The Republic Day Remix:

From Blame Games to Citizen Frames

Civic Responsibility: The Republic, The Pedestrian, and The Patient

It was a sunny Sunday morning, and my day began with the usual cacophony outside my window—a scooter honking impatiently, a vegetable vendor yelling offers louder than any FM radio jockey, and someone cribbing about the potholes (which have taken permanent residence in the locality). A typical day in the republic.

The usual playlist of so called patriotic songs beginning with the morbid Lata Mangeshkar’s ‘yeh mere vatan ke logon’ to the latest version of ‘vande mataram’

As I sipped my coffee and scrolled through the news, a familiar pattern emerged: outrage. Outrage at politicians, outrage at public services, outrage at the price of tomatoes. Outrage is, after all, our national hobby. But somewhere between blaming the system and grumbling into our tea, a thought struck me:  “Are we outsourcing accountability?”

This was a republic, wasn’t it? The kind where “we, the people” are in charge, not some distant, unreachable monarch. I decided to dig deeper, but first, let’s understand what we’re working with here.

What Even Is a Republic? (Spoiler: It’s Not Just a Fancy Word)

A republic, I discovered (thank you, internet), is where the power lies with us—the citizens—and our elected representatives. The head of state isn’t hereditary, which is great because we’ve seen enough family dramas on Netflix. But here’s the catch: for this system to work, citizens like us need to ‘participate’. Not just as armchair critics but as people who show up, speak up, and occasionally put down their smartphones.

It’s like running a cooperative housing society. You can’t just blame the secretary for leaking pipes if you’re skipping meetings to binge-watch serials. We have duties, folks, and it’s high time we talked about them.

The User Manual for Republic Citizens: Responsibilities We Tend to Forget

1. ‘Voting’: If democracy were a potluck dinner, voting would be your dish. You can’t show up empty-handed and complain about the menu. 

2. ‘Staying Informed’: No, your WhatsApp uncle’s forwards don’t count as news. 

3. ‘Engaging Locally’: Ever attended a town hall or panchayat meeting? No? Me neither. But maybe we should. 

4. ‘Holding Officials Accountable’: “Tagging” someone on Twitter is a start, but how about writing a proper email? 

5. ‘Paying Taxes’: Everyone wants great roads but nobody likes contributing to them. 

6. ‘Respecting Laws’: Yes, that includes waiting for the pedestrian signal to turn green—even when you’re late. 

7. ‘Advocating for Causes’: Care about clean air? Plant a tree instead of posting a filtered photo of one. 

The Chronicles of Citizen Neglect: Education, Footpaths, and Healthcare

Episode 1: The Classroom Conundrum 

Our obsession with international schools has left local schools resembling ancient ruins. PTAs are less about involvement and more about who brought the best snacks. And while we’re busy cribbing about “kids these days,” maybe we should also be advocating for better teacher salaries and infrastructure.

Episode 2: The Sidewalk Saga 

If you’ve ever walked on an Indian footpath, congratulations on surviving what can only be described as an obstacle course. Between illegally parked bikes and potholes deep enough to start a pond, pedestrians might as well audition for ‘Survivor’. Want better footpaths? Turns out, we need to show up at urban planning meetings and, you know, ‘ask’ for them.

Episode 3: The Health Hustle 

Healthcare is another sore spot. Public hospitals are overcrowded, while private ones charge like they’re selling kidneys instead of saving them. Instead of endlessly scrolling medical memes, we could participate in health awareness drives or demand better government spending on healthcare.

Adventures in Accountability: A Citizen’s Toolkit

I once tried to “hold officials accountable” by complaining about a broken streetlight to a local officer. His response? “Madam, why don’t ‘you’  come to our ward meeting and discuss it?” Touche. Accountability, it seems, requires more than just indignation—it needs action. Here’s how to start: 

– Vote. (Not just in general elections; the panchayat needs love too.) 

– Stay informed. (Twitter fights don’t count.) 

– Use petitions, peaceful protests, and—dare I say it—actual dialogue to demand change. 

– Attend community meetings. (Yes, they’re boring, but so are most important things.) 

– Advocate for transparency, whether it’s about budgets or policies. 

The Bottom Line: It’s Our Circus, Our Monkeys

At the end of the day, it’s easy to point fingers. But a republic isn’t just a system; it’s a shared responsibility. It’s your pothole, your school, your public hospital, your footpath, and, ultimately, your future. If we want things to change, we have to do more than complain. We have to engage. 

So, next time you’re about to blame a politician or “the system,” ask yourself this: “What have ‘I’ done to fix it?”  If the answer is “nothing,” well, maybe it’s time to roll up those sleeves. Because in this republic, we’re all in it together—and that’s both the good news and the bad news. 

Let’s get out there and make some noise. Preferably the constructive kind.