NATIONALISM AS A VALUE

An acrimonious debate has started in the country over the meaning of nationalism. From several university professors to many Members of Parliament, all are airing their views questioning if there is nationalism at all. In many cases it may be feigned ignorance. But all said and done it has created a fuzziness that fails to evaporate.

The result is that people have started their own interpretation of the concept leading to a divide that may not be healthy in larger national interests. The greatest irony is that certain sections of the media are inadvertently or inordinately adding unnecessary grist to the mills. The effect is that the overwhelming large section of our population, the millenials is flummoxed about the very idea of a nation and its position in the life of a citizen. Is there a concept called nation? Is the nation something to be proud of? What is the identity of the nation? It seems we are going back in time when India or Indianness, or for that matter Bharat was merely a hypothetical construct.

Today, there is a map of India, there is a flag of India, there is a Constitution of India and of course there is a very concrete concept of India with clearly laid down contours. How can it be denied? And if there is an India or Bharat which is a house to over 1.26 billion Indians who are citizens of India, does the debate over ‘Hail India’ make sense? Is it a matter of choice for a citizen that he or she may hail or hate India. A person may or may not be happy with the state of affairs but that does not mean that he denounces his or her country. Yes, it may be argued that not saying Bharat Mata ki Jai does not tantamount to denouncing or showing disrespect to Bharat. Yes, it certainly does not. But, what about publically proclaiming that I will not chant Bharat Mata ki Jai come what may? Is it not a deliberate attempt to suggest that I don’t care? Whose cause are such people trying to take up? What are they trying to prove? No one is forcing anybody to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai. Why this unnecessary ruckus? Is it accidental or a design? We need to introspect.

Nationalism is a value that citizens need to hold high in there scheme of things. The belief in manifest destiny of United States of America is nothing but subtle nationalism. ‘Don’t ask what America can do for you, ask what you can do for America’ — famous words of John F Kennedy are a reflection of American values. Was it not nationalism that made Japan rise from the rubble? Lest we forget there is a story dating back to 1761 when the third battle of Panipat was being fought between Marathas and the Afgan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali.

There was a General in Maratha army, an artillery expert named Ibrahim Khan Gardi. A dreaded name Gardi was feared the most. The Afgans approached him suggesting that Gardi being of the same religion as the Afgans should help them win against Marathas rather than risk his life fighting for Marathas. To this Gardi had replied that motherland is greater than religion. That Gardi fought fiercely and died after inflicting heavy damage to the Afgans is besides the point. The point is his values for motherland