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Nationalism in 21st Century: CAMPUS & VOTEBANK POLITICS, By Dr S Saraswathi, 16 March, 2016 Print E-mail

Events & Issues

New Delhi, 16 March 2016

Nationalism in 21st Century

CAMPUS & VOTEBANK POLITICS

By Dr S Saraswathi

(Former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)

 

Debate over “nationalism” refuses to ebb. The arrest and release on bail of JNU student leader Kanihiya Kumar on “sedition” charges has introduced a new issue in campus politics that is much more serious than the issues dominating coming elections in five States.

 

Political debates in the country are suddenly drawn towards nationalism and patriotism – two concepts and sentiments that underlie the making of independent India.  They are inseparable noble pairs. Unfortunately, the two sentiments have become a matter for political party clashes that will benefit nobody at the end.

 

There are several identities cherished by a person in India based on one’s birth place/State, religion, language, caste and denomination within caste, sect and so on.  But, above all is one’s identity as an Indian – a factor that receives less attention and perhaps considered less relevant to day-to-day life than sub-national identities by common people living a parochial life. 

 

This weakness is being exploited by political players in electoral and parliamentary politics.   Sub-national identities divide society, make up ready-made groups, promote affinities as well as prejudices, and facilitate mobilization of block support for ideas and attitudes, public policies and programmes. They help consolidation of block votes for or against in elections – a phenomenon termed vote bank politics in India. 

 

The circumstances leading to the arrest incident in the JNU, the core issue at the bottom, and the question about the truth or falsehood in the charges are for legal authorities to decide. To the common people of this nation, it is a testing time for safeguarding and strengthening a strong and united  India in view of  tremendous  amount of  unnecessary debates and actions that have emerged.  Campus politics is ignited and is spreading all over the country, and political parties evince over-eagerness to catch hold of this issue to build electoral support for themselves.

 

Nationalism is an article of faith.  The National Anthem, the tricolor flag, and territorial borders are non-negotiable not only for professed nationalists but for all ordinary citizens. These three are indeed common worshipful matters for them. Any disrespect to them, leave aside direct attacks, seems blasphemous for the citizens of  the nation.

 

At the same time, nationalism is not limited to showing gestures, sticking to symbols, and uttering certain words.  It is a deep attachment to fellow citizens, and a deep commitment to the welfare of the nation.

 

In this age of globalization, most nations are facing dilemma over protecting national interests  along  with  global interests, and  with adherence  to  international  agreements and regulations,  and universal prescriptions. They are debating conflicting and complimentary role of globalization and nationalism. Some political analysts are of the opinion that even in countries where religion predominates as the main force, nationalism has its hold on the people to keep them united especially in times of war.

 

But, here in India, we are  busy not just debating nationalism and communalism, but actively instigating conflicts between the two sentiments. The conflict hovers around “national” and “anti-national” or “patriotic” and “unpatriotic”  behaviour,  signals and  actions. Political parties and their outfits which are openly nurturing animosities against one another, are the leading players in this conflict.

 

Nationalism is an ideology that fosters the spirit of autonomy, independence, and sovereignty of the nation. The members of a nation share a territory, symbols, traditions, culture, law, etc.  Patriotism is associated with loyalty to a territorial political community based on common history and values. Ethnic origin, language, religion and other such attachments do not divide patriots.

 

Nationalists are by nature patriots, and cherish unity and fraternity in order to represent the nation as one unit in the comity of nations.  In the classical nationalist view, nationalist polity is the driving force of governments and not religious community or membership.

 

Conventional nationalism and patriotism show an individual’s relationship towards his/her nation. The former seems to relate to unity based on cultural background; the latter stems from values and beliefs.  Consequently, nationalism is inclined to be more pro-active and vigorous and patriotism subtle and passive. Extreme forms of nationalism may look aggressive at times   whereas patriotism may assume a peaceful posture. But, the two are complimentary sentiments to one another.

 

Neither for nationalism nor for patriotism the State provides the base. On the contrary, the two sentiments underlie the birth of many States. The nation-State may certainly have an important instrumental role in the consolidation of national unity. But, it is not the only source of national unity. 

 

There prevails a view among historians that Indian nationalism is an achievement of elitist freedom fighters.  The same view can be discerned in some political parties and their supporting organizations today claiming exclusive national sentiments. Such a contention overlooks the power of in-born sense of cultural and historical ties that bind a nation overlapping pluralist attachments. These bonds cannot be created by conscious efforts of a few nationalists nor destroyed by ignoring their presence.

 

India has evolved as a nation by a long historical process and cultural synthesis which reflect a milieu of composite culture.  Its political unity derives its strength from its cosmopolitanism.  We have to learn to cherish our plural culture and our diversities and use them to consolidate our political unity as a nation. 

 

Genuine nationalist spirit in India is inclusive of all shades of material differences and cultural diversities and is proud of presenting a synthesis of heterogeneous elements.   Terms such as good and bad nationalism, inclusive and exclusive nationalism,  majoritarian or pluralist nationalism, egalitarian and aggrandizing nationalism, territorial and cultural nationalism,  linguistic nationalism, and  nationalism based on religious persuasions,  etc.,  may be  inventions of neutral scholars, but are used by  motivated politicians in the game of  power politics to unite  and divide people. 

 

In this atmosphere, a legitimate question may arise about the limits of freedom of speech without curtailing democratic rights. To be specific, in the context of recent events in the JNU, the charge of “sedition”   has to be examined dispassionately without bias and emotions. Debates, protests, hate speeches, provocation to violent actions  are different from one another.  Each one of them has its democratic rights, space, and limits.  This is a legal question and cannot be left in the hands of warring groups called political parties which nurture and often exhibit intolerance of the worst order.

 

More important is to put limits on campus politics. We are already late in this job having allowed politicization of every institution and organization in the country. This is also not simple as voting age is 18 years and many political parties have active student wings.  

 

The issue that has erupted in the JNU is sheer inter-party politics. Nationalism and anti-nationalism are mere terms that can evoke public interest, add seriousness and give legitimacy to publicize a local incident. ---INFA

 

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

                                                                                    

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