I remember a time, when there were no multiplexes and visiting a cinema was a special occasion, where you dressed up and reached there much before time, to see all the government advertisements AND there was no popcorn, pasta being delivered to your seat. Maybe if your parents were feeling happy and not having carried snacks from home, you would have been treated to a samosa.

The National Anthem used to be played in the end of the movie and everybody stood at attention, sung along in their not so melodious voices and then the doors were opened allowing you to go out.

TIME flew, for a while they stopped playing the national anthem, before somebody recalled and it was made mandatory all over again.

Now there are multiplexes everywhere, working couples, friends, families come rushing last minute to see the movie, carrying practically meals that would feed a small nation, stepping all over your toes, hands mostly without a nary of an apology.

The National anthem is played before the movie begins.

And more than 30-40% people wait outside the door, chatting for it to begin and get over. Out of the ones who are already seated there are always those, useless bums who refuse to get up or get up slowly, muttering to themselves.

There are some people, moi included who take umbrage about this and there is an argument, even a fight at times. (newspapers have reported too)

Compared to the past couple of years, I have noticed that the people not getting up is in a very negligible minority these days, however the fidgeting, muttering still continues.

The most popular reason cited is “Democracy” which is all fine, but the same people stand at attention when applying for a visa, traveling abroad amongst other things, but feel it beneath their dignity to respect the country that they live in.

We are all to blame for this. Well I do stand up for the national anthem & sing it proudly. Do You?

I am sure, Gandhiji must be smiling his gentle smile up in the heavens.

Just imagine the kind of difference he made for Capitalists during Recession.

Orkut, Chirkut, Facebook, all the social media gurus, bloggers (including yours truly) climbed on the band wagon to write about him - thereby leading to free content, advertisements, subscriptions & what have you.

Debates, calls made money for the phone companies.

Media had a field day for a while when there were no news around….so some jobs were saved for a couple of months.

Principles, Values were/are being heavily debated, so probably some more jobs would be saved since some employers would want to be considered gandhian.

AND just like the reality shows…..post acquisition of the items by Mr. Mallaya….who did not/does not claim to be gandhian follower, so on & forth (enough has been written about him already) there are a lot of text messages floating around….

Sushmay, Dilip, Ashwin, Suresh, Ian, Manny, Vijay, Deepak, Anil, Mohan & many others have been contributing to the coffers of Airtel, Vodafone, BPL, etc.

Gandhi hated liquor his whole life, but liquor king brought his memories back to India. What a contribution from people who drink alcohol. Three cheers

Gandhiji advocated Prohibition, But we needed a liquor baron to bring back his things to India! JAI HO for the craziest place on earth!! 02 Oct NOW KINGFISHER DAY

Dr. Vijay Mallya should now lead a “Malt March to Sabarmati Ashram to lift prohibition in Gujarat. JAI HO!

Gandhiji hated liquor for whole life. But liquor king brought gandhi memories back to India. What a contribution of our people who drink. Thanks for drinking…..Sar uthake peeo.

After Mallaya’s heroic rescue of India’s honor, 2nd October will no longer be a dry day…..:)

Besides the coffers filling in, it was interesting to see the creativity, communication skills employed & at least this year he shall be remembered for more days!!!

Also how does it matter what business Mr. Mallaya is???? Personally I did not hear/see any of the so call principled, gandhian hypocrites trying anything remotely…..maybe I am not privy to such things; maybe they sponsored Mallaya….one does not know.

But this one conveys my thoughts clearly

Indians want Gandhiji’s valuables, But not his VALUES

And Bapu has the last laugh:) after all NALAYAK BETA HI KAAM AATA HAI..!

For the past 35 - 40 years, except in schools, text books & government offices, MKG; Gandhiji; Bapu; Father of the nation either remained in textbooks, songs, walls & part time teachings.

In the school, text book had chapters devoted to history of independence, teachings of bapu, values, which neither the teachers acknowledged nor students remembered after the bell signaling the period was over.

The songs were practiced & sung during the assembly, a week before republic day; independence day or 2nd October & then forgotten.

The book sellers made merry every year.

The portraits hung on every wall of the government offices made many a painter, photographer, frame maker wealthy. A lot of good, bad & evil was conducted beneath his eyes, which accepted everything, just as it probably did when alive.

Whatever the reasons, government, relatives, friends, foes, well wishers fought over his meager possessions, not giving a damn whether he would have approved of it or not.

Then OTIS struck…….All of a sudden, everyone who had forgotten him, relegated him to the background for 350 days in a year started acknowledging him, his worth, claiming that they were following his principles, values ready to bring back his possessions back to India!!!

In the heat of the moment, money was pledged, collected, social activism armchair, online, offline gathered momentum (hey, I was also a part of it, but for no other reason than a friend Tushar’s passion).

Some people raised questions, relevant, irrelevant…..

Why did we not plan?
Why does the government not intervene?
What purpose would it serve?

so on & on……..

But watching from the sidelines, Bapu was laughing at all these hypocrites……because he never believed in keeping his possessions close to his chest, remember he gave all of it away.

Unfortunately, nobody asked him but he would have said ” Vijay, save your money - either do good with it or keep enjoying life, but do not waste it on my possessions”