How Much Indian We Are?

Prof N.K. Singh

Former Chairman International Airports Authority of India

It causes great hurt to me and many Indians when Kashmiri separatist display open support to Pakistan and are living on alms. As and when cricket matches are on the anvil for India and Pakistan, the question of patriotism or defending one’s own country becomes talk of the town everywhere. Another burning issue connected with it is how to show we are truly Indian or is there any need to do it for we are global citizens and not Indians in narrow sense.

The first question of loving one’s own country was never in doubt but for some recent developments: First and foremost development impacting this issue is advent of Modi’ism. Modi has brought a sea change in the way the country should think and feel on such vital issue by his own example of commitment to his faith and simultaneously assuring others to maintain equity and justice. Time and again repeating Bharat Mata Ki Jai, he clearly laid down the road to nationalism and high expression for love of motherland. Some so-called secularists started feeling threatened on the strong display of patriotism so much so that even reciting Vande Matram which in freedom struggle Hindu and Muslim used freely, became a matter of debate and resentment.

* Modi has brought a sea change in the way the country should think and feel on such vital issue by his own example of commitment to his faith and simultaneously assuring others to maintain equity and justice. Time and again repeating Bharat Mata Ki Jai, he clearly laid down the road to nationalism and high expression for love of motherland.

Muslim extremists and Hindu fanatics both contributed to this alienation. But such a line of doubt was already in existence as very few Muslims truly harboured feeling of love for the country. No doubt a number of them were more Indians than Hindus as they contributed and lived here as truly sons of soil. Examples are Bismillah khan who played Shehnai at the Ghats of Varanasi or Abul Kalam Azad or our past president late A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. But there are large number of Muslims helplessness of not able to migrate to Pakistan. The result is when Hindu zealots felt emboldened due to rise of Bharatiya Janata Party to challenge those who were treated as favoured minority to ensure their vote bank politics. The situation changed totally and everyone wanted equality that upset the prevailing balance for the last five decades. It is also clear that total dependence on minority votes for a win was clearly proved wrong if other castes could be strategised to respond as was done by the BJP in in UP. It had become clear that secularism is due to acceptance by majority community and not anyone’s birthright.

In spite of this, Article 370 continues to enshrine the separate statute of J&K. Kashmiris have best of both the worlds. They receive funds from India and enjoy all facilities of education and health or business but Indians have no right to buy land or do other such business there. On the top of it, they abuse India, raise slogans in favour of Pakistan and do not permit Indian to have equal rights in Kashmir. Worst is that NIA investigations have proved that there is evidence of their receiving funds from Pakistan to fan terror activities and agitations in the state. What kind of Indian-ness we expect from them. Indian-ness is therefore under attack not only from open enemies but even from Indians themselves.

It is also important to focus on core Indian-ness that is contained in the value system of Hinduism e.g. Dharma Artha Kama Moksha and not ritual of cow obsession when less than one percent cows are killed or valentine day that could continue without values. Future course of our life and the society need to harmonise and synthesise the modernity with ancient culture rather than forcing ancient living.

When I founded a modern Institute of Management in Delhi, we valued this synthesis and I gave a slogan “we are more Indian yet we are more International”. Indian-ness has too be patriotic and modern.

Bus Stand

First Passenger: Why communists lost so badly in Shimla?

Second Passenger: They got jaundiced on their own failure to control it.

भारत मैट्रीमोनी पर अपना सही संगी चुनें – निःशुल्क रजिस्टर करें !

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