Patriotism is an attachment to homeland, it is personal and to a certain extent expresses the intensity of our feeling towards our nation. We’re all generally patriots and it has always been a part of our lives, however understanding the depth of this feeling is complicated. Because it always appears with a stronger throb on every Republic and Independence Day, especially the chests are miraculously broadened when the national anthem is played. It pays us a visit when the World Cup is around the corner but somehow disappears when we gleefully tarnish the various ancient heritages of our country. That is completely okay to that but we need to check our behavior when we go abroad but a careless behavior is apt where we live.
Colouring our country in its diversity was an aspect of our new born country as foreseen by our forefathers, and we have indeed followed their path and successfully coloured our country with a wide variety of gutkas and paans combined with the mesmerizing fragrance of cigarettes and the evergreen pee stink. It is also noticeable that at every international achievement of our country, our hearts begin to roar the tricolor but the same object faces the garbage the day after the national holidays. The sight of an army man or a discussion regarding the army on some level initiates a sense of patriotism inside us.
But it is lost somewhere when soldiers lose their lives on the border, although our contribution is a significant one indeed- a tweet with a crying emoticon is a very grave act. This kind of patriotism happens particularly on special occasions, but on a daily basis when we’re all busy in our schedules, a responsibility or maybe even a certain devotion towards the country has no space in our lives. There is almost no sense of nationalism working on the back of our minds like that of a Bollywood movie with music constantly running in its background. It is not possible for everyone to be ignited with a patriotic spirit 24 x 7, although is it so easy to be completely ignorant of the patriotic sense throughout the day?
Now I must say defining this patriotic spirit is tricky, but is being on the border the only way to do something for my country, or is being a vigilant and a responsible citizen accompanied by a unified determination to do everything in our power to make this nation a better place to live a better step towards respecting our beloved country. Working in the army, the soldiers are disciplined to a level of tolerance towards each other and instead a feeling of brotherhood is evoked among them, yes there maybe disputes but there is one thing they all agree on-patriotism. They have it in them throughout the day, but I ponder and I must ask is it only their duty to be patriotic and concerned about this nation throughout their lives?
As civilians do we have the liberty to be free from this constant engagement with the patriotic and nationalistic aspects of sensation towards our country? We need to understand that this country needs us and we need it and we can achieve all that we want if we stop being ignorant. It is essential to instill a unified nationalistic spirit that burns in every heart throughout, because only then shall we truly be the citizens that our country needs.
(Written by Alibha Mallik)
