NATIONALISM Vs PATRIOTISM

JNU episode has lead to many debates. A lot of persons have either spoken or written supporting JNU Students union members & condemning government or opposing it. It appears that media as usual has not been neutral. It has been giving unprecedented coverage to students statements and mostly criticizing government. I read a number of write ups by some persons published in newspapers. One such article has prompted me to write this. I have been wanting to write this for a number of days but something or the other made me postpone it. Today I decided to get it off my chest.

A few days ago I read an article in which author stated “Nationalism asks you to believe your country is without fault. True Patriotism is loving your country, while also criticising the things that are imperfect.” She gave examples from times of Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev. She also quoted one of her colleagues who while urging her students to participate in protests against recent police action by saying “ The difference between a nationalist and a patriot is the  difference in believing your country is great , and it can do no wrong; and believing that your country is great, but not perfect. Nationalism asks you to be blind to the bad aspects, and to believe your country is without fault. True patriotism is loving your country, while also criticising the things that are imperfect and considering the ways it could be great.”     

This made me open up Oxford Dictionary to find :

“nationalism . n. 1 patriotic feelings, often to an excessive degree. 2 belief in political independence for a particular country.”

“ patriot. n. a person who strongly supports their country and is prepared to defend it. DERIVATIVES ........... patriotism  n.”

However giving benefit to the author and her colleague for their interpretation and choice of words; I would like to ask so called patriots by them :

a     a)         What are you doing to eradicate corruption which is poisoning growth of our               country?

       b)      What are your actions to get back wealth rightfully of our country stashed by               some persons in foreign accounts?

       c)    What do you propose to curb terrorism which results in killing of so many                    innocents, including women & children?

      d)   What suggestions do you have to stop infiltration by terrorists into our country by       underhand means including by digging tunnels under international border or               LoC?

      e)    What thoughts are you putting forward to those responsible to ensure safety of          women at all times and anywhere?

f     f)     How do you propose to ensure that all children do get proper education and                 teachers are of right capability & outlook?

     g)   How do you plan to make our population of various religions, culture and                     backgrounds to live in harmony?

     h)   What your attitude is towards a group of persons taking to arms to enforce their          ideology and forced collection of funds to run their activities by violent means -          killing so many innocents including aged, women and children?  

     i)     How would they contribute to lighten grief of young widows and small children left     behind by our soldiers killed by unwanted action from across the border or                   terrorists trying to infiltrate into our country to indulge in acts of violence?

     j)     What is your view about such soldiers who lay down their life in prime of youth to       defend our country – are they patriots or not?

And there are many more pressing issues other than shouting about so called Intolerance & suppression of Freedom of speech, which need urgent attention of all patriots to make our country achieve greatness.

Talking about suppression of freedom of speech – If it is so, then how come so many persons speak in public or write about it in newspapers / magazines or there are so many marches shouting slogans against this are being held?