Nationalism is back in focus in India as the federal government is giving it a religious color, rival parties are courting Kashmiri separatists and tension is rising on the country’s borders with Pakistan and China.
One question being raised amid this disturbing scenario is how pluralistic and inclusive is nationalism in India 70 years after its independence.
Sadly, such broad-based nationalism espoused by Mahatma Gandhi has been replaced by pseudo secularism of Congress and pro-Hindu outlook of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The narrow view of nationalism taken by these parties is dividing religions instead of uniting them.
One question that emerges is whether the present and future governments can make nationalism inclusive and broad-based – rooted in democracy and India’s ancient wisdom.
Gandhi, a master in using powerful symbols like the ‘charkha’ (domestic spinning wheel especially for cotton) to draw millions from villages, viewed nationalism as the ideal ‘Ram Raj’ where the world is one family that ensures equal rights and justice for all members. He borrowed the name ‘Ram Raj’ from ancient Hindu texts to make it more intelligible to villagers. Unlike ‘Hindu Raj’ of the fringe group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) linked to BJP, Gandhi’s ‘Ram Raj’ had a universal appeal.
Gandhi’s nationalism was different from that of the West which underlines power, prestige, superiority, success and blind faith in one’s nation, political movement or group. His nationalism was based on peace and non-violence, not on wars, victories or failures.
Like his mentor Gandhi, Congress leader and India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, vehemently opposed a narrow view of nationalism. In fact, he was skeptical of nationalism as it often made one turn a blind eye to truth, especially unpleasant facts about one’s own nation.
India needs to revive Gandhian nationalism with changes, if any, as political and religious intolerance is rising and terrorists from across the border are unleashing attacks to trigger communal flare-ups.
But such a revival will be possible only if Congress and BJP leaders realize that politics is a religion, a search for truth, equality, justice and welfare for all beyond religion, caste, color and creed. Gandhi knew this and his whole life was an experiment trying to bring politics and religion together.
He even knew parliament would be reduced to a talk shop by people’s representatives who largely remain silent on the plight of millions of poor villagers.
BJP and Congress seem to be in no mood to experiment with politics and religion. They are more focused on expanding their support base to stay in power.
While Congress is using its secular image to portray BJP as a fascist party, BJP is using its patriotic image to project Congress as a party in league with Kashmiri separatists. Congress recently went to the extent of questioning the federal government over India’s ongoing standoff with China at Dhoklam, which began on June 16.
Such a negative approach by both parties exposes the degeneration in Indian politics. It needs to be regenerated to stop unrest within and attacks from outside. Political parties must sink their differences and stand united when the country is facing internal and external threats.
Patriotism and nationalism as positive feelings should be encouraged by all parties. The trouble starts when one party claims it is more patriotic than others or tries to impose its views about nationalism on others. Such confusion can be avoided if everyone accepts a certain definition of nationalism.
Ideally, a nationalism based on pluralism and inclusiveness is the best option for a diverse nation like India.
"It’s time for India to revive Gandhi’s inclusive nationalism"
Are you living in this world.Gandhi was a puritan.Saint.Who blived in non violence..Modi is in comapany with Golwalker,Hitler and their living counterpart Netanyahu.
Gandhi knew the pulse of the people. His ideas like the spinning wheel, homespun cotton cloth and Ramraj were powerful messages which any child could follow. This was how he mobilised millions of freedom fighters against the British Raj. His ideas on nationalism are very much relevant now.
Mahatma Gandhi’s views on nationalism are original but they need not be followed word by word. His peaceful and nonviolent approach is OK if India’s neighbors behave. Take Pakistan. That country has been bleeding India since partition. So changes have to be made while reviving Gandhian nationalism
Mahatma Gandhi’s views on nationalism are Utopian. To uphold such views, India needs a near perfect human being like him. Except Nehru, all leaders ignored Gandhiji’s teachings. That is India’s tragedy. The present government appears to be sincere in reviving some of the Gandhian values. That is a consolation.
TO DO THAT INDIA WILL NEED A LEADER IN A GLOBALISED WORLD THAT HAS CREATED WHITE RACISM AGAINST THE FAST GROWING SOUTH..THE WAR IN THE MID EAST IS NOT AS SIIMPLE AS WAR AGAINST MUSLIMS BUT A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD THAT THE WEST IS ONLY INTERESTED IN ITS STRATEGIC RESOURCES INTEREST OF OIL GAS MINERALS,INDIA IS IN THE WEST INTEREST BY PLAYING INDIA IN THE WESTERN BOX FOR CONTAINING CHINA ,FOR THE WEST EVERYONE WHO IS NOT WHITE IS AN ENEMY THEY HAVE NO FRIENDS..GANDHI FOUGHT COLONIALISM,TODAY INDIA IS UNDER COLONIALISM IN THE GUISE OF FALSE POLITICS,INDIA WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO ITS GREATNESS THAT WILL ONLY COME FROM A UNITED ASIA,A JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA,BUT TO BEGIN IT HAS TO UNLOCK THE SHACKLES OF COLONIALISM OF DIVISIONS IN ITS INSTITUTIONS.
There should be no place for Anti-Nationals, religious fundamentalists, appeasement politics and those who place religion about India. In today’s World, with neighbors like China and Pakistan, its not possible to follow Gandhian principles, we need Subhash Chndra Bose and Shivaji doctrines…slap the enemy back so hard, they will never think again to attack yoyu…cull the enemies of India.
Yeh right Commi fundamentalist.
Too bad, Indians now treat Gandhi as passe, they are now filled with envy and jealousy over their more advanced neighbor, China. All those suggestions by Indians and westerners about India being the next economic miracle are just delusions from wishful thinkng and the usual rose colored lens of “its a democracy”. it is only when, not if, the current India will be split up.
Half of her population dont even have toilets, her girls and women frequently assaulted sexually when they have to go out of their homes to relieve themselves, her gdp per capital is now only one fifth of china’s, even though they started at about same level in 1949. Forget India, let her disintegrate on her own, they will never amount to anything. If pakistan is smart, it will continue to work with china closely, with the result that her econmy will eventually be far ahead of India….