The Many Meanings of Indian Nationalism
The Many Meanings of Indian Nationalism
Nationalism, as how we look upon the term today, saw its beginning in the 18th-19th centuries in the European political and cultural landscape. It was at this time that the nation states of Germany, France etc came into being. A common language or a common belief system or a common ethnicity provided adequate background for the formation of such nations. This sort of a nationalism is totally an alien concept when it comes to India. And the beginning of such a nationalism in India can be seen sprouting with the spread of the Indian national movement to overthrow the foreign yoke. So, what was the basis of our nationalism when 'India' as a nation state came into existence integrating the landmass extending from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (mainland) and from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat? A common language,of course, was not the factor that brought the people of India together because India is home to an array of diverse languages. Neither religion was a unifying factor since there are multiple religions here, both Indian and foreign ones. We do not have a homogenous culture and India has never been a monolithic structure since ancient times. What then knitted us together was our shared history- our collective struggle against the foreign colonisers particularly the British. (There are scholars who argue that there existed among the Indians a sense of unity even before the advent of the British).
Nationalism in Europe resulted in the breaking up of large empires paving way for the emergence of many small nations. What nationalism did in India was just the opposite. Many princely states and territories that were under the direct administration of Britain were added together to form a large nation.
But aren't there situations in our contemporary scenario where we have to think beyond nation and nationalism? India is a great country. But to believe that it is the only great country is pure absurdity and great folly. When there comes the question of nationality versus humanity we have to pick up humanity and our future existence and prosperity are dependent on the wise choices that we make today. Rabindranath Tagore has put it excellently when he said that "I will not buy glass for the price of diamonds and I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live." Even though the semitic religions have made many intellectual achievements, the first ever religion to put forth the idea of Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (may everyone, in the whole world, be happy.) was Indian. It is our duty to protect and nurture this cosmopolitan outlook that our distant forefathers possessed. Nationalism is a feeling in the heart and not something to be worn on sleeve. Nationalism is of course a great feeling but it should not be stopped at a nation's border.
"National pride has evil consequences. German pride gave us Hitler. British pride gave us Brexit. If you must have pride, be proud that Homo sapiens could produce a Darwin, Shakespeare, Mandela, Einstein, Beethoven."
—Richard Dawkins