PATRIOTISM

“The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously.” ― Julian Barnes, Flaubert’s Parrot

Patriotism means love of one’s motherland. The attachment to one’s motherland is as innate as one’s affection for one’s parents. Man’s first loyalty is to himself, then to his family and then to his own country. India is a land of many cultures, traditions, and languages. But Indians stand as one whenever there is a threat to the integrity of India. They stood up unitedly at the time of the Chinese aggression. Recently it has been proved during the Kargil war in Kashmir. Thus, patriotism brings out the qualities of unity, service and sacrifice. Patriotism encourages the noble quality of self- sacrifice for the cause of one’s country.

Gitanjali 35

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…………BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Patriotism, however, sometimes develops a false national pride. The people of a particular geographical area have intolerance for the people of other areas. They even nurse evil feelings and enmity and go to war. This is not real patriotism. We know the horrors of war due to aggressive patriotism.

We have to shed mutual bickering, shed the difference of being high or low and develop the sense of equality and banish untouchability. We have to restore the conditions of Swaraj prevalent prior to British rule. We have to live like the children of the same father.- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Patriotism is a noble virtue when love of one’s country does not lead to the hatred against other nations. One’s love of one’s country should expand itself into a love for all world. Narrow patriotism reeds passions and prejudices and so it is despicable. It brings hatred and wars. True patriotism must seek peace and prosperity of e world. It must be free from narrowness and meanness. It is Possible to combine patriotism with love for the people of the world. Thus, patriotism may least to international brotherhood.

Men, money and material cannot by themselves bring victory or freedom. We must have the motive-power that will inspire us to brave deeds and heroic exploits. -Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose