Like all my blogs, this has been in the drafts for way too long. The patriotic vs anti-national debate has been going on for 3-4 years now and i feel its high time to finish this post.
In the long spectrum from extreme right to extreme left, a large majority is still confused about where their sentiments lie. To say anything against the majority is invoking the tag of being anti-national; to side with the majority is earning the tag of being blind bhakt. Historical figures, references and quotes are selectively and conveniently chosen by both sides to define the narrative. The mainstream media too has been biased and everyone can notice they are not objective.
This blog is not about the right / left or MSM - but about how we define patriotism and nationalism in post-2014 period. There is lot of (mis)communication that goes around on the digital media, and that is equally, if not worse than the MSM lies. I feel that plays a huge role in defining the patriot / anti national narrative.
The way i see it, everybody is anti-national - in varying degrees. The top 5 recent issues that bring out the best and worst of arguments and beheviours:
Ram mandir in Ayodhya:
Yes, with the many many invasions from the west, thousands of temples have been attacked, plundered, broken, burnt. Many, like the Ram mandir have been converted, or used as a base for present day mosques. I even heard about the Shiv temple under Taj Mahal... Apparently w.r.t to the Ram mandir, the SC has asked parties to amicably resolve the issue.
So going by sentiment of those who want the mandir, all places of worship that were taken over by the rulers, should be returned to the prior worshipers. Right?
Then by the same logic, should the Buddhists in India start agitation for all the stupas and other places of meditation and worship that have been taken over by Hindu religion? (If you don't know about this, read up.)
Don't give me sanatan dharma includes Buddhism logic, cos if it is one and the same, then if you zoom out far enough, all religions are the same.
So, if you want to build Ram mandir but deny the same right to Buddhists (to claim their old places of significance), or dont have it in your heart to give up those places voluntarily, then in my opinion you are anti-national.
Beef consumption:
Symbolism is important to religions. All religions world wide have certain rites, rituals, traditions, symbols, and symbolic things, which are respected and revered and worshiped. Ditto with countries - flags, national anthems, etc.
The cow is such a symbol. It is part of collective consciousness, where since childhood things like "There are 33 crore gods in cow's stomach", are told (which btw is a misinterpretation of the word 'koti').
Anyway, the key point i want to make is that the cow is as much a religious symbol, as it is a symbol for agrarian life. It makes the family self-sufficient. But what after the cow is past its prime?
Also, what about all the traditional trades that have been going on for ages which are based on cow skin? Didn't cobblers in India use leather from bovine skin for centuries? Weren't low caste people employed to move out carcasses and didn't they eat beef as payment for the service?
If history is been rewritten, then those doing it are anti-national.
(I hate this vigilantism business... but on another tangent, why don't these thugs beat up those who litter or spit on the roads? Isn't cleanliness next to godliness?)
Homogeneity:
There is no "one" kind of Hindu. There are many many types of Hindus that make this whole sanatan dharma - Shaivaites, Vaishnavites, tantrics, mantrics, atheists, agnostic, aghoris, you name it. There are fish / meat eater Brahmans, there are pure vegetarian Hindus, there are Hindus who eat meat every single day, and there are beef eating Hindus. Till 3-4 generations back, some Hindus used to bury their dead. There are male gods who take female form, there are female gods who go a killing spree. One of the coolest god smokes pot, and a goddess drinks blood. You can never go to a temple, and still be a Hindu.
There are multiple versions of Ramayan and Mahabharat and every possible story you have heard. We simply need to have the intelligence and maturity to accept all of them. Even the blasphemous ones! That is my kind of Hinduism.
No one can monopolise Hinduism as defined by SC - that is, a way of life, because We are a culture that accepts, adopts, adapts, and evolves.
So, in my opinion any one who thinks their version of Hinduism is the perfect one, and that should be implemented, and forced on the rest, is an anti-national.
Riots:
Everyone who thinks that there were no communal riots in India before 2002 - please wake up. Here is a ready list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_riots_in_India.
State sanctioned pogroms have been happening regularly post independence - and we have had riots even in pre-independence days. For all the Kashmiriyat, there were riots as long back as 1931.
Electronic media was getting a foothold in late 90s and its new commanders had opportunity to telecast riot and its carnage for the first time in what followed the Godra attack. There was a media trial, and there was a judgement from the SC. The matter should end, right? But no!!
The blame game on riots is nothing new. Who started first, who drew the first blood, what are we avenging, are all pointless when you think of the consequences. There is a moment of rage, some adrenaline rush and a pile of dead bodies and fires that you cant extinguish...
Everyone must read "The Indians: Portrait of a People" by Sudhir Kakar and Katharina Kakar, and especially the chapter Conflict: Hindus and Muslims to understand the psyche of riot / rioters better. Trust me, it will open your mind.
I digress. The point i am making is, anyone arguments begin and end with Gujarat riots of 2002 and conveniently ignores all other riots and acts of state sponsored terrorism, is in my opinion anti-national.
And anyone asking you to go to Pakistan (for having that view), is an anti-national too.
Triple Talaq:
There is an interesting forward on whatsapp about how egg has to hatch from within... if broken by outside pressure, a life is lost.
Few generations back polygamy was okay for Hindus. Sati was practiced. Women were denied education. Social reformers worked tirelessly, to change the religion from within. The religion evolved. People evolved. Culture changed.
Similarly, progressive Muslims need to create that change from within. Everything that goes against basic human rights, needs to go. It is a slow process, but it has to be done. One side note i need to mention. Just cos there was Mughal rule before the Brits came, doesnt mean Muslims will automatically be rulers after Brits left. Post independence India is a different country. It is a democracy, not a very good one, but it is a working democracy. The more you consider yourself as 'the other', more difficult it will be for you to join the mainstream. If you want to see option to democracy, look at our neighbour. And i hope that scares you... Your forefathers were from the same land... You are part of this culture. Everyone around you has evolved. You need to too...
Anyone else from another faith, commenting on issues that relate to a specific religion, will always be an outsider. And outside pressure doesn't help to change. It only breaks... Hence it is high time that Mohammedans who feel the practice of triple talaq and anything else that is regressive, and has no place in the present and future, speak up now!
Anyone defending practices that are used as tools of oppressing one gender, is in my opinion an anti-national.
- - -
There is one document - The Constitution of India - that gives us all right to live with dignity. And dignity is a two-way street. So is freedom. The Constitution protects us all. Implement it properly, in its true spirit, and everything will fall in place.
The thing that both sides of this patriot / anti national debate need to know is, more you push people, people will disown you. More laws you make, people will find loopholes. More lies you tell, people will distrust you. This applies to both sides...
Deep down i feel the people of Indian sub-continent are like a samosa... It can be filled with anything that is locally available. Don't fill your samosas with hate. It can have mutton kheema and aloo mutter at the same time!
Till then, keep the outrage on the low and inward faith on high.
PS: Secular is a very tricky word. It merits a blog by itself.
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