Kudos to Herald for its editorial titled Raising nationalist slogans is not proof of nationalism’(April 9).
If ‘nationalism inspires us to launch vitriolic racial sexist assault on Maria Sharapova for her ‘sin’ of being ignorant about a certain ‘god’ named Sachin Tendulkar; kill Sanaullah Haque in Jammu jail to take “revenge” for Sarabjit Singh’s killing in a Pakistan prison; launch racist verbal assault on Ravi Rampaul for dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in Wankhade Test; tweet that from now on the “whole country” will go to sleep “peacefully” at night following Tendulkar’s attainment of that statistical jugglery named “Century of Centuries”, by displaying supreme inhuman difference to the plight of millions of Indians (including children) who have to go to bed (infinite on pavements) with deadly pangs of hunger in their stomachs night after night; sweep all social ills of India under the “patriotic” carpet and malign that great humanitarian named Satyajit Ray for his “sin” of “selling poverty” in international forum; flaunt our “elitism” by attaining Mars orbit.
Never mind if millions are bereft of potable water and toilets. Build world’s highest statue so as to “mesmerise” the world and to display supreme indifference to another noble human being named Kailash Satyarthi as his yeoman’s service has exposed the bitter truth of existence of millions of vulnerable child labourers in this “elite” country before the entire world — then we should hang our heads in shame for our skewed inhuman definition of “nationalism”.
Yes, the cesspool named “nationalism” is nothing but a “feeling that one’s country is superior to another in all respects”(George Orwell) or “hate for people other than your own coming first”(Charles de Gaulle). No wonder Albert Einstein announced “Heroism on command, senseless violence and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism — how passionately I hate them!”
No true Indian will chant rhetorical slogans so as to pass the litmus test of “nationalism” as defined by the communal saffron brigade. Rather their all-embracing work, tolerant thoughts and democratic ideals will talk about their dedication towards India. And I desire to end with Rabindranath Tagore’s assertion “Never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity”. Remember this very person came up with number of swadeshi songs, including ‘Jana Gana Mana…’, reflecting his deep love for the country. But Tagore’s love for the country was not limited to mere flags or zealous chant of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’; but got extended to respect for values, humanity and an earnest yearning for an environment where the mind is without fear and the head held high.
