Frankly I do not understand why being patriotic is not enough. Why should I be a nationalist also. Every animal is rooted in the environment in which it is born. Even a crow spends its entire life around a tree on which it grew up or a stray dog is emotionally attached to his street.
So are we. We feel comfortable in our country with known people and institutions. We are connected to its heritage, mythologies and traditions. We have a hundred roots in our country. I call that patriotism. It is a natural feeling of being connected to your surroundings.
What is nationalism? I don’t know. To sing songs praising our ancestors? To think that we are the best country in the world?
I love my parents also. But I don’t ask my siblings to sing songs praising them. I do not have to “show off” my love for my parents by shouting slogans in their praise.
To believe that Ramayan and Mahabharata are the best myths of the world, without ever reading mythologies of Greece, Rome, China or Mesopotamia. Is that called love for your country?
Nationalism requires an enemy. Nationalism requires people to be insecure. If they do not find an external enemy, they invent an internal enemy. I am not insecure. I do not need enemies to support my ego or bond with my country. Patriotism is not centered around an enemy.
Being liberal and humane includes empathy for all people sufferings in the world. India’s problems are the extension of world’s problems. Human suffering is universal. So are the solutions.
Art is universal. So is science, philosophy and humanities. All knowledge is universal. If I invent a vaccine for cancer, I’ll never say it is only made for Indians. Similarly, the solution for global warming will apply to the whole world. I love to read books written by all authors, including foreigners.
I read history books not to find heroes and villains but to know why we were always ruled by aliens. Where we fell short. What were the choices made by our ancestors that are responsible for our today’s condition.
Yes I love India but I will never claim it to be the best place. I will never allege that those not agreeing with me are anti nationals. I know that government and country are two different entities. Criticising government is not criticising the country. Governments come and go. Country remains for ever.
Padmanava Sathe
About the Author:
Padmanabh Sathe is retired scientist from National Institute of Oceanography. He worked on marine Remote Sensing. He has been a visiting faculty to many colleges and universities. He is a distinguished educator with multi-faceted knowledge and an immense logical mind.
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