Out of Sight ....but not....Out of Mind...!!
Wanted to write a blog only once I saw myself changing....and have I?...Yes,I have changed to some extent and will keep on changing until apocalypse :p :p (it was meant on a lighter note, people...dunno whether the world ends in 2012, and don't even want to specualte)
With this post, I want to bring into light the common man's perception about the heritage of India. Let's just focus on 'one of the many' such places - THE INDIA GATE - a landmark that commemorates the live's lost fighting the British Empire , along with the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' which pays homage to the ones lost in the 1971 Ino-Pak war.
However on a recent visit, it appeared that it was more of a 'fun spot' and less of a 'rememberance spot'. The purpose for anyone's visit there, especially the residents of Delhi, is to eat (throw here and there) , play in the pond (having bath in the water and how can we forget ...throwing here and there), play throwball (yes, i have seen people actually playing there), buy all the 'MELA' stuff (the devil hairband , ballons etc.) and etc etc. (the list can be added with your observations in any of your visits there)
The problem is not in 'Enjoying', but in 'Forgetting' the very sanctity of a place. Why has it been used for all commercial purpose, is beyond my understanding capacity. And everytime I visit that place, I feel a lack of nationality and respect.
My personal observation may not present the actual picture, so why don't you pay a visit and see it for yourself.
The concern lies in repsecting the 'nation's monuments' and honoring the purpose for it being created. That's it !!!
So true....We Indians don't respect our culture and heritage. We revel in the glory of past, but do nothing to preserve it. Places of worship have become treasure trove of wealth, but nothing is done to conserve the heritage to honor our culture or the people who visit it.
ReplyDeleteRightly said Saket.
ReplyDeletewhat we need is awakened souls who can contribute in their own way and rise up to take a stand.
I was wondering if the thoughts running in the minds of our Armed forces personnel guarding the monument would be something like this: Aa gayi hai veyli junta circus dekhne. koi ya to balloon kharidta hai ya to koi paani ke bubbles udata hai. channe bechne wale ko to chain hi nahi milti...camera ke flash ne to meri eye sight kam kar di hai. Hum din bhar yahaan humari Vir Jawanon ko shradhanjali dene ke liye pehra dete hain aur yeh junta time pass karne aa jati hai. Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal ko bhi nahi choda...kum se kum is jagah ko to gand se bachaate...
ReplyDeleteKind of agree with you that acknowledgment & remembrance in the right sense and for the right purpose, valuing the deeds, actions & sacrifices of the Hero's who fought for us and safeguarded our past, present & future is vital.
ReplyDeleteBut there are few questions that it arouses within, each of which searches for an answer
"Why is it always necessary to be sad seeing scarifies?"
"Why remembrance spots should be visited by people who are there to show sympathy & shed tears?"
"Why the mood tone should be sad @ such spots?"
"Why is enjoyment considered synonymous with forgetfulness?"
"Why should this Landmark become a sad / mourning remembrance spot?"
Just thinking...Why?
The feeling we hold is not of 'sadness' but of 'Respect & Sense of Pride' for the martyrs who secure us from the unforeseen.....
ReplyDeleteThere is no mention (in the post) of the 'location' to be considered for mourning purpose or the mood of anyone to become sad....Least we can do is HONOUR the ones who went a step ahead to save our lives...Can we sleep over it??? Can we make a place loose its essence is my question...Maybe a visit to the place will let one know why we ended up having an opinion as such...
Enjoyment is synonymous with "forgetfulness" only when people show disrespect by throwing crap here and there, eating and spitting etc etc..being least bothered about the kind souls resting there...sigh !!!
Have fun...who's stopping anyone for that...but ...but....How many of us , on our visit, end up spending a second remembering them....???
Honour them...Respect them....that's it...!!!