5-year-olds and the Constitution

When they first began to play the national anthem in theatres a couple of years ago, I would stand awkwardly at attention next to my then 3-year-old, as he'd put his little hand over his heart, and his fist in the air shouting along 'jaya he' (like they taught him in school) at the top of his voice. Sure they all stared, and I was a little embarassed, but a weekend ago at the movies, I noticed almost all the kids - not just the little ones, along with my now 5-year-old, sang along.
And as I watched the flag flutter on screen, to the now much better-orchestrated symphony of the national anthem yesterday, I began to realise that even if we did grumble at the practice being imposed on us a few years ago, India today is truly poised on a swell of nationalistic pride that has lost its cheesy aftertaste. And that the Republic Day ahead comes up with a glorious glorious glow of prosperity and progress.
My personal indicators of this glow are...
* Sure, on December 5, 2006, the sensex officially crossed 14000. And the high of the investors, but as the latest Bollywood blockbuster Guru will tell you, is the euphoria of the 'aam aadi' -- the common man. College kids have begun watching and investing in the stock market, trade shares and enjoy their spending money responsibly as couples in their early 20 buy homes, and study mutual funds portfolios. The practice of living in 'paying-guest' accomodations in Mumbai is fast fading out - most freshers in companies I start work at 21, travell fearlessly here from all over the country, confident, exuberant, and unwilling to share apartments, and are talking to home loan brokers within their first year of joining. My indicator for this personal confidence that comes with financial freedom is my son's nanny, and the woman who used to come in before her, were both uneducated widows, who did not accept the 'protection' of their families, and worked independently to bring up their children. They named their prices, fixed their terms, stuck to their timings, were thorough professionals and could sit with me at my table sharing a cup of tea without feeling 'it was not their place' and discuss their futures with confident ease. My last nanny left because her by now 18 year old daughter had got a job in a BPO - and was repaying her for the cost of her education.
* The wheels of justice are turning. Apart from the conviction of celebrity cricket commentator Navjot SIngh Sidhu in a road rage case, Manu Sharma was finally convicted of the murder of Jessica Lal despite having been acquitted by a lower court earlier - after public opinion and concerted media campaigns forced the case to be reopened. The final verdict was the first conviction of a sitting minister - Shibu Soren. The signal is loud and clear - all are equal beneath the law. But above all, the Supreme Court recently reviewed, and successfully brought under its purview last week, the thus-far elusive Ninth Schedule of the Constitution that allowed laws (such as those on caste based reservations, the sharing of river water, unsealing of shops, ministerial privilege) to exist beyond the pruview of the juiciary. I am thankful for the living, breathing, dynamism of this great country - giving it probably the most amended consrtitution in the world - allowing it to remain up to date and a living force. Sure, article 377 vould be amended, and we're all waiting for it, but the domestic violence bill was recently extended to cover women in live-in relationships, and empowerment for domestic 'maids' complete with paid holidays, medical reimbursements and LTA, is definite, if not imminent.
* Spiritual resurgences are rising. A recent survey by MTV found Indian youth the happiest in the world. Indian NGOs have recently reported that the number of youngsters volunteering for social activities. My indicator for this is that I was rushing for a party very very late on new year's eve, and was out the door when I was met by kid sister and her coterie of friends- all returning from the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar world youth conference - and all a good nine to ten years younger than me, looking for a place to do their Sudarshan Kriya before they caught up some sleep. I (not without some small measure of guilt I can tell you) handed them the keys and went to join the rest of the drunken world's party. So while disposable incomes have gone up, and purchasing power has increased, and the world has narrowed to the global village we all expected it would, the spirit and vision of Indian youth is intent on expanding. India is being seen increasingly, both outside the country as well as within - as a place of harmony, peace, goodwill and the land of plenty. It is being seen as a land that is tolerant, secular, and sure we have Pratibha Naithani moral; policing now and then, but in democracy even the prudes get a voice, right?