Nationalism and Pitching For Second Indian Freedom Movement

It has been more than a year since this subject has been at the forefront. The question is simple – Am I living more in the interest of the nation than personal interest. Am I contributing more to the nation than the self. Am I serving the nation more by my work than my own being. The answers to these questions is a resounding ‘Yes’ from my side. This is as such since more than a year. I lived more for the country back in India in the months leading up to the journey to the U.S. After reaching the U.S. it has taken a similar routine as well. Thus, the past year or more, it has been more nationalism on offer.  

I do know it has been more in the same line earlier as well. But the development in the recent past has aggravated in magnitude. Thus, we are staring at the days when the work has more contribution towards the nation. This kind of national conscience at a huge volume can be seen during the Indian Independence movement. While a few people can work with this nationalistic spirit in the present day, we can see the movement on ground, at a scale, during the freedom struggle. While it took a Gandhi to invigorate the nation for 50 years and achieve its independence, it will take another Gandhi to invoke the nationalistic spirits, bring another revolution and take it to the higher echelons. We need a national figure who can unite the nation behind the back and bring about a movement to drive everyone towards contributing more to the nation. There should be a movement which is spearheaded by individuals working more for the nation and laying inroads for many more individuals to walk along. Thus, we can say that in terms of igniting the national conscience, we need a second freedom movement, a movement which can liberate or free us from everything backward or degenerative.

 

The time for the second independence struggle is also around the corner, to put the nation in an orbit for the next 75 years. The people of the nation will be united when nationalism is invigorated from within. This happened pre-independence by virtue of stalwart leaders spearheading the movement. This needs to be re-awakened, rechristened and repeated for the billion plus to express more towards the nation. Imagine when few crores can achieve a significant milestone of Independence in our nation’s history, what is the possibility when more than a hundred crore can feel the movement, get swayed by it and express themselves in recoil. This is the huge possibility which we are staring at, at this moment and when tapped it in right measure appropriately, the nation can take a huge lift-off. This is once again plausible by putting national interests above most other things.

 

Let us come to the history of Indian lineage. Our nation is hugely patriotic at a few burning times but more subdued in all other periods. A typical Indian is more concerned about the elements within the four walls of his house and doesn’t bother to think and work beyond those boundaries. A typical group of Indians are also more divided with respect to umpteen variations of land. These divisions and lack of nationalistic thinking is what attracted a thousand-year foreign hegemony in the heart of sub-continent, unfurling the Mughal and English flags for centuries altogether. While the foreign rule began in a dormant nation and rendered the nation dormant, the invigoration happened occasionally to awaken the sleeping mass. It took iconic figures, tall leaders to sow the seeds of nationalism in a typical Indian who is devoid of thinking beyond the four walls. The point is Indians are more content with their own selves than uniting as a national entity and achieving something as collective whole. 

Nationalism is an ideology that places a strong emphasis on the importance of the nation, its culture, history, and values. Individualism, on the other hand, is an ideology that places the individual good at the center of society. Excessive individualism can lead to a lack of social cohesion and a disregard for the common good. This excessive individualism can be traced back to a typical Indian DNA or mentality. This inheritance needs to be disowned to some extent as we try to progress by looking at the collective good which is below par at the moment.

Thus, there is a huge vacuum to sow the seeds, raise a crop and reap a harvest of nationalism in the country. We need to think far beyond our immediate surroundings. Everything which is ‘not my business’ or ‘why should I bother’ should become an object to cast our thinking and own it. An average American thinks more about the country, community and casts the work which directly affects these. That is the way Americans have achieved unbelievable things as a nation. Similarly, Indians can do better if they make these inherent changes and be more nationalistic and more patriotic. Doing more for the country than self is often seen as a noble and admirable ideal, reflecting a sense of civic duty and responsibility. It can help to foster a sense of social cohesion and a shared commitment to the well-being of the community or country. I am a living example of working more for the nation, serving the nation even to the extent of giving up on my own self. Even if not as much, there is a huge vacuum for Indians to look at the larger picture, bring the country first and contribute so much for its cause.

 

Thus, Indians at scale need to participate in the post-independent, second freedom struggle which should represent a period of renewed activism and mobilization for social and political change and help to shape the country's modern political and social landscape. India still faces a number of challenges and problems, including poverty, social inequality, political corruption, and environmental degradation. Many of these issues are complex and deeply ingrained in Indian society and require sustained and coordinated efforts to address. To create a more just, equal, and prosperous society for all of India's citizens, there is a need for this nationalistic movement or struggle, to reform our ingrained DNA and better align with national interests. When we offer more to the nation, we make the nation and its future far better than the one we landed.