LIBERATING INDIAN MIND (10)
NO ONE IS PATRIOTIC

“The other day you alleged that a section of our own people are working against our national interest. Call them by whatever name, but in a nutshell they are not patriotic.”

“You are misrepresenting me. I said people have different notions of good and bad on all the issues, including patriotism. Add to it that people do not have a correct idea of everything, do not want to understand anything. The little that they know superficially is the ultimate truth for them. They, right or wrong, fight to prove it the ultimate truth, but do not want to enlarge their knowledge from the interlocutor, who although well-versed, just wants to allay their misgivings with no intention to impose his views. This tentativeness is salutary in the sense that we cannot even walk if we keep measuring each of our step or the distance covered at each furlong. But yet there must be a measure of distance and a measure of everything for the things to remain streamlined.”

“Deep and correct knowledge of patriotism also? Don’t we know that devotion to the country is patriotism?” He retorted as if he was mocking.

“‘Perfect knowledge of even a single word is almost impossible,’ said our grammarian. In its depth, everything becomes as mysterious and as inexplicable as GOD,” I said emphatically. “Patriotism is no exception. You shall shudder to know that you know neither the meaning of country nor loyalty to the country; nor are you loyal to your country, nor is it appropriate to demand your loyalty towards the country.”

He was really aghast. He looked at me with disbelief to assure him that I was joking.

I continued as if I was delivering a class lecture, “It is not an empty word, not a momentary sentiment. It is something that flows through you so silently that you are not even aware of it unless there is a crisis. Demand of patriotism from others is made by sick minds; they create crises by many such unwarranted demands.”

“What harm is there in making such a demand yaar?”

“I don’t know it as clearly as I know that it is an unjust demand and counterproductive in addition. I think that no individual has the authority to make any demand from anyone else. It is a covert assault on one’s personal dignity, disapproved by law and civic ethos. You are not civilized in your behavior while making such a demand but are behaving as a bully. You are forcibly alienating the other even if he felt as much attached to
the country as you or more than you, because in truth you do do not count as measure. Look at the irony. The man demanding proof of patriotism from the other is himself not patriotic in the last analysis, and creates an enemy of the country where there may or may not have been one. ‘

“This is really something new to me, but it appears you are at the other extreme.”

“You mean I am also unpatriotic and doing the same from the other end? Is it?”

“No, I didn’t mean that, but it appears, extended to its logical conclusion, your definition erodes the very foundation of patriotism.”

“Patriotism is the exclusive virtue of the poor and incompetent.” I really wanted to shock him.

“What?” he cried in alarm.

“Have you ever heard the couplet of Rahim? One of the most perceptive poets India ever produced.”

He knew it was not a question addressed to him so looked expectantly at me.

“He defined patriotism as neatly and objectively as it can be.” I recited it verbatim, “सर सूखे पंछी उड़ें औरै सरहिं समाहिं। मीन दीन बिनु पंख के, कहु रहीम कत जांहि. After the lake gets dry, the birds fly to other lakes, but where can the poor fish go? They have to live and die with the lake itself. Only they are really and mortally attached to their habitat. Can you deny?”

“I really appreciate you. How beautifully you have summed it up.”

“I have not summed it up. This is just the introduction. Of course, your metabolism may be upset with a full dose served at a time.”