Understanding Nationalism

Had Netaji Subash Chandra Bose thought of continuing as an ICS officer, and not begun INA after a dangerous escape from the country..

Had Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi thought of continuing his law practice in Durban (South Africa), as an NRI, choosing instead to be a “good” father and a “great family man”,

Had Motilal Nehru continued staying on and parading his opulence that once upon a time only his family could afford, and none could rival..

Had Bhagat Singh and colleagues, chosen to continue their “English” education in Khalsa College, Lahore, and gone on to become a Babu in some office..

Had Madhusudan Das continued to be just a Barrister in Law, fighting cases for opulence and not justice..

Had Baba Ambedkar just stayed on in US post his well received doctoral thesis, and continued as a faculty member..

Had Shri Aurobindo continued working in his well paid role of an administrator to the Maharaja of Baroda..

Had Late. Lance Naik Hanumanthappa just abandoned his post at Saichen, exclaiming that it’s not only his lookout to guard it..

Had Late. Constable Nitin Kumar threw his gun and ran away (he always could have in the darkness of Baramulla), upon coming under terrorists’ fire..

Had Late. Captain Vikram Batra, deserted Points 5140 and 4875 in Kargil War, and withdrawn from fighting (he need not have!), citing “peace”

And had countless unnamed refused to risk their lives and careers, limiting themselves to vain discourses and agitations than engaging in work and upliftment for something bigger than their tiny lives, probably we would have seen them walking around us with happy families and “I have made it” arrogance, but nothing called “Bharat” would have ever survived. This land would have been nothing more than an occupied territory, inhabited by many with no identity beyond their profession.

To all those who question what nationalism is, study these lives. Probably you may get an answer to think and an inspiration to act.

Last, the process/journey to peace is never peaceful. It involves conflict, within and without, and this is true for the monk and the matter.