Playing the National Anthem in Cinema Halls; Sign of Respect or Disrespect to the Anthem?

An Outlook

In this article, I would be arguing whether playing national anthem in the movie theatres is a gesture of respect or a sign of disrespect to our national anthem. It is a direction of the Honourable Supreme Court of India to play the national anthem before the commencement of movies in the movie theatres all across our country. As it is a decision passed by the Apex Court of our country, we all must respect it. The reason behind this ruling is to bring all the people of our country together to show their love and respect for the national anthem as well as their nation/motherland and to make them united. However, it is also an undeniable fact that this particular imposition is arguable. It is certainly true that this practice of singing the national anthem in cinema halls would portray a gesture of respect to the national anthem. However, at the same time, it might also be very difficult to prove a person wrong if he/she argues that this practice has a tendency of disrespecting our national anthem. Furthermore, there is a moral, ethical and constitutional point of view attached to this practice. In accordance with the Constitution of India, Article 51A specifies that Indian citizens must respect and honor the national anthem, songs, symbols and constitution of India. Nonetheless, it is expected from everyone to understand that Article 51A is like an advice, it must not be considered as a rule, order or compulsion. Therefore, it is very difficult to challenge the violation of Article 51A in the court. However, restricting someone from practicing Article 51A is wrong and could certainly be punished. Hence, it could be argued that making it mandatory and a compulsion for everyone to sing the national anthem is against the provisions of the constitution of India to some extent. In 1986, there was a case where the Honourable Apex Court of India directed that forcing children to sing the national anthem at the school is a violation of their fundamental right (right to religion). The children involved in that case were from Jehovah’s Witnesses Community from Kerala. If we consider moral and ethics, it is not at all a big concern to sing the national anthem in the cinema halls or anywhere else, people are creating disputes and dissensions out of it just because they need an issue to argue upon. Many would argue that in India, people tend to imitate the west, Unites States of America to name the biggest one of them. In the United States of America, people consider their national anthem as the part and parcel of their daily lives, no dispute of this sort arises there. In Thailand, the national anthem is stimulated on public announcement arrangement and the entire nation arrives at a standstill posture, twice every day. On the other hand, China is in a favor of increasing the punishment for disrespecting their national anthem on purpose to 3 years from 15 days. We are fortunate enough that we are the citizens of India where we are having sufficient freedom and liberty. It is an undeniable fact that national anthem is the honor of any country, and therefore, it is expected from the end of each and every citizen that he/she will always show his/her respect, faith and loyalty towards the national anthem as well as the nation. We certainly do not to require to over show our patriotism, but we surely need to put it on a show whenever it is necessary and requisite.

Is it a gesture of respect or a sign of disrespect?

As discussed earlier, singing the national anthem in the cinema halls could be considered as both respect and disrespect to the national anthem. Undoubtedly it is a respect to the national anthem because singing national anthem would any day showcase patriotism and love for country, provided that it not being sung with a good faith as well as intention and not under any compulsion and this is the point where the entire controversy arises. Many people would argue that this direction of the Supreme Court of India which makes it mandatory for everyone to stand and sing the national anthem in cinema halls is a good idea which has the potentiality of showcasing respect for the nation as well as the national anthem. It is the question which all of us must ask to ourselves as well as our fellow citizens that ‘Is it really very difficult for us to stand up in respect and honor of our national anthem for 52 seconds?’. Patriotism is something which is expected to be there in all the citizens of India and the place where it is being shown must be immaterial. Many people are happy and enjoying the fact that now our national anthem is being played in the cinema halls of our country and people are standing up as well (regardless of the fact whether they are doing so with a real sense of respect or not). Furthermore, it is also a matter to think upon that the national anthem is played just for 52 seconds and arguably there is hardly any harm in putting it in our minds every now and then regarding the huge sacrifices and loss made for us in order to attain the freedom and liberty that we are enjoying today. The arguments related to stuff like individual liberty for those 52 seconds look irrelevant when with the same mindset people go on to enjoy the entire movie of 3 hours. Moving further, there are some fair and logical arguments to prove this practice of singing the national anthem in movie theatres disrespectful to the national anthem as well. It is an unquestionable actuality that our national anthem is very refreshing, untainted and patriotic. This feeling of patriotism and respect must emerge and come forth from us. It must not be forcefully imposed on any individual. It is often witnessed that most of the people do it regrettably and in an unfortunate manner when anything is dragooned on them, which must not be the case with singing or showing respect to our national anthem. It is our national anthem and it must not be sung in a disheartening manner. It is not very rare to come across such instances where a movie is about to get started and people are on their way to their respective seats in the hall with food and beverages in their hands, some children running here and there in the theatre in order to get settled, other people getting confused regarding their seats and arguing with others and some already enjoying their food while sitting in their respective seats, then all of a sudden, a message appears on the screen saying “Please Stand for the National Anthem”. The moment this information appears on the screen, suddenly the entire set of circumstances in the theatre changes, now the people present in the cinema hall immediately start running towards their seats, parents and guardians start blabbering to their children and wards to get settled as soon as possible and stand still for the anthem, the ones who were having their food and beverages just stand up with their untidy hands and gesture. Some people just tend to stand still at their whatsoever position. Now it is a matter to be given a thought upon whether a covered and dark theatre with such an unsupportive condition is an appropriate place for singing the National Anthem, would it appear to be a blissful scenario to play and sing the national anthem and would it really be a respect or a disrespect for our national anthem in the real sense? The answers to these questions would certainly help us develop a better point of view with regard to this concern. Additionally, the answers of these questions would also help each and every citizen of our nation to arrive on a conclusion to figure out whether the practice of having the national anthem in cinema halls is a respect or disrespect to our national anthem.

Conclusion

To conclude this discussion, I would like to put forward certain favorable mentions which could perhaps have the potentiality of minimizing the profundity of the issue. It would not be a bad idea to have the national anthem in movie halls on special occasions such as Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti etc. The current implementation of playing and singing the national anthem every day in every show of the movie theatres is not contributing a lot for the enhancement of the sense of patriotism amongst the citizens of India, rather it has become a burning matter to argue and debate upon which is not very appreciable. If at all the practice of singing and playing the national anthem every day, a lot many times in cinema halls is felt requisite, then it should also not be an unacceptable idea to have the same practice in the Parliament of India, Courts of our country, television shows and various offices present in our country. We all must respect the direction of the Supreme Court of India, but many of us might individually observe that it is not at all agreeable to play and sing the national anthem in movie theatres. Patriotism is something which comes from inside and it is most enjoyed without being very much illustrative regarding it. The sensation of respect, honor and love for the nation must come to a citizen from within and anything as holy and dedicated as the national anthem must be sung and played exclusively on some particular events.