Patriotism is a funny word.We are so used to it that we tend to be judgmental about it.We color it with black and white and every once in a while if anything in the grey blinks on our radar – anything that questions and challenges our prudence – we turn a blind eye to it,and most of us brand it ‘BLACK’ – fooling ourselves that its wrong,that its unlawful,disrespectful and we go back to sleep,happy that the tricolor is proud and protected.And that we have been an ideal citizen of a great nation.That our nation is secure.
The truth is we have been sleeping – dreaming- walking like zombies for more than 60 years since 1947 while our home burns ,is plundered and is massacred by internal threats.We have had a long history of being plundered as a nation- the Mongols,the Portuguese,whoever got a chance plundered ;the list is endless-and we have now been successful in defending our nation from external threats but we as a nation have failed to protect our motherland from its most grave enemy -the one which conceals within us-our Greed!Today, like parasites ,a small group of people interested vested in self-interest are weakening the foundation from within.Such people are there in every sector – politics,business,student community etc.- a small group of immortals exploiting the nation under various patriotic tags- it is this group that we need to identify and crush for a new nation to rise like the Phoenix.
Patriotism – The image of one carrying the national flag high,singing aloud the national song with proud chests and chin held high maybe overwhelming but that far from completeness.
While that covers a part of being a nationalist and a patriot -sadly that’s not the full story . And i am sad to say – neither does hoisting flags on two days a year make one a patriot.Its how we feel and what we do for national pride on the rest of the days that matter.Its the sigma or sum of our efforts on such ordinary days by which we build the nation
A patriot is driven by love for his country and for his fellow country men- for the greater good of the country and i am sure none of us here need to be lectured on Patriotism.But let me break down the truth for you – you have been misled. That is just one side of the coin.A Patriot is like the restless father who can never sleep as one of his million children are in pain and agony.His service to his nation is his ultimate selfless goal.In short -there are NO prefect patriots, just “striving” patriots.
As we get close to that perfect sketch of a realistic,acceptable patriot – i think we missed a group of essentials- the Critic,the Misfits,the Rebel,the Revolutionary,the one who rejects Status Quo,who on most occasions are often misunderstood and criticized for their means.
That essential lot is one who we try to ignore everyday.Yet in my opinion he is the one who comes closest to the picture of a ‘Perfect Patriot’.
In some countries burning the national flag is seen as an expression of freedom of speech .The idea in such a event is if one truly loves one’s country ,if one can hoist the flag so proudly,why can’t one burn it in shame,when the national values are under threat ? A flag is after all is just a symbol of its people ,of its republic.
Having introduced all our characters and their sentiments,let me teleport you to the core of the problem- of why we should hold on to celebrations yet and rather work our ‘backside’ off for nation building.
The problems begin at our attitude towards our country – we don’t take pride in being a part of it ,we say we do but we don’t feel it.When we stay away from our country is mostly when we value it the most.We do sing out patriotic songs on two days a year but that’s it- that’s where we draw the line! Sorry for this grim picture but that’s the bitter truth and we all know it in the deep abyss of our hearts where we have been hiding the real self – the determined ,the rebellious ,the ever changing ,and evolving self.
Rest of the days – we blame our leaders(who again we choose),we blame almost everything and we ADJUST. Now adjustment in not so good for change,is it ?.And the delta adjustment gets lost nullified in this 100 billion population causing almost zero momentum.I know i am being a bit nerd here but even Newton all those years knew that we need momentum to move a body out of inertia 🙂
Jokes apart,that’s the simplest way to put it- WE ADJUST WAY TOO MUCH FOR CHANGE TO OCCUR!
And our politicians – well we have come not to expect anything from them anymore- we have been betrayed,have been fearful and have finally given up any hope on our political and legal system.
Well,its time to pick up the shovel restore some of that belief.Dig some graves ! Graves of dishonestly ,of corruption and greed ,of the attitude to adjust,of being afraid.Sorry,we cannot afford to adjust anymore.We cannot afford to live our lives in fear.We have done it before – why cant we do it again !
Democracy is the weakest yet the strongest form of governance.We are as weak as the weakest link ,our weakest value in the chain and as strong as our faith,moral and goodwill.The phase our nation is going through – every nation goes through this – its called growing up,waking up and accepting change !
There is one more thing we need to do before we go marching into that near perfect Democratic State- we need to throw away our “Human Weakness”.For ages we have used that old cliche – “we are only humans” ! I mean to ask all – for how many more years shall we hide under that robe of “only humanness” and continue to paint the land red .I don’t mean that we start walking on fire or walk on water(not that it cannot be done ! 🙂 ) but if we keep our personal greed at bay,if we can resist to be little less vulnerable ,maybe then we keep the nation’s interest at the center.
We are not a 100 billion nation of different castes,creed,color. We don’t let anyone insult our intelligence by feeding us bogus data.We are a 100 billion nation of diversity,of different ethnicity,of respect ,of love and above all of Togetherness.
The day each and every one of us take our “Self” away from the equation and place the nation there – be it the ballot day or the day India wins the world cup- we shall be a very unique nation in the world – we don’t need to be greatest,we need to be “most” loving because love is a virtue that makes a nation humble.That is the day we start to build our nation because the nation is not just the flag,its not just the national song,its not even the border or the Constitution -its each one of us – WE ARE THE NATION !
JAI HIND !
Nirvana - The search within ! 