Patriotism

In a general sense, patriotism refers to a "cultural attachment to one's homeland" - Wikipedia or simply put "a devotion to one's country"

In 1995, a research project called the World Values project ranked India No 4 amongst several countries on a patriotism score that basically comprised of a graded response to the question "Are you proud to be an Indian" or American etc as the case may be. As an aside, in this survey, Germany was near the bottom of the list in spite of the obvious progress made by the German economy and their excellent quality of life. Germany stood near the top before World War 1 in patriotism surveys but has declined steadily since then. In an emotional sense, Germany never really recovered from the reverses of World Wars. Equally, material prosperity does not equate to pride in one's country.

So Indians are proud of their country. Most people would be justified in wondering why. After all, on many parameters such as economic development, civic consciousness, honesty and integrity, the physical quality of life and so on India would be ranked close to the bottom of the heap. Yet it would be a rare Indian who does not get a lump in the throat when Lata Mangeshkar sings 'Ai mere watan ke logon' or share a blissful moment of pride when you see a patriotic film like 'Border' or 'Haqeeqat'

So is our patriotism linked to a military ideal? India is generally a pacifist country with non-violence enshrined in our creed and constitution. Why then do we get moved by militarism? Or is it the mythical ideal of a self sacrificing hero, who lays down his life for the motherland that moves us? The idea of sacrifice is deeply embedded in the Indian psyche. Starting with Ram, there are dozens of heroes in Hindi movies who are ready to sacrifice everything for a friend. Is patriotism therefore really defined by sacrifice and military jingoism? If so, the spurt of feeling and the the unforced tears that accompany it are very transitory. Perhaps we reserve them for the two days in the year when it is permissible to wear your patriotic heart on your sleeve.

And yet perhaps our patriotism has a deeper shade than the obvious strains of military jingoism. Perhaps is stems from the comforting knowledge that we belong to what is arguably the oldest civilization in the world. Who gave mankind some of its most profound and uplifting spiritual thought. Who in spite of years of enslavement as a colonial underdog today aspires to regain its rightful place amongst the leaders of the world. We can be justifiably proud of what we were and what we can become.

It is very easy to get bogged down with fragmentary thinking in India. To give in to despair that the Indian ideal of unity in diversity is lost forever in the fractious politics of everyday life. It is in this context that Tagore's uplifting poem is so relevant today.

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high 
Where knowledge is free 
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments 
By narrow domestic walls 
Where words come out from the depth of truth 
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection 
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way 
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit 
Where the mind is led forward by thee 
Into ever-widening thought and action 
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake