“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?
संदेश
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