This Q&A is by ‘Me’ to ‘Myself’ in the light of another heated debate in India of whether one should/can/’be forced’ to Chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ translated as ‘Salutes to Mother India’.

Question: Can one chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ when ever they want?
Answer: Of Course you can, it is to show respect to your country in a certain way and there is nothing wrong with it. It tends to the positive side of things than the negative side.

Question: Does this chanting make you a better Indian?
Answer: Are you serious? Not really, there is more than just chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, to be a good Indian or a good citizen or a good human being. In fact they are not linked. so you should not mix things. Tell me what do you really want, to chant or to be good?

Question: Should You Chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’? (Should not Can)
Answer: It is a personal Choice, but be logical in your reasoning without bringing religion and constitution in between. Why do you not want to chant? what is the wrong in Chanting? what is your real problem?

Question: Should one be forced to Chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’
Answer: Of course not, that would mean you are being dictatorial and covering that autocratic dictum in the veil of a ‘ten steps to prove patriotism’ notice. Forcing is stupid and criminal whether it is ‘for chanting’ or ‘against chanting’. It is just like asking someone to live as per a religious dictate that without any logic sense has been asked to follow. It is like forcing women to cover their face because religion says so. It is just like asking people not to eat Bacon or Beef. It is just like many such things that are being forced. So forcing anything is bad.

Question: Do People have a responsibility when they are a Public figure?
Answer: Yes they do, Are you talking about Asaduddin Owaisi? Well not just him but any public figure should not try to stir up a controversy and instigate intolerance with their position, in fact it impacts poorly on the people and what ever he stands for. If you are a public figure with followers, your personal opinion should be positioned as personal and if they are counter productive, keep it with you and do not puke it in public. Did anyone force him to chant that he said he will not? Or did he just get up one morning and felt like saying it. Just like he deciding to not have mutton and had chicken instead? Why did he say that?

Question: Do you care if Owaisi chants?
Answer: I do not really care, why should I, whether he chants or does not chant, it does not bother me. I do not see the world based on what he says, he has no influence on me as an individual. So if he or his Brother Akbaruddin does/does not chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ it is just like I have no interest in how much slices of bread these brothers ate for break fast or if they eat beef or if they secretly pleasure bacon. I do not think i or even you should care.

Question: Then what do you care?
Answer: I care for individual freedom and people acting responsible about that freedom. And that includes owaisi, you, me and every other person we know and do not know. A free environment to debate without fear.

Question: So what is your Problem?
Answer: My Problem? Why do you think I have a Problem? (laughs loudly) Nothing.. Just that I am not of the opinion that ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ should be thrust down anyone, at the same time it feels of ill taste for someone to publicly proclaiming they will not chant unless he was forced to his opinion. Because in that public statement I see it no different from someone who deliberately wishes to draw the cartoon of the prophet to instigate a few.

Question: But Cartoon. that hurts sentiments and religion.
Answer: What is religion my friend other than a set of belief systems and imaginations that has no logical proof. You mean to say there is no sentiments involved here? Tell me Is God more real or the fact that India is a country and Indians are its citizens and the fact that one needs ways to express the love and respect for the country. Country in my opinion is more real than God. Will you agree? Again if you have to stop everything that hurts religious sentiments, you have a lot that will have to be stopped. Same goes here. Just fucking don’t get hurt every time someone says anything, be it your nationalism or your religion.

Question: What is your opinion on this whole issue of Chanting?
Answer: What do you think I have been talking about till now, they are all my opinions and not Answers that you have to live your life on. My only point is one has to be unbiased or at least try to be and it is not always easy, but try, it does not hurt to try. In Kerala a news paper had to apologize for printing something that they took from the social media which some people were religiously hurt. When media is forced to apologize, be it because of a minority or majority group we have an issue. The problem we have is we are biased even in our secular outlook and that is the problem. Secular does not care whether it is minority or majority that angers over illogical stuff. I think our politics is biased and sometimes this so called seculars are also biased. So do I have an opinion about Chanting? You figure out from what I said just now.

Question: You have anything else to add
Answer: Not really, but since you brought up the Owaisi guy. Just a word to Assaduddin Qwaisi… “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and I really do not care whether he chants with me or not. I respect his personal decision not to, but I do not support his public display of saying he won’t do so and I also do not agree with RSS when they say that every one should chant as a duty to show patriotism or whatsoever. I think on either side people should stop being real pricks.

Question: Anything else?
Answer: I mean we can keep talking but its of no use. When I grew up and I am sure if you walk down your memory lane you will realize that there was no such confusion if someone should Chant something or someone should not. I do not think there were any parents irrespective of their belief asked their kids to chant or not chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” They did not think that was important in their life. But now parents teach kids why they should Chant and why they should not and that diminishes us all to a slogan and nothing more. May be people now has too much to think fear and worry about. Do you think the kids of these parents who make this a big issue will grow up to be tolerant to things around them? No so nothing more to add

Question: Final question. Will you Chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”
Answers: Me? “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” Take Care buddy….

Jai Hind (I hope there is nothing wrong in me saying that, is it unconstitutional?)
-Vinod-

Categories: Articles, Articles & Opinions, Opinions, Society

Tags: Asaduddin Owaisi, Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Owaisi