The army, navy and air force sacrifice their lives and limbs to safeguard our country from external wars and dangers and internal aggression and secure the borders of our country so that we may live in a free country. They do not hesitate to do any work even in times of peace like building roads and bridges, providing rescue and relief services in times of natural calamities like floods and earthquakes etc. Therefore they are continuously engaged in the task of nation-building. They go beyond their line of duty to ensure that India is comfortable for its countless citizens.
The country does so much for us. First of all it gives us a sense of belonging to itself. There is an inseparable bonding between our country and each one of us, its citizens, as well as between citizens of different parts of our country. We can be likened to children of one mother, India, and members of one family, the great Indian family. Wherever you may be in this wide world, whatever affluence you may enjoy, you are still a second-class citizen in another country. Our country provides us with essential services like food distribution, water and electricity supply, education, transport, healthcare facilities etc. It takes care of senior citizens, the under privileged and others who need its care.
We are quick to question our country and ask what it has done or is doing for us. Do we ever stop to ask what we can do for our country? The answer is an emphatic ‘No’. A simple reason for this being that we take our country, just like about everything else, for granted.
What does our country expect from us? As we expect to enjoy all rights that our country gives us, so also our country expects us to do our fundamental duties with regard to our country. We are expected, among other things, to pledge our loyalty and allegiance to our country, its constitution, its flag, its emblem, its ideals of unity, equality, fraternity and peace. All of us may not be brave enough or lucky enough to fight for our country but surely it is not too much to expect us to be loyal to our country. The best time to inculcate such ideals and values is when children are very young so that as they grow up they are fired with the zeal of patriotism towards their country.
Take a look at the recent case of the separatist leader of the Hurriyat in Kashmir. It was appalling to hear him speak on television a few days ago regarding his application for an Indian passport. He was unable to give satisfactory answers to the questions put to him and finally left the show in desperation. In an earlier application he had not filled up the space meant for nationality. In the recent application he mentions his nationality as Indian and he has the audacity to say he did the same out of compulsion. How could he say such a thing? He has been elected a member to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly thrice. He has enjoyed all perks and facilities of the Indian government and even draws a government pension. He has cleared his Indian passport on earlier occasions. He is a leader of a separatist group which wants Kashmir to break away from the Indian Union. As if threatening the unity and integrity of the country is not shameful enough, he has the gumption to support waving Pakistani flags in Kashmir. If he is so loyal and patriotic to Pakistan, let him go and live there. Why should he apply for an Indian passport? Why should the government of India consider his application for a passport on humanitarian grounds? Why should the government of India consider it on any grounds? People like Geelani should be treated as terrorists who disturb the peace, unity and integrity of this country.
