My thoughts on nationalism-The Indian Debate

If you are following the news you are aware that currently a lot of debate is going on in Indian media about what exactly is nationalism and should the JNU students charged with sedition be pardoned or strict actions taken against them? After having served in one of the most nationalistic organizations of the country-Indian Army, I thought of sharing my views on this issue.

Even before we go into the debate of what is nationalism, let us imagine a scene- A battle is going on and two soldiers are fighting in a bunker, trying to retaliate against the heavy enemy firing. One of the soldiers get shot by a bullet, seeing this the other soldier raises a war cry and charges at the approaching enemy column firing indiscriminately. As a third person we all know what lies in the fate of this soldier-“death”. But to this “brave heart” he is doing an act of courage, an act of revenge, an act of bravery, an act of patriotism. But have you ever wondered what the most primal emotion behind this act is? Is it really a love for his nation? Or is it something else? For those of you who have seen a gunfight only as dramatized versions in movies, let me tell you when you are actually being fired upon and you see your buddy getting shot, the very thought of the nation is the last thing in your mind. So what we confuse as courage, bravery, patriotism, nationalism is nothing but “camaraderie”. Yes, that is the most important emotion and binding force in such demanding and intense situations. What would happen if this “force of camaraderie” is missing? The answer is quite simple, we will not have these heroics which later on we can brand and market as acts of patriotism and greatest display of the spirit of nationalism. But, this “force of camaraderie” is lethal, it’s one of the most dangerous forces that can make or break battles, wars, societies and entire civilizations.

Now, let us take a look at the situation at JNU. A few students, gather up at the university premises to create a frenzy, an agenda, a propaganda against the government of India. The exciting and beautiful part in this, is so many students showed the “force of camaraderie”, united against another force, in this case the Indian government. But for what? To speak up for a person who tried to kill innocent people? who tried to terrorize the society? Who actually killed hundreds of people? To speak for Kashmir’s independence from India, I am sure none of them know anything about the history, the politics and the current scenario in the state of J&K. Now some of you may say the right to dissent, the right to raise voices is a democratic right. Yes it is, but the right to support terrorism is not a right. Anyone who supports a terrorist is seen as a terrorist himself, that’s a universal law. Now to add to that when you use the “force of camaraderie” in doing so, you are in fact trying to create a pro-terrorism organization. That is worthy of a death sentence in any country. Imagine that a few students gather in a university in America and start chanting pro Osama bin Laden Slogans and anti US government slogans, what do you think would happen to them? Who do you think would support them? The fact is, India is the most tolerant country filled with fake people and media, absolutely cut off from reality. These people are the reason for the birth and growth of the Umar Khalids and his likes. As long as we have these kind of people supporting the likes of Khalids and other JNU perpetrators we don’t need any outside elements to threaten the very definition of a nation. A nation is a collection of multiplied “forces of camaraderie” and when these forces are homogeneous and unified it creates a deadly blow against anything or anyone that stands against it. So, to me nationalism is the invisible energy which binds these forces together. As long as this energy is strong enough the force created would be powerful enough to achieve national objectives, be it in the field of science, education, sports, military, technology, business, music or anything else. So the choice is up to us to find such a circle of camaraderie and become a change –agent in building self and the nation.

Jai Hind!!!