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Dear SC, when does the national anthem stop deserving a standing audience?

Ranjan Crasta | Updated on: 14 February 2017, 6:33 IST
(File photo)

A cheer went up in the newsroom around mid-day today. No, it wasn't for Sasikala's conviction, Delhi newsrooms are far too removed from the South to care about such 'trivial' matters. Instead, it was about the Supreme Court's latest clarification on national anthem protocol – “that when the National Anthem is played as part of the storyline of a film, newsreel or a documentary the audience need not stand.”

It was only the latest surreal observation in a saga the SC started with its original ruling that the anthem be played before movie screenings. In that ruling, the court had decreed that citizens “are duty-bound to show respect to National Anthem which is a symbol of constitutional patriotism and inherent national quality.”

The latest observation was made necessary because this original ruling turned the national anthem from an instrument of patriotism, to one of fear. With people being attacked for not standing up for the anthem, and others being jailed, the mere notes of the national anthem became enough to have anyone bolt upright, or, at the very least, looking uneasily over their shoulders for lurking nationalists. This was apparent when Aamir Khan's Dangal hit theatres, and people were jumping out of their seats when the anthem played as part of the movie, for fear of falling foul of the SC's orders.

A clarification that raises questions

While this latest observation does offer relief from Dangal-like shenanigans, it only raises a host of other, quite frankly, stupid, questions that the SC should also provide clarification on. Like when does the national anthem stop being a “symbol of constitutional patriotism and inherent national quality” deserving of our “respect”?

Based on the original ruling, the SC evidently believes that there is some sacred patriotic power that every movie venue is inherently imbued with. After all, why else would their decree pertain to just movies and nothing else, including courts, which they explicitly ruled needn't play the anthem. So what then makes the national anthem deserving of a standing audience before a movie, but not during?

Or is it the visual of the Indian flag that accompanies the anthem prior to the movie that elevates it to a “symbol of constitutional patriotism and inherent national quality.” Because an SC bench had observed that “love and respect for the motherland is reflected when one shows respect to the National Anthem as well as to the National Flag”. If so, does that mean the national anthem should be played endlessly everywhere the national flag is on display? And shouldn't everyone in the flag's vicinity be standing at attention as long as is necessary to sneak away between renditions?

...And more questions

If it isn't about the flag visual, and, dear God, let's hope it isn't, then is their logic that the standing rule is not applicable when just snippets of the national anthem are played during a movie? If so, should the audience stand to attention when a “film, newsreel or a documentary” plays the national anthem from the beginning, just in case the entire anthem is played, and sit only once it becomes apparent the entire anthem won't be played? Or should directors then be tasked with tacking on a disclaimer like the “smoking is injurious” one that tells the audience whether they need or needn't stand.

In fact, in its latest observation, the court doesn't seem to remember that it had also made the use of snippets of the national anthem illegal. Or is that not what it meant when it barred the playing of “abridged versions” of the anthem? If that is indeed what it meant, then is the usage of the national anthem, except in its full form, now illegal? And, if so, can someone please jail Aamir Khan?

Yes, all these questions seem trivial, if not outright daft. But with the original ruling and this most recent clarification, not to mention the government's own guidelines on training people with “Mild Intellectual Disability” to respect the anthem, who is to say what is ridiculous in this country anymore? The directives so far have clearly shown that common sense and discretion are relics of a bygone era. Now, Since the SC, which doubtless has far more important matters pending before it, seems so willing to discuss this absolutely pointless matter ad nauseam, are these questions any less deserving of their notice?

First published: 14 February 2017, 6:33 IST