A painter unwittingly became the flagbearer of patriotism after being filmed pausing his work for the national anthem. A video featuring the act has clocked over five crore views on Instagram. In the clip, the labourer, who stood on a building’s ledge, is contrasted with a group of school students who chose to walk through the frame.
The video is less than eight-seconds long, but has struck a chord with social media users.
“Respect for this man! While others are moving around, he stood still for the National Anthem,” read the caption.
Have you watched it yet?
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For our readers with vision impairment, partial or full, below is the description:
A painter standing on a ledge holds his paint roller extension pole, which is dipped in a bucket, looking down as he pauses for the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, being played within earshot.
The video is shot from inside a classroom in another building, with silhouettes of students in a blue uniform making brief appearances as they move in and out.
Commenting on it, an Instagrammer said, “The labourer has proved that he is a true Indian. Salute to the brother from the bottom of my heart”
Another added, “This is why instead of teaching them [the students] just formulas and racing them to get marks, schools should teach them basic manners too that they should respect others.”
Under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, “whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the Indian national anthem or causes disturbances to any assembly engaged in such singing” can face up to three years of imprisonment or a fine, or both.
However, ways of showing respect to the anthem have not been codified into law. Due to the ambiguity, people's refusal to stand up or drop everything continues to draw polarising reactions.