In search of the patriotic spirit

The flare of patriotism turns into a wild fire once the month of August kicks in


Abdul Majid August 13, 2015

So, it is August and we have already started celebrating independence with flags fluttering on our vehicles and badges adorning our attires. Everyone is getting ready for the midnight countdown followed by fireworks and celebrations of independence. Surely, the feeling of being independent is surreal, but is it actually real?

From the very first day of August, the roads of Karachi are filled with flags of every size and shape, ready to be hoisted proudly on rooftops of every house. The small paper flags, jhandiyan, can be seen hanging, floating and dancing to the tunes of the winds in every nook and corner of the country.

The flare of patriotism turns into a wild fire once the month of August kicks in with every TV channel trying to pinch in a show representing devotion to our motherland, but there is another part of this story which dampens the soul of every patriotic person.

When Allama Iqbal demanded “a consolidated Muslim state in the best interests of the Muslims of India and Islam”, he didn’t know that our national celebrations will yield thumkas on Bollywood songs. I cannot forget Pakistan’s victory in the 2012 Asia Cup over Bangladesh by two runs. As soon as I hit the road to Sea View in Karachi, I could only hear songs about ‘Munni’ and ‘Sheila’, and after searching the whole coastline, I could only find one deck playing the national song “Hai jazba junoon to himmat na haar”.

“Celebrations don’t have a country,” said one of my friends, but in his eyes I could see a shameful Pakistani trying to convince himself that he is still loyal to the concept of his country’s inception — independence to live a life of our own and not dictated by another culture. I didn’t blame him for his confusion because he was a victim of the cultural imperialism that we see everywhere in our country, in our cities, in our mohallas and in our galis.

During the interval of a recently released Pakistani movie, I ran into the producer and when asked to give my opinion on the movie, the only thing I could say was: “I would never allow my daughter-in-law to dance in front of a crowd to celebrate a circumcision.” He defended his concept vociferously. But I am still trying to find the true meaning of being a Pakistani. I am still in search of, not surreal, but a real patriotic spirit.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2015.

 

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