saravade (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} saravade) wrote,@ 2007-04-15 12:01:00 |
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Rational Nationalism, Anyone?
Indian Express has an editorial on 13 April, regarding the recent controversy involving statements/acts of Narayan Murthy and Sachin Tendulkar.
In this connection, I would like to narrate an experience of visiting the federal court in Houston, during my last visit to US. In a very well appointed court room, which was also used for ceremonial occasions, there was a carpet on the floor, which had the US government emblem woven in to it. (Part of the photograph I had taken can be viewed here.) No one seemed worried by the implications of treading upon the seal, in stark contrast to the bouts of indignation visible around us, sometimes without ascertaining facts.
A significant point about the controversy is that it is in tune with the importance of rituals in our culture, where the form takes precedence over the content. It is unfortunate that there is a motivated attack on these two icons, who have contributed to our national pride in no small measure, for an inadvertent remark/act.
