A common query I face from readers is whether a neighbourhood newsmedia needs a column on national, political and sundry other macro issues. Of course, the obvious reason is my own personal itch aggravated by a sense of self-importance and assumed authority on all matters, all of which are symptomatic of a disease called ‘Writers’ Syndrome’. That said, there are valid alibis which go beyond my own whims and relate to a wider worldview that all of you too, as members of small geographical and social communities, are often drawn into. It basically concerns Indianness or what it takes to be an Indian. Or, rather, Local Indian!
First, there is this idea of patriotism to reckon with. Obviously, patriotism is not just about pompous parades and statutory salutes. It was a far simpler concept pre-Independence. Despite different streams, diverse undercurrents and diametrically opposing motives, patriotism meant a verbal and visible umbrella under which all pro-freedom, anti-colonial forces gathered. This patriotic bubble burst right on the eve of that fateful freedom day, when the ruling British formally exited leaving behind a divided India. The written Constitution that ‘we gave unto ourselves’ thirty months later conferred on India the status of a Republic, which simply means rule by people as against rule by a monarch. In fact, all of us in every neighbourhood are supposed to be the kings now!
Post-Independence, patriotism is now determined in spirit by loyalty to, and abidance, by the Constitution whether one has read it or not, and in letter, by celebrating R-days and I-days. The flag of ‘patriotism’ is hoisted and flies high through delirious display of national symbols, which are just that, on those days and is then hauled down and hibernated for the rest of the year as the voters and the voted go about their not-so-patriotic businesses. Nevertheless, every locality and its residents should continue this national tradition, if only to keep at least this residual, albeit formal, patriotism alive, for what it is worth.
But these are grossly inadequate manifestations of the larger, loftier idea of nationhood, which can be defined as ‘the sense of belonging to a nation and love for that nation’. The sense of belonging obviously raises the identity question and is a minefield because it depends on how one perceives one’s nation. While India as the political entity of today may be a midnight child (no mischief intended) of 1947, it’s civilisational legacies have survived over yugas, centuries and years. Indians still identify themselves with their age-old customs, traditions, religions, castes, deities, habits et al, be they profound, good, bad or ugly. Sixty secular years have thankfully failed to fully destroy the pride-worthy positives of Bharat’s civilisational fabric. On the flip side, decades of reform and education have made tardy progress in eradicating the various vicious ills of this very same inheritance. This dichotomy is a common denominator of Indians across India’s farflung localities, be it Ashok Nagar in Chennai or Ashok Nagar in Jaipur!
Partition on pseudo-religious lines and the resultant poisonous politics have ensured that cultural identity, which is at the core of most nation-states, is however taboo here. Apart from some proselytising global religions that openly challenge national loyalties, there are also movements like Marxism that advocate internationlism as against nationlism. Trans-national pulls like sympathy for Sri Lankan Tamils also confuse identities. Linguistic States and river waters dilute nationalism further. What remains is political identity as defined by national borders and a delicate Constitutional democracy whose binding capacity is dubious.
There are challenges galore here too. The map of India is an optical illusion: The Kashmir crown that we proudly behold on paper is de facto beyond reach. Large parts of NE display ‘No Tresspass’ signs to the Indian Sovereign State as do many red and green corridors right within. On the democracy front, the post-colonial rulers have beaten even the British in looting the nation dry besides vitiating the vote. Sychophantic loyalties to parties, psychotic leaders or political families overrule loyalty and love for the counry. And the deeply embedded and infectious corruption virus is an insider that can give outside enemies a complex. Lift the R-Day facade of military might and cultural splendour and this Republic shows up as a sorry public spectacle in many ways. In a closely networked and interconnected milieu all such macro issues have their malignant manifestation in the micro: The huge telecom sleaze bill, for instance, is really picked and paid out of every personal pocket in every locality. A local media cannot be insulated from such national malaise.
Even at the height of the freedom struggle, Gandhiji listed civic sense, sanitation, village development, local business and above all, discharge of individual duties to immediate sorroundings and the larger society as the hallmarks of true Independence. National consciousness has to be kindled not just via flying flags and sticky sweets on chosen days but by deeds that originate in the heart and impact house, home-locality and homeland. After all, the grassroots determine the topography of the whole terrain. Practical patriotism stipulates: Serve the neighbourhood and you would have saved the nation.
Incidentally, my column too stands saved!
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