Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel - Samuel Johnson
It's a very uncanny feeling - Almost as if it carries an element of distrust. But having grown up and lived my entire childhood in Muscat, I have a natural love for the place. And having lived there for 17 years I've grown cynical of National Boundaries - In fact grew suspicious of "Indians" who by and large had an interest in serving their own selfish desires rather than it being of a community level. Oh Nothing wrong with it - But you know what? - In times of need it's not your Indian Identity that helps you - If we did receive help it's because "Humanity" took precedence over all else.
The Indian community is by and large an overrated term and a very selfish one - Each one is there to extend his her own selfish desires just like any other individual. And when my Dad suffered his first paralysis attack - It was a Pakistani Driver who tookhim to the hospital in a timely manner. And a Sri Lankan Christian Prayer Group(a small bunch of Protestant Christians) that came to the Hospital and prayed for my Dad's well being and he recovered from His coma (Mind you we are Hindus) -I was just a year old and obviously don't have memories of the incident. But this is amongst the numerous tales of how people from the Sub-continent have co-existed.
And each time I challenge my Parents on the Notion of"God" and extend my agnostic rationale - My mom passionately asks me one question-Who saved your Dad in the crying hour of need? When Desh Bhakti's naara's have failed, our Pride in India failed, can you explain the guiding force that saved your father's life? Who directed the assistance of a suspicious individuals (Pakistani) or the Sri Lankan prayer group whose prayers helped?
My ego refuses to answer that it's God. That it was some invisible force for which till date despite all the problems in his life, my father's faith in God never ceases.Today I have the answer of who saved him - It wasn't God - It was Humanity! That humanity which the greatest Indian saw but wasn't born here - Mother Theresa.
Sometimes I really pray and wish that we see through the narrow boundaries of "Nationalism" and hope humanity takes precedence of all else. I hope individuals take pride in the Individual and not of where he belongs. Humanity has no boundaries drawn!.
So I request all Uncles and Aunties to please shed your narrow nationalist ideals. Mera Bharat Mahan? Listen you gave me Socialism and a bunch of policies and my generation has to bear your brunt - Your brunt with Pakistan - My generation wants to live and work and succeed in this new age India that is not defined by your narrow ideals.
Your past has given me nothing but the wrath of socialism to which you've contributed to. I don't want to carry that baggage - My India is different - It's my freedomthat is very important and not the Rivers and the soil that you take credit for despite the fact that you're not responsible for those natural resources and have done nothing to preserve them. It's the Democracy that the ironically wouldn't have existed had the British not ruled us. That borrowed constitution and structure of Army for which India had no role and should thank the British.
At 25 if I an irritating agnostic like me can reason that Humanity should take precedence over all else - I am Happy that God doesn't exist and doesn't need to. I hope My Uncles can shed their narrow vision of boundaries....
