Unreal Patriotism

It was one of the best movies made in recent times. It was based on the love for one's country and how a few people with sincere and genuine love for the country could make a difference.

Mr. Singh was not someone who would visit a theatre often. But this was one movie he wanted to watch. The movie had a huge effect on the youth of the country. People were flocking to the theatres and there was not a seat left even after four weeks of its release.

The advertisements before the show had started when Veer came into the theatre. He was a young leader of a very reputed political party and had been doing good work. With some maturity, he would be an excellent leader; atleast that is the perception he had successfully created.

Just before the show, the national anthem was played and Veer and his gang stood up as did the audience. Veer came from a family of freedom fighters. His name meant great and his family expected him to achieve greatness through his efforts to contribute to a better India.

Veer sang the national anthem with great pride. He knew the meaning of each word and sang it aloud. As soon as the national anthem got over and people began to sit in their seats, Veer and his gang moved to the first row. The aisle ahead of the seats gave them enough space to assemble.

Mr. Singh hadn’t stood for the national anthem. In the eyes of Veer, this was disrespect for his motherland and he would not tolerate it at any cost.

He stood in front of Mr. Singh and shouted aloud,” The movie will not be screened unless this man apologized to the nation and all its countrymen present here.” Mr. Singh was unfazed. He did not even get up.

Till then a lot of people from the audience gathered around Mr. Singh. As most successful politicians do, Veer had managed to polarize the audience. Some were with him and some against him for delaying their entertainment over a petty issue.

The word spread like wildfire. The authorities of the theatre came in but Veer and his team were in no mood to relent. They wanted an apology. Mr. Singh however, did not move an inch. His face showed no expression of fear. The movie was being screened in one of the finest theatres in the city and many media houses had their offices in the vicinity. In no time, journalists had gathered and many  media vans were parked outside the theatre.

Seeing the commotion, a young man aged thirty got curious. He asked someone what was going on? The stranger told him,” Veer, the young leader, is in the theatre and a man who refused to stand for the national anthem is being taken to task.”

The young man’s calm face suddenly grew tense. He knew what was happening and started running into the theatre. Meanwhile, Veer was being cheered by some people to blacken Mr. Singh’s face and teach him a lesson in patriotism. Some people went to the extent of saying that he was a terrorist.

The media had gathered by this time and the drama had reached its crescendo. No one had left the theatre. Someone bought a bottle of ink and his face was just about to be blackened when a man came running and shouted, “PLEASE DON’T”.

“Please don’t do this”, he said. Veer said in his defense that the man had the audacity to not only sit through the national anthem but also not feel any sense of remorse about it.

The man in the thirties reacted,” Sir, he is Major Singh. He lost his legs ten years ago while safeguarding the nation from infiltrators. He is patriotic but it is his physical inability to get up that is causing the problem. I am his help. He asked me to wait outside the theatre with his wheelchair and come back when the movie is over. He said keeping the wheelchair in the aisle might cause inconvenience to fellow citizens and hence, he wanted me to wait with it outside.”

The action had turned on its head. Suddenly, the man who was the villain had become the hero. Veer realized his mistake but the media had gathered by then and so did the TV crew. The event was being captured live on TV. Some journalists got calls from the opposition to ensure that Veer’s image was maligned before the upcoming elections.

The media flocked around Major Singh and started asking him questions. One of the questions directed to him was, “Sir, what do you think of Veer’s action? Will you file a complaint against him for tarnishing your image.”?

Veer wanted to apologize but the media wouldn’t allow him. “Veer, please come here”, said Major Singh. Veer was surprised to hear Mr. Singh call him.

With Veer by his side, Mr. Singh answered the question. I will not file a complaint against Veer.

“Why Sir?” asked another journalist.

Major Singh replied in his commanding baritone, “Veer and I are the same. There is absolutely no difference.” For once, Veer thought he was hearing something wrong. But the crowd that had gathered around was as stunned as Veer himself. “He has shown his love for his country in his actions. And it is true love, it is not for publicity. I lost my legs because of this same love ten years ago. It is just that his ability to judge facts was also blinded by this love. The same inability lead me to lose my legs”. 

“In essence, Veer and I are the same. If his love for the country is backed with responsibility and ability to gauge situations, he would be one of the best leaders we have in India, definitely better than what we have today. I am sure, Veer’s love for the nation is clean and he will serve people sincerely. I can see that his action is not the result of a hidden agenda. He is the future of India. If I complain and defame him, I wouldn’t get my legs back but our country stands to lose a great leader. If what happened to me today is embarrassment and humiliation, I am willing to take it smilingly as it will help the country gets what it needs today – a great leader.”

He concluded his short and swift speech and there was thunderous applause. The theatre had screened many blockbusters but had never been witness to such a thunderous applause.

Major Singh’s wheelchair had arrived by then and he excused himself. Veer came to Major Singh with tears in his eyes and said,” Sir, I am extremely sorry. I did not…”.

Major Singh cut him halfway and advised, “Its fine son. If you wish to apologize to me, do the best you can for this country and make it the best in the world. I will be proud of you and I am sure you can do it”.

The Major received a salute from Veer and a promise that he will try his best. Major Singh passed away five years later and it has been fifteen years since he passed away.

Veer’s thoughts of Major Singh and the incident were suddenly interrupted when his name was called out. He was required to go on the dais and take the oath for his second term as Prime minister. India had unanimously voted for him as the five year term he had just completed was the best ever India had witnessed. He had kept his promise to Major Singh well but there was still a lot to do.

It takes only one Major Singh to channel unreal patriotism into great service for the nation. Even without legs, he had ensured that the country could be run better than most other so called patriots, read politicians, had ever imagined.