Society

Hello Mam/Sir,  

I have gone through the summary and I have noted the same. Still, I would like you to review my answer. 

Thank you. 

KEY POINTS

Early nationalists’ thoughts

·         From its earliest origins, Indian nationalism has been liberal in nature.

·         The signature of the freedom movement was to expel the British, without hatred.

·         The setting up of a secular state with a liberal constitution, in the face of a violent demand for and reaction to the creation of a Muslim Pakistan, is a remarkable monument to that national sentiment.

·         This is consistent with India’s civilisational ethos and at times, the early nationalists’ were against the idea of nationalism itself.

·         E.g. The great poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore whose song Jana Gana Mana, considered as the national anthem of India had many anxieties and worries about the very idea of nationalism itself.

·         Tagore urged everyone to aspire for the ‘higher ideals of humanity’ rather than accept the ‘organized selfishness of Nationalism’.

·         For Tagore, the idea of India was to realize its civilizational possibilities and potential rather than to allow it to inhale the fumes of “patriotic bragging”.

Today’s Nationalism

·         India’s tryst with nationalism today remains largely cluttered by unresolved tensions.

·         Disagreements, disputes, discussions and varying ideologies are over magnified.

·         Love for the country has somehow clouded the love for the fellow citizens

·         Nationalism is largely confined to simply evoke the feel of nationalists’ by an act of faith towards national institutions.

·         E.g. GOI notification to all Central Universities to ‘proudly’ fly the national flag, Wall of Heroes’ campaign, tiranga rallies.

How should it be?

·         Nationalism or patriotism cannot be meaningfully felt or evoked as acts of faith.

·         Rather, these terms require us to constantly redefine, debate and reinterpret ourselves as a political community.

·         Nationalism should not encroach upon the space of democracy.

·         For which, freedom of thought and speech and space for political activism are vital.

·         It is the argumentative citizen who makes democracy possible and stronger.

·         If one is to take on the task of meaningfully being a nationalist or patriot in India today, it requires a repeated and constantly evolving engagement with some of the founding imaginations that made possible modern India as a democratic republic.

Yes, it was againt brithsh, its exploiation,and its policy of reprresion but now it is against caste, state, villege, group with mutul interest