This year’s Independence Day will be celebrated amid the chorus of renewed cry of nationalism. In fact, the nationalism we see paraded by some of the people aligned with political who sprout nationalism at everything and anything is nothing but artificial patriotism. One doesn’t have to shout from rooftops to show their patriotism. Therefore, it’s surprising to note that the central government wants each and every household to fly the national flag.
This is indeed what is crudely known as ultra-nationalism. It has also crossed the Indian borders and gone abroad. Just a few days ago, I was at an Indian IT shop where there was a framed flyer that announced the holding of a show on Aug 13 celebrating Independence Day. It was for the first time held in my locality and, hence, it sort of raised my curiosity. I was introduced to a man who happened to be part of Gujarat Samaj, one of the organisations who are joint-sponsors of the show.
He told me that the show is sold-out, though the show was said to be free. He added that people were invited and whispered that some only come to eat and drink. He promised to take me into the hall and give me a seat. I said I will decide. Shockingly, he told me while pointing to the flyer that if I am an Indian and respect the flag I will come. I was taken aback, and replied that that there isn’t a flag on the flyer but just a graphic of India’s colours with balloons and the Ashoka Chakra. I told him not to question my nationalism nor question my identity. I said I will come depending on my time and willingness. He left in a hurry, saying that’s it’s no point arguing with me.
This is the type of forced nationalism that I object to. We have seen gangs of boys go about in India telling people what to do. To this is added, the new phenomenon of gau rakshaks. Cow vigilantism has really hit the roof, going by the reports of those killed and injured on mere suspicion of carrying beef or eating beef. Luckily, the Goa government has assured people that beef ban would not be enforced in Goa. The Panaji by-election is coming up soon, and I don’t think Manohar Parrikar would want to antagonise the Christian voters.
In the context of Independence Day, it is surprising that “Quit India” movement has been pushed into the foreground. It’s okay to be reminded of this battle cry that pushed the fight against the British colonialism to a new direction. It’s past history and Indians are obviously proud of it. Our colonial history is full of incidents that need reminding but one must not push such an agenda for political gain. The Indian elections are to come in 2019 but the political parties are gearing for it. There’s such a thing as “permanent campaign” and we have been witnessing it since the BJP rode to power in Delhi. Now that Amit Shah and Smriti Irani have been made to bite the dust in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections, the BJP is put on notice.
It’s relevant to recall Mahatma Gandhi’s speech on “Quit India” delivered in 1942. As the man who was allowed to lead the battle against the British by the All-India Congress Committee on Aug 8, 1942, Gandhi gave the nation a new slogan, karenge ya marenge (do or die). Gandhi was inspired to utter these words from Lord Tennyson’s poem, Charge of the Light Brigade. If those who have not read the poem, I would advise them to do so. This was a new mantra then and it cannot be repeated again in the light of what this government wants the people to do. It’s better the people said they will “die” or be told to do the bidding of their political masters.
Those satyagrahis have been dead and gone. They were heroes and examples for us who were born much later.
Gandhi said, “I have no weapon but love to wield my authority over anyone…. Let me tell you that the real struggle does not commence today…. Such occasions arise in the life of a man who is a pure seeker after truth and who would seek to serve humanity and his country to the best of his lights without fear or hypocrisy. … You shall not limit my concept of freedom….And according to my interpretation of that freedom, I am constrained to say, they are strangers to that freedom which their poets and teachers have described. If they will know the real freedom, they should come to India. They have to come not with pride or arrogance but in the spirit of earnest seeks of Truth.” Gandhi was referring to the English and American teachers.
What is need of the hour is to get real freedom in India, freedom of choice to eat what one wants, pray to whichever gods, and celebrate each other’s cultural identities. Parochialism and fascism should have no place in modern India. It’s a big sin that even the newly-elected president of India ignored the Father of Modern India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Political chauvinism should not neglect those who built modern India and those who came before Modi as India’s prime ministers. If Modi’s mantra is “Make in India”, one must remember that Nehru, on the opening of the Bhakra-Nangal Dam, said that these are the temples of modern India. We don’t need more temples for our gods; we need more economic edifices that can feed the billions of Indians.
(Eugene Correia is a senior journalist who worked for The Hindu and The Free Press Journal)
