The origins of religion and patriotism seem to me to be similar, as can be said of any group practice. It is just a question of need. I could let go of the concept of god in a heartbeat when it seemed unnecessary to me, but the concept of nation and national pride seems, surprisingly, to take longer to let go of. Here too we find two sides to the coin or, shall we say, to the border. On one side we have a nation of people stooping low enough to accept abnormally low salaries to do the work of other nations' firms. why? because we do not need the same amount of money to live comfortably. Why? because we have lower standards. As Lalit Bhanot very funnily put across, "Western countries have different standards of hygiene." different meaning higher. On the other side, we have a country that is so proud of its ethnicity and exotic image that it's people are willing to be whipped into submission rather than watch the chaotic, but free, demise of their nation. That nation was able to stun the world with an event that oozed efficiency and intent to amaze. And then there is India.
Many in the west believe us to be a nation of snake-charmers. Now we seem to have gone to great lengths to show them that we are worse than they believe. Despite all this, I still can't let go of my sense of patriotism however hard i try. Whenever I try to laugh at what a foolish people we are, i think of how much better we can be. Whenever I laugh at the poor state of affairs, the laughter gives painful birth to a sadness. A sadness that doesn't lend itself to temporary solutions.
Maybe a return to childish innocence is what is required. Or maybe that is what this is. I gladly laugh at a doctored video showing how foolish Americans are, without giving a thought to improving their lot. Had someone done the same to India, I would have been seething behind the smiles. It would be great to experience that moment when I could let go of all this and be a ctizen of the world.
I am still hoping this is that moment, India is dead, We must save India.
