On this day, in India, on 15th August, all schools have flag hoisting and so, mostly senior school children are visible on the roads, early in the morning and returning by ten o'clock. Sad to say that these kids litter the roads with wrappers of snacks that the schools distribute among them. Worse still are the police personnel, who board the public buses and then spit through the window. Even the bus conductor refuses to scold them because they are 'vardiwalleh'.
Many readers may feel that I am being pessimistic, but it is the reality. There is loud blaring music of patriotic songs, that the local politicians take credit for. It is an opportunity for local politicians to display life size posters of themselves, wishing random public a 'happy independence day'. It is distressing to see the display of these lavish larger than life posters, displayed on a street that is in dire need of pavement repairs, daily clean ups - which are not too effective, and potholes that need urgent repair.
At the road signals, urchins sell little flags and badges, and target people's 'patriotic' spirit, to make fast cash.
Nature's Basket, the posh grocery store, had arranged carrots, garlic, and green chillies, like a flag, with an avocado in the centre, and a border of potatoes. Garment shops like Westside, Biba, Premsons, Amarsons and Meena Bazaar, clothe their mannequins in the tri colour. Others use balloons to add a festive mood to bring out the Indian national flag colours.
The newspapers are splashed with full page advertisements of 'independence day discounts' if booking is done for a flat, a car, a mobile. Electronic retailers like Croma, Vijay sales, Kohinoor, etc splurge on advertising their ware, promising 'slashed GST' rates just for Independence day. Reliance retail and Big Bazaar outlets also offer discounts to lure customers, but if you visit these outlets, it is torture to stand in the serpentine ques to enter and to pay. So why do these shops offer so many discounts on a particular day and then struggle to maintain the crowds?
Even the prime minister addresses the nation from the Red Fort and takes the opportunity to target and stigmatize the opposition parties. My personal experience is that it does nothing to change the thick skinned 'rich' strata, who behave as crassly as they do on any given day. This refers to riding off in their expensive cars with no regard for the changing traffic signal, talking insensitively to senior citizens or ladies that have the bad luck to be in their vicinity at a mall or a departmental store etc.
The speeches at schools and the speeches of ministers that are shown on the television, are reminders of the first independence day and the changes in the present, just brushing over reality and showcasing only the positives. Quite boring and so predictable.
Many readers may feel that I am being pessimistic, but it is the reality. There is loud blaring music of patriotic songs, that the local politicians take credit for. It is an opportunity for local politicians to display life size posters of themselves, wishing random public a 'happy independence day'. It is distressing to see the display of these lavish larger than life posters, displayed on a street that is in dire need of pavement repairs, daily clean ups - which are not too effective, and potholes that need urgent repair.
At the road signals, urchins sell little flags and badges, and target people's 'patriotic' spirit, to make fast cash.
Nature's Basket, the posh grocery store, had arranged carrots, garlic, and green chillies, like a flag, with an avocado in the centre, and a border of potatoes. Garment shops like Westside, Biba, Premsons, Amarsons and Meena Bazaar, clothe their mannequins in the tri colour. Others use balloons to add a festive mood to bring out the Indian national flag colours.
The newspapers are splashed with full page advertisements of 'independence day discounts' if booking is done for a flat, a car, a mobile. Electronic retailers like Croma, Vijay sales, Kohinoor, etc splurge on advertising their ware, promising 'slashed GST' rates just for Independence day. Reliance retail and Big Bazaar outlets also offer discounts to lure customers, but if you visit these outlets, it is torture to stand in the serpentine ques to enter and to pay. So why do these shops offer so many discounts on a particular day and then struggle to maintain the crowds?
Even the prime minister addresses the nation from the Red Fort and takes the opportunity to target and stigmatize the opposition parties. My personal experience is that it does nothing to change the thick skinned 'rich' strata, who behave as crassly as they do on any given day. This refers to riding off in their expensive cars with no regard for the changing traffic signal, talking insensitively to senior citizens or ladies that have the bad luck to be in their vicinity at a mall or a departmental store etc.
The speeches at schools and the speeches of ministers that are shown on the television, are reminders of the first independence day and the changes in the present, just brushing over reality and showcasing only the positives. Quite boring and so predictable.
No comments:
Post a Comment