This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda. Write Over the Weekend theme for this week : This week your post should have five different colours acting as adjectives for five important words, around which your write-up revolves. e.g. her blue eyes. This time wear the colourful creative hat, start writing and send in your entries. Please highlight the five colours in your post for us.
“Hmmm,…mmm…hmmmm.,….tiding ti ding ti ding….”
“What is that tune you are humming there?”
“Dude! This is ‘Happy Nation’ by Ace of Base. Don’t tell me you’ve never heard about the song before – it’s a cult song, was in number one for more than 10 countries, has sold like millions of copies worldwide.”
“Really! that famous?”
“Albeit, why doubt my sources, check out yourself.”
“Leave it, I trust your resources. Why don’t you hum a few lines from it – since you like the song so much?”
“Umm, okay….here you go, I don’t remember the whole of it – but this much will do…
Happy nation living in a happy nation
Where the people understand
And dream of perfect man”“Right, can see very apt to the least. Which do you think is the happiest nation on earth?”
“Why? It’d always be aamchi (our) India – don’t you think?”
“Errr..No.”
“No?”
“Well if you are talking about economic power, no I’d guess. What is the happy nation according to you then – the United States?”
“Hell no! It’s Belize.”
“What? Is that even a nation?”
“It is. Formerly known as British Honduras, located on the north east coast of central America, site of old Mayan civilization – it’s very small country, once ruled and disputed by both British and Spanish.”
“So how does that become a happy nation?”
“Allow me to elaborate!”
“Please do! You always seem to have an answer.”
“What are the three colours of our national flag?”
“What kind of joke is this?”
“Just go on with it.”
“Saffron, white and green.”
“And what do they stand for?”
“Read that back in a school – something like sacrifice, peace and harmony. Forgot what Ashoke Chakra was for.”
“Righteousness.”
“Okay, so what?”
“Where is the example of sacrifice or peace or harmony in recent times. Site an instance. On the contrary, it’s quite the other way round and the occurrences are plenty. There is an open loot on the reserve of the nation starting from natural to people resource, handful of people holding the reins living at the cost of others, denying justice and subtly encouraging crisis in the name of caste, creed, community and what not. Why disrespect the principles defined by the saffron patch, why mock the green badge that stands for life, prosperity and vibrancy?”
“….Hmm….”
“Wait, I am not done yet. There are 24 spokes in the blue wheel at the centre – Ashok Chakra – stands not only for justice or dharma but also motion and progress. Where is progress for the real India, my friend?”
“Still doesn’t explain why on earth would your global survey pick Belize!”
“Patience, I’m coming to it.”
“Fair enough, I’m listening.”
“If you look at their national flag, you will find - blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centred is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms.”
“So?”
“The Blue is the dominant party colour for the People's United Party while the Red is the dominant party colour for the United Democratic Party. It’s an unique example of unity. Prior to their independence, the People's United Party proposed a blue flag with the Coat of Arms in a white circle. However, the close association of the national flag with the party emblem, the opposition from The United Democratic Party raised their concern and as a result two horizontal red stripes were added.”
“Interesting facts, for sure.”
“That’s not all I am referring to. Their coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO, meaning, I Flourish in the Shade i.e. the shade of the mahogany tree which used to be backbone of their economy. Bear in mind it is the only national flag that has human emblems and as a whole symbolizes hardiness, bravery, strength & valour along with truth and loyalty.”
“So it’s all good in Belize then?”
“Err, no not really.”
“What do you mean?”
“It is precisely a country where the burden of foreign debt is fairly heavy, rising unemployment with increasing drug trade and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America.”
“Why on earth did you say it was a happy nation then?”
“I just did it to stir your conscience. For a moment you surely would have thought, India is no good while a tiny nation is living up to its national emblem, but that is not the case. There are problems everywhere. Take Belize for example, their national flag has the maximum number of colours but it really doesn’t matter how we choose a colour that symbolizes our nation, unless we live up to the values at every level and that my friend, starts with me and you. India has a lot of potent and promise, unless we stop people draining everything out.”
“You made a mess of my ideal lazy weekend, you know that? I just can not sit back and relax.”
“Good, because if you do that and hum happy nation, it’s no sweet salvation.”
“Wait a min, you knew about the song all along?”
“Bye for now.”
“Not before you answer me, you knew about the song and led me into this conversation?”
“As you say, weekends are to stir some thoughts.”
P.S: Blogadda review team, the colours used are red, blue, green, white and saffron are highlighted in the post with yellow.
This post was also voted as top post on Indiblogger.
22 comments:
Thanks for reminding Ace of Base, nice post
You are welcome. I am happy to see you revisiting my blog.
Lovely take on the prompt :)
Bushra,
stillettomaniac.blogspot.in
Bushra, thanks for dropping by. It took me a significant part of weekend thinking what could be a different take on this prompt.
Wow Abhra That is pretty great read and yes humming a song about our Nation is not great until we live up to its value...
That was a interesting and intelligent conversation.
So different.
Looking forward to Happy Nation
Thank you so much Harsha, for your nice words!
Indrani, I am glad that you have such high opinion for this article.
Thank you Tomichan Sir, I am a great fan of your writing. These words coming from someone I respect means a lot to me.
Oh Man!! this is simply great!. loved it!
Colors and our Nation , nice read!
Thank you Rajesh. I am happy to know that you love it.
Thanks a lot Uma. Glad to see you on my blog.
Wow, that was quite a powerful use of the WoW prompt I must say. Comparing nations using the colors of their flags was truly innovative, creative and insightful...
Hey, thank you. Well, it took me a lot of thinking for most of the Saturday and some research as well. But now I feel it has come out well.
That's an interesting read Abhra. That song is totally amazing too.
Thanks Saru - I'm surprised that you haven't heard the song before. One of the best songs ever made, if you ask me.
That was some telling of the idea, wonderful with its twists! :-)
He he, thanks be....we always love twists, don't we? Some uniqueness.
amazing...loved your idea and sharing some info as well :)
Thanks Preethi. I am glad to know that you like the idea behind this post. Welcome to my blog.
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