47th Independence Day | Musings ❤️
28 years ago | 15th August 1994
Perspectives – Back Then & Right Now!
The very term ‘Independence Day’ meant something entirely different to a school kid, on school-mode, I guess!
Even a week before the I-Day happened, students from the Secondary and Higher Secondary grades were given their routine march past drills in the afternoons, which was simultaneously accompanied by a slew of competitions – music, dance and speech included!
Skipping our otherwise ‘mundane’ classes for these enthu-out-of-the-classroom activities was always sheer fun for all of us, ain’t it?
There was suchmuch joy in these sweet, diplomatic bunkings that had an aura of great unearthy ecstasy on them, - and that ‘deliverance’ we longed for, that ‘liberation’ we pined for, from our routine classes!
Hence, to a school kid, these once-in-a-blue-moon type free-pass bunkings were our own impy mode of tasting ‘independence’ and its accompanying ‘freedom!’
Again, it was that one day, when everyone in school, right from the Headmaster to the staff, the wardens, and the students were all in single-minded devotion to making the Independence Day festivities a grand success.
This diary entry of mine seeks to brings back from memory, one such Independence Day festivities during my ‘Higher Secondary School Days’ in the good ol’ Madras Christian College School, Chetpet, Chennai.
Even as the tri-colour flies high, students march in unison to the beat of the grand music band of our School.
But the cream of the session is when, the NCC Cadets - decked up in their finest resplendent uniforms - from all the three wings – Army, Navy and Air - march so elegantly to the tune of the band – a gallant march that sure sends goosebumps of patriotic fervour all over your body from head to toe!
On an aside - well, back then, we were an all-boys school!
The Headmaster, after witnessing the march-past parades, would then give a short speech on the importance of our Independence Day, as usual, following which, students came out with their bestest performances.
This was followed as usual by distribution of sweets and tea to all the participants.
Hostelers in particular, always had added ‘freedom’ on such days, as usual, as they were given the free-pass by default, to head straight to the nearest cinema – the good ol’ Ega Theatres – which even today continues to screen some of the loveliest films in town!
Prayer time was something we dreaded - back then as students, as our HM used to give his marathon sermons on values, ethics and discipline – left, right and centre - [which was something akin to Goscinny’s Cacofonix – the fictional bard from Armorica, who was often seen carrying his lyre whenever he had his special bouts of inspiration] - much to the chagrin of all around him – clogging in such harmonic unison - the blessed ear drums of all of us his pavapetta audience! Hence it was, that, when the warden announced that, evening prayer was cancelled, we were doubly delighted, and celebrated this ‘added’ freedom on us!
The Cultural Fest by the North East Christian Fellowship every Independence Day was indeed a real treat to watch! They never failed to enthrall us with their sonorous voices and titillating music! It was really ‘thrilling’ as I’d jotted it down back then!
This was followed by our back-to-square-one routine of doing our unfinished Home Works and other assignments – on unfreedom mode, to escape the corporal punishment from our dutiful masters!
Well, now 28 years later, when I reminisce on the Independence Day festivities of our good ol’ school days, I guess I am now able to kinda see the whole thing from a much broader perspective - at least to a little extent!
Only in schools do students get themselves acquainted with the notion of ‘nation’, nationhood etc even as they respectfully sing the national anthem and salute the national flag, and perform the as usual rituals associated with such a grand day as this!
Prompts one to vindicate the Foucauldian and the Gramscian ideas of education as an ideological apparatus in the hands of the state!
Although education is, was and will be an ideological apparatus in the hands of the state, its functionality and performativity can be realised in either of two ways – as a ritualistic - as usual - annual exercise or as a productive annual observance!
This productive annual observance will become a possibility only when productivity combines with knowledge!
Dr. Kalam envisions this productivity as a ‘knowledge society’, in his highly inspirational book titled, Ignited Minds!
Says he –
Knowledge has many forms and it is available at many places.
It is available in academic institutions, with teachers, in libraries, in research papers, seminar proceedings and in various organizations and workplaces with workers, managers, in drawings, in process sheets and on the shop floors.
Knowledge, though closely linked to education, comes equally from learning skills such as those possessed by our artists, craftsmen, hakims, vaidyas, philosophers and saints, as also our housewives.
Our heritage and history, the rituals, epics and traditions that form part of our consciousness are also vast resources of knowledge as are our libraries and universities.
There is an abundance of unorthodox, earthy wisdom in our villages.
There are hidden treasures of knowledge in our environment, in the oceans, bioreserves and deserts, in the plant and animal life.
Every state in our country has a unique core competence for a knowledge society.
The ability to create and maintain the knowledge infrastructure, to enhance skills and increase productivity through the exploitation of advances in various fields will be the key factors in deciding the prosperity of this society,
says Dr. Kalam!
Hence, it would be a real added delight if, apart from organizing cultural performances and march pasts and distribution of sweets in schools, the state [read: educational institutions] can go a step forward and instil in their kids the importance of contributing their rich skills, talent and abilities in the service of their motherland, by facilitating in the honing and fine-tuning of their precious gifts!
I’m really convinced beyond measure, that this productive annual exercise would sure go a long way in ensuring that, our beloved nation would never be in want - on any count - whatsoever! ❤️
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