To some “India” might reflect “colonial past”, but for many multi-culturalism and heterogeneity find its essence in this all-inclusive name!
If “national pride” and “love towards the country” remain dependent upon its mere name, then definitely does it advertise very poor sense of pride and love of the “nationalists” towards their motherland!
And our freedom fighters fought hard for independence not to rename the country as “Bharat”, but to ensure an environment where all Indians gain freedom from atrocities and discrimination with head remaining high and mind without fear.
Moreover what is the definition of the “nation”! It’s name, national flag, national anthem and zealous chanting of “My country is Great/Greatest” that too by undermining other nations!
Individuals who truly love India do respect each and every citizen of their country by rising above all narrow divisive credential of race, language, caste and religion; lead an honest life and carry on their respective jobs with utmost sincerity and dedication; work for the cause of the downtrodden and tortured lot by drawing inspiration from the greats like Kailash Satyarthi; care for the environment and protect nature and greenery.
In the dictionary of true lovers of the nation; national flags or anthems are secondary items as they are nothing but mere symbols. The real nation lies in the hearts and human rights of common people. Instead of taking prompt “offence” whenever the flag or anthem gets “dishonoured”; they feel infinite times more pain when human rights of innumerable poor people, vulnerable children, women, minorities get mercilessly trampled under the marauding feet of vested interests. After all those unfortunate brothers and sisters of my land form the real India.
Do the zealous sponsors of “patriotic” slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ cry when their fellow brothers like Mohammad Akhlaque got killed by the brutes for his alleged “sin” of possessing beef? Why do the self-declared devotes of “Bharat Mata” remain mum when our cousins from the North-East get abused, assaulted or killed in the “mainland” or “progressive” cities named Delhi and Bangalore? Are they not sons or daughters of “Bharat Mata”? Rather these “patriots” are the very lot who are working overtime to degrade this multi-lingual multi-religious heterogeneous secular democratic and potentially great nation into a colony of Hindu and Hindi-speakers. Who will enlighten the dark minds of these zealots that switching off the lights and fans when not in use (be it in home or workplace) is a much greater patriotic task than playing to the gallery of chanting mere slogans in shrillest voice possible? Who will teach the “nationalists” about the basic fact that India gets truly assaulted when the Constitutional right of practicing any religion and the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression comes under the threat of extinction? Do their hearts cry when innumerable children of this country toil in the ruthless labour market and exploited to the full!
