National Anthem Etiquette

Now, I've never been one for patriotism as a person, and while I do feel some people take it too far, my stand (or in this case, my seating position) has been same as mine on religion. You do what you wanna do, I'll do what I wanna do, you don't interrupt my life and I'll do the same, without any intent to disrespect your choices. That said, the doctrine like command of having to at least stand to attention if not sing along when the National Anthem is played, has bothered me since early days in school. The first time I came across it was in the school assembly, and with no prior information on such a ritual, I got quite a scolding for goofing off during the anthem, wondering why everybody had suddenly gone stiff like robots.

Of course, like any form of brainwashing, 12 years of schooling with almost weekly assemblies where they play the national anthem at the end, I got immune to it. Since we lot were standing anyway or would have to get up to leave, fair enough. I didn't know the exact words, still don't, and just mumble the phonetics and join in on the final chorus(like all the songs I listen to). 

But, an old practice has returned to my corner of life, the playing of the national anthem in the movie theaters before the screening of any film. Now, when I'm with my dad, who doesn't give a shit about these things, and he just sits there idly checking updates on his phone while the rest of the auditorium is standing at attention, I just sit next to him in silence. Those 60 seconds or less when you can feel numerous eyes digging at you like you were some sort of traitor, are a bit of a pain. Now, as it happened again today, in a cinema, anthem comes on, I stay seated, I can feel the glares while thinking 'Could I actually get into trouble for this?' Knowing how things are in India at the moment, I'd say its a rational thought.

So, I did some lazy research on the subject, and here's the results. The Indian books of rules and stuff do state "Whenever the Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention. However, when in the course of a newsreel or documentary the Anthem is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the Anthem". 

Another entry stated The  Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, has this to say  about the national anthem, "Whoever intentionally prevents the singing  of the Indian National Anthem or causes disturbances to any assembly  engaged in such singing shall be punished with imprisonment for a term,  which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both."

Now, while there have been reported cases of persons being arrested for refusing to stand up during the national anthem, case details state that it was because they weren't just not standing but also actively showing disrespect. I feel that its fair enough to be arrested for being a nuisance to people and towards something that is important to them. But I conclude from this, that my stand(or seat) on this matter is not legally actionable. I do not interrupt or interfere the singing of the national anthem, nor do I show any disrespect. I just sit quietly in my seat till it ends, and that is all. But in a nation full of extreme-views-dickheads, its still a risk. I might just some day come across an idiotic bunch of people who don't share the IQ to understand this, and get me in trouble. But till then, I ain't standing because you said so. I'll stand for your national anthem when I feel respect for that nation, and if not, I will respect your patriotism, and sit still in silence till it ends.

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