NATIONAL ANTHEM: Jana gana mana. Some people want Sindh to be replaced with Kashmir in its lyrics. Some people refuse to sing it because it goes against their religious beliefs. Some people do not want to sing it in front of foreigners because it makes them uneasy.
NATIONAL SONG: Vande Mataram. Some people want to use it as a ‘test of patriotism‘. Some people wonder if it is against Islamic beliefs because it is a tribute to Goddess Durga. Some people wonder if it only spreads Hinduism at the expense of the minorities like Sikhs, Muslims and Christians.
NATIONAL BIRD: Peacock. Some people say less than 50 per cent of peacock population that was around in 1947 surviving as poaching, contamination of its food sources, destruction of its habitats, rages unabated. Some people are just too busy to be bothered to notice what’s happening.
NATIONAL ANIMAL: Tiger. Some people say only a grand total of 1,411 of them are left, a 50 per cent drop in their number in the last five years. Some people dispute the methodology. Some people dispute the numbers.
NATIONAL GAME: Hockey. Some people wonder if our national game has become our national shame after India failed to qualify. Some people wonder if we think it is like instant coffee that results can be produced as we like it.
Coming soon: National Flag, National Emblem, National Flower (lotus), National Fruit (mango)
churumuri 
Anthem and song are safe. Whatever some people feel about them etc., they will remain because they are abstract things. Just requires one person reciting them with due respect and dignity and they retain their power to inspire and unite us.
However bird, animal and game? They will soon be gone forever and remain only as a pale shadow of their former selves in zoos and exhibition grounds…
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Thanks for the beautiful post.
The National Emblem — the “four lions capital” and accompanying Ashok chakra — is the grandest symbol I have seen of any society. I doubt younger people not preparing for the UPSC exams are even aware of it. The National Emblem is derived from the greatly meaningful Ashoka sthhambas, specifically the sthhamba of Sarnath, U.P.
It’s easy to argue that “national” gives way to “international” when patriotism is passe and globalism fashionable. It is far more challenging to rescue the majestic tiger, resurrect the inspiring Vande Mataram, protect the magnificient peacock and rejuvenate the great sport of hockey. Perhaps those challenges call for a revival of the 1920s Azad-Singh slogan, “Inquilab zindabad!”
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According to the article some people refuse to sing the National Anthem because its against their religion. Err, can you please tell me if it is Hindus/Muslims/Sikhs/Chrisitians/Jains/Buddhists etc?
Just who are these anonymous people? Wink.
And to everyone who thinks its a shame to be defeated in the filed? What kind of moron can we be if we expect that we have to win 100% of the time. Give those poor guys a break. Make a donation to the Indian Hockey fedaration and stop beating your chests wailing like women. Its a game for crying out loud.
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On a similar note somehow I dont understand this national shame thing. Force India, Mallyas baby apparently carries the hope of a billion people. All Miss Universe/World/India/Kolache finalists carry the best wishes of a billion people. I mean have we come to a point where everything and anything can be said to be national or constitutes shame if we dont win?
I am not promoting losing, but calling defeat as shame shows how mentally sick and degenerate we are. I see ourselves becoming more Australian, in the way, they are scared of defeat too and use all sorts of methods to get the opponent to lose.
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National Flag: Our Politicos/Babus don’t which way its up … most of the times it hoisted with green in top (inversion is the name of the game)
National Emblem: I doubt this might also go in the name of modernising the emblem/logo of Govt of India. (remember canara bank)
National Flower (lotus): I am leaving this as assignment :-) for you folks.
National Fruit (mango): hmm … maavu tinnalu balu ista … adare kollalu balu kasta… since we are exporting good quality mangoes to US of A.
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It will be interesting to see the list in the coming soon. But I dont see National language in the list. It would be interesting to note how we are abusing the term “national language”.
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The only national symbols worth saving: Tiger and Peacocks. The rest can resurrect
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Mr Karunanidhi wanted ‘Jaya Jaya Jaya Hae’ to be removed from the National Anthem as his arch rival is Jaya!!
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The bald eagle which is the national bird and symbol of USA was on the endangered list. It was a long process to bring it back from extirpation.
I want to remain optimistic that tigers and peacocks will not go extinct.
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Australians eat their National Animal and bird! By the way I jus wonder. What if the dinosaurs were around!
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