedding tears and rising when the national anthem was played.
That’s something I call true spirit of patriotism which comes instinctively, not after being forced. And then there were others who were just not comfortable with people not standing up for the anthem just because it was played in a movie.
Selective nationalism is as bad as forced nationalism. By doing this, the SC has done nothing towards moving in a space where everyone has the freedom to express his/her nationalism in their own way.
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