Head Shaved, Attired in Dhoti/Kurtha & Gandhi Topi Channabasappa Shows True Patriotism on I-Day
Head Shaved, Attired in Dhoti/Kurtha & Gandhi Topi (cap) Channabasappa, a server at Kanara Club-Mangaluru Shows True Patriotism on Independence Day, a tradition that he has kept since 1998.
Mangaluru : Call of the soul, love of the homeland, devotion to one’s work… it means different things to different people. Patriotism is every citizen’s call of the soul. It’s not imposed, it’s a natural instinct. Patriotism or national pride is the feeling of love, devotion and sense of attachment to the homeland and with the citizens who share the same sentiment. It is about taking pride in one’s origin and working for the prosperity of the country. There is a big difference between patriotism and nationalism. I believe a patriot loves his country responsibly whereas a nationalist loves his country no matter what it does. It’s better to be a patriot than a nationalist.
Patriotism is love that supersedes any individual or vested interest. It is the impulse to do the right, sometimes difficult, thing, for the country in the face of hardships. In a way, it is comparable to a mother’s love-unconditional and sacred. Patriotism is a feeling of love and devotion towards one’s country and its people. We are a diverse country and India means different things to different people. If you love your country, and allow others to also express their love-even if it’s different to yours-that’s patriotic to me. There is no one template for a patriotic Indian.
There are people who act to be patriotic, and then there people who are TRUE PATRIOTIC – and for that matter 37-year-old Channabasappa, who has been a favorite server of the club members and their guests at Kanara Club, Kadri-Mangaluru falls in the latter category. Hailing from Bellary, being the son of Late Sannakalappa, a farmer/laborer, and Ms Late Veeramma, a house wife, had done his BA at a college in Bellary. Right from his college days, his aspiration was to become a Good and Corrupt Free POLITICIAN in order to be an example to all those corrupt netas.
He moved to Mangaluru in 2002, and started working at the KMF (Nandini) plant in Kulshekar- Mangaluru, and in 2010 he returned back to Bellary District and contested in the local Town Panchayat elections, but unfortunately he lost. After this he lost hope in becoming a politician, and came back to Mangaluru, and started working at a few restaurants in the City, including Shivabagh Restaurant in Kadri, where he was employed for couple of years, before joining Kanara Club as a server in 2013. Married to Chandrika, he has three children (twins-girl and boy) and a one son.
Yours Truly, who spotted Channabasappa all attired in white dhoti/kurta and a Gandhi Topi, during the flag hoisting ceremony on 15 August morning at Kanara Club, interacted with him to learn more about him out of curiosity. When asked how much he had spent on the clothes that he was wearing, he said nearly Rs 1800- and he also said that he buys new clothing (dhoti/kurta and also the Gandhi topi ) every year. And to the query as to why he is all dressed up in Indian tradition, also wearing a Gandhi topi, and above all shaving his head-his reply was’
“On every Independence Day since 1998, I started shaving my head with respect to the sacrifice made by our Indian soldiers in bringing us freedom. And my attire is in respect to the Father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi, and for all his ideals and teachings. And above all, I want to show my true patriotism to my Bharatha Desha. For me, patriotism is celebrating my Indianness…my intrinsic personal connect with my culture and country. Love for the country is like loving your mother. Patriotism is as much love for the country as for the people living in it.”
“I consider myself lucky to be able to represent India in any capacity that I can. That I can wear the Indian Dhoti/Kurta and the Gandhi topi is a big, yet humbling, thing for me. To me, patriotism means to honour, respect and live up to the trust the tri-colour has bestowed upon me. It means being responsible and dedicated towards the work we do as individuals. Let our nation retain its pluralistic essence and each one of us give space to others to live with their identity, then we become truly patriotic. In the 21st century, patriotism means fighting against environmental issues that are making India and the world a difficult place to live in. Long live India! “
In conclusion, Everyone may not be patriotic throughout the year, but on Independence Day, the whole ‘my country’ feeling kicks in. Channabasappa has become an example for rest of the Indians, to wear traditional Indian clothing at least on Independence day, rather than attired in jeans or T-shirts. Everyone graces the occasion to look their patriotic best every Independence Day. While modernization has taken over, most people still opt for flaunting an ethnic attire on this day. But what would look the best, is a thought that bothers many. You don’t have to be over dressed, be simple and casual-find something that fits for the I-Day occasion. And for that matter, all you men out there- Channabasappa’s attire will be the right choice. So come, I-Day 2020 make yourself attired in something very patriotic and be a true PATRIOT?