Misplaced Patriotism

“Be proud that you are an Indian,” we hear often. Nothing wrong with that, but what next? Should I, in my pride, start judging, berating and punishing people who appear to be less proud than I am? Does patriotism end with badmouthing others, sharing jingoistic messages over social network, buying national flag on independence day, claiming that we are superior to citizens from other countries - specially Pakistan? I am afraid, these acts have little to do with patriotism. Patriotism is not window-dressing. It is not superficial.

It is said that we should feel proud because we were born in India. For those who were born elsewhere, a sub-clause is added – such people should feel proud because they are of Indian origin, which means that at least one of their ancestors was born in India. Fine! By that logic, one should also be proud of the state, the city, the street and the house in which one was born. For example, a person born, say in jhopadpatti 333/44, Dharavi, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, should feel superior to his neighbour born in, say, jhopadpatti 333A/44; and vice versa! What a flawed logic that would be! Unfortunately, that logic has been applied a number of times on the regional level, causing rifts and divisions amongst innocent citizens. It has also been applied on locality basis, leading to bloodshed.

I do feel proud on being an Indian when I learn that India launched the South Asia satellite, funding it entirely, to provide communications services to its neighbouring countries. But I don’t feel proud when I learn that we have made the Mumbai coast among the dirtiest coasts in the world by flowing 20,000 L of muck into it every day.

I do feel proud about the absolute impartiality of Lord Ram. But I do not feel proud when I  read about judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court releasing orders against each-other.

I do feel proud when I consider how an average automobile maker Suzuki became strong in India as Maruti Suzuki. But I do not feel proud when I see fellow road users being put to danger with road rage and irresponsible driving.

I do feel proud when I see Indians climbing the ladder of success all over the world. But I don’t feel proud when I realise that Africans hesitate to visit India due to crimes against them in the country, and even Indian citizens from the North East are forced to brave racism.

I do feel proud when I think about our heritage of treating guests as gods. But I don’t feel proud when I read that even as their plane was crash-landing, rather than evacuating the aircraft at the earliest, Indians chose to collect their baggage from overhead bins, thus exposing the passengers behind to great risk.

I do feel proud when I read about efforts to keep our surroundings clean. But I don’t feel proud when I notice Indian dominated areas littered in otherwise squeaky clean cities in the world, and the Indians subjecting all to risk by switching off the fire alarm in their kitchens.

I do feel proud about the priority placed on education by Indians. But I do not feel proud about the quality of education in India.

I do feel proud about the sophisticated fine arts in India. But I do not feel proud about the lack of etiquettes and basic civic sense in India.

The list can continue. You would have got the point. Pride in our origin is necessary to accept us as we are, without getting intimidated by those who appear to be better off. This pride is necessary to ensure that we do not begin with an inferiority complex. But it does not mean that we close our eyes, declare others as inferior, and make no attempts for spiritual and physical growth. It does not mean that we do not conduct a sincere introspection, increase our strengths and reduce our weaknesses. The need of the hour is to stop believing in false patriotism and to behave sincerely. The need of the hour is to re-master the Indian arts and science which the foreigners have started teaching us. The need of the hour is to adapt suitable technology and practices for our growth. The need of the hour is to stop blind imitation. Can we do it? 

Religion and Punctuality

The meeting was scheduled from 6:00 AM. The venue was the parking lot of our building. Eight more residents were invited to the meeting. I reached the venue and found it deserted. Even the host had failed to make it.

I checked the place again after twenty minutes. Still vacant. There was no communication about a postponement or cancellation of the meeting.

I came back without a protest. I didn’t expect anyone to be there. It was just the sheer force of habit that had propelled me to the venue.

Over the years I have accepted that punctuality is treated differently by different people. I remember meetings being scheduled from 9:58 AM at the multi-national Ingersoll Rand. The intent was clear. A delay of even one minute was not acceptable. Mail was responded to in time, projects were finished in time, and customers were served in time. It is not that Ingersoll Rand did not commit mistakes. It did, but solutions were provided efficiently and quickly.

At the other extreme lies my experience with some Indian companies catering to the domestic market. Reminders were common, whether for a response to mail or for participation in an event. All these companies were dominant players in the Indian market, but had negligible presence elsewhere.

Religion is a weak spot with us. We sacrifice our life for its sake. We can make it our strength and empower our life by delving deeper into religion and practising it in its true sense. The Sanatan Hindu Dharma, Islam, Christianity or other prominent religions do not recommend procrastination. Still, generations after generations grown with an overdose of religion find nothing wrong if the completion of a bridge gets delayed by years, if the transfer of a provident fund file takes months, if the correction of a government bill takes weeks, if a long distance train runs behind schedule by a day, or if an across-the-counter transaction takes hours instead of minutes!

We get hurt if we suspect that a particular animal is being harmed or a place of worship is being desecrated; but we find it absolutely alright to waste time and subject other humans to inconvenience due to inaction or delayed action on our part.

Aren’t our priorities misplaced? Isn’t that a larger contributor to our sluggish progress than the oft-maligned political parties?