The ceasefire was announced a few days ago, but looks like we’re still playing in the sandpit of war.
Yes, the sandpit, that noisy little patch where toddlers toss sand, build wobbly castles, and fight imaginary wars with plastic shovels. Only difference? Our sandpit has TV studios, hashtags, and anchors who shout louder than air raid sirens.
Ever since that skirmish with Pakistan—rebranded as “retaliatory brilliance”—we’ve forgotten there’s a world beyond border headlines. One look at the news and there’s our TV host, whose name rhymes with ‘doorknob’, sleeves rolled up, face flushed with fury, as if he’s about to lead a charge himself. Looking at him, I wonder if he’s even passed the school PT test, let alone been near a border.
Panelists echo him in chorus, each trying to out-patriot the other. And if you so much as suggest, “Er, what about rising prices?”—you’re instantly branded a traitor. Or worse, a thinker.
The real tragedy? We’ve started to believe that shouting louder means loving the country more.
While we’ve been waving flags and forwarding memes, onions crossed ₹100 a kilo. But don’t worry, we’ve trained ourselves to cry only for the nation—not while chopping vegetables. Jobs? Down. Economy? Wobbling. But hey, who cares, right? There’s a “war” to win on TV and WhatsApp.
I’ve become a little suspicious, that this overdrive for nationalism could make an excellent cover up. Want to raise fuel prices? Toss in a headline about threats from across the border. Unemployment figures due? Distract them with another airstrike anniversary.
Meanwhile, social media warriors have taken command. Uncle Sharma, who needed Google Maps to find Kashmir last month, now tweets military strategies. Auntie Sharma forwards angry messages between cutting vegetables, while the sabziwala wonders if anyone will buy bhindi tomorrow.
We’ve confused patriotism with performance.
Loving your country doesn’t mean losing your mind. It doesn’t mean turning every news hour into a battle cry. And it certainly doesn’t mean ignoring the fire in your kitchen while setting fireworks off on the terrace.
Let’s grow up, people. Step out of the sandpit.
Yes, be proud. Be strong. Support the forces. But remember, there’s a real war outside—of jobs, hunger, and survival.
That battle won’t be won with hashtags and emojis.
The country doesn’t just need soldiers at the border. It needs builders, teachers, thinkers, farmers, and citizens who work with quiet dignity.
The real work isn’t in shouting at 9 p.m.—it’s in showing up at 9 a.m.
So let the Doorknob roll up his sleeves. Let the panelists flex their vocal cords. But you and I? We’ve got a nation to build. That means turning off the noise, rolling up our own sleeves, and getting back to work.
And yes, while we’re at it—let’s stop throwing sand at each other…!