Do youngsters know what Republic Day is?

With Republic Day falling on Thursday, youngsters are busy making holiday plans; some are indulging in movies, a few are travelling and most of them are going to “chill out” (as they call it). One wonders how many know, or for that matter, care about the national holiday.

Every year January 26 celebrations are a façade because while the nation remembers the day the Constitution came into force in 1950, the young generation makes a quiet post on Facebook, shares scores of WhatsApp forwards saying ‘Happy Republic Day’ with little to no understanding of its significance.

On this occasion CityTAB checked how many could actually answer the question ‘what is Republic Day?’ and found many astonishing answers by youngsters. Only 30 per cent of all the people we spoke to, could answer the question correctly.

Commenting about the findings, Suma Niveditha an Assistant Professor of Roda Mistry College of Social Work & Research Centre says, “The reason for youngsters to miss out the basic knowledge is, once the students pass out schools they hardly find any activities to involve into something that brings a patriotic touch in them. Work places don’t any events that make them remember the importance of the day.

“In my opinion, the institutions are not playing a right role and I wish they come up with some methods for these days where it is not actually a holiday, but a day full of unique activities where people can enjoy and also know the ethics,” she adds.

Bharath Pajala a social activist shares, “These are the ethics, which are supposed to be inherited in us. But we have reached to an extent where our government is coming up with new rules like singing National Anthem in theatres to make us stay grounded with the basic knowledge of our country. So, I wish government comes up with more initiations that promote and spread the importance of these national days.”

“It is a sad truth that today’s youngsters are so busy in their mechanical world that they are even forgetting the importance of these national days. I hope this doesn’t continue with today’s students, schools like ours have a perfect day planned with day full of events that keep the students busy and at the same time instill the knowledge in them,” says Paramjyoti Nimmakayala, a social teacher from Bhavans Sri RamaKrishna Vidyalaya.

Bhagyashree Kottoori