Hindutva and Patriotism
Hindutva
- Literally ‘Hindutva’ means a way of life or a state of mind that is based on the cultural and spiritual ethos based on the spiritual systems that evolved from India.
- Hindutva is a philosophy like Communism or Socialism. The difference is that, whereas communism and socialism are materialistic philosophies intended to secure economic welfare of individuals, Hindutva is a spiritual plus economic philosophy founded and developed from ancient times in India for securing all round happiness of all individuals irrespective of social levels of individuals.
- The focus in this philosophy be it the ruler or the ruled is on the performance of duty and conformity to a code of conduct.
- The word ‘Hindutva’ is not found in traditional lexicon. It was used for the first time by the national leader, V.D.Savarkar in 1923. Since then, the term has been used in different shades of meaning and placed at the service of a range of socio-political interventionist practices.
- ‘Hindutva’ or the state of being Hindu, the inhabitants of Sindhu Pradesh, is in many ways not very far from the English term ‘Hinduism’ i.e. the way of life of the Hindus or the inhabitants of the Greater India without the disparity of caste and creed.
- A Hindu Rashtra does not mean a theocratic state. A way of life, national tradition, concept of materialism, Sanatana Dharma, no. scope for untouchabihty, secularism, patriotism are some of the fimdamental features associated with the philosophy of Hindutva.
- It denotes the Indian culture and Indianhood. There are a plenty of historical records to illustrate and demonstrate how Hindustan has, down the ages, been to mean India. For example, Sir Syed Ahmed, the founder of the Aligarh Muslim University, as calling himself a Hindu. It is not uncommon for a Muslim in many a Muslim country to call an Indian Muslim a Hindu because he belongs to Hindustan. Poet Iqbal’s words, ‘Hindu hain ham watan hai Hindustan hamara’ and Mahatma Gandhi’s prayer, ‘Ishwar Allah tere nam sab ko Sanmati de Bhagwan’ are more meaningful to convey the message of Hindutva.
- Hindutva is not a religion as it does not convey the sense of ‘Hindu Dharma’. It is a state of being Hindu and a way of life as concluded and accepted in the verdict of the Supreme Court, the apex seat of judiciary in India.
- According to Dev Pandhi a noted journalist, “Hindutva, a word synonymous with psyche of people in India with offshoots enveloping the globe, is in the right perspective – a philosophy, a way of life. Mysticism spread in the world from Hindutva with civilization dating back to Aryan era.
- Hindutva is nothing but the theory and practice of national and international politics as defined by Sanatana Dharma, known also as Hinduism. It is not a creed like Christianity or Islam, but a code of conduct and a value system that has spiritual freedom at its core. Any pathway or spiritual vision that accepts the spiritual freedom of others may be considered a part of Sanatana Dharma. As Sri Arabindo described it, ”Sanatana Dharma is also the basis of Indian nationalism.
- “The basis of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma is the quest for cosmic truth, just as the quest for physical truth is the domain of science. Hindutva is not necessarily limited to India or to those who consider themselves to be orthodox Hindus, although it reflects the main fraditions of the land and the power of its inner soul or guiding spirit, Bharat Mata (Mother India).
Patriotism
- Patriotism is one of a large class of words that are linked to the virtues of membership. To participate in relations of, for example, friendship, community, nationhood, citizenship, or marriage implies normative conventions.
- In other words, there are value expectations built into such membership. One important dimension of any membership relation is an expectation of loyalty. Fidelity or loyalty to a nation, community, friend, citizenship, marriage, or state is thus implied in the actual practice.
- To participate openly and self-consciously, therefore, in any of these membership practices involves adherence to loyalty-based virtue. In this context, the term patriotism usually denotes a specific loyalty virtue, consequent upon membership of a country or state. However, the term loyalty alone does not quite cover the range of values associated with patriotic membership.
- Patriotism also signifies a sense of personal identification with, and concern for, the well-being or welfare of that country or state. Further, it entails a readiness to make sacrifices for its defense or welfare.
- It provides (for some) the ground for all moral action—in the sense that morality, in itself, is seen to be, quite literally, premised on patriotic membership. Patriotism also indicates a special affection, feeling, or emotive response. This emotive response is commonly designated as a “love of country.”
Patriotism in India
- Patriotism is the great and selfless passion of love for one’s country. To an Indian patriot his mother and motherland are superior even to heaven. An Indian Patriot is ever ready to lay down his life in the service of his country, India.
- Patriotism is not mere passive love for the country. A true patriot, who loves India, is an active worker. He works at heart and soul for the progress of his India and countrymen. He takes action for maintaining the sovereignty and glory of his motherland.
- Patriotism inspires a patriot to rise in revolt and fight for the freedom of his country. In a free country like India, there are occasions when one has to sacrifice one’s personal pleasures and even life for one’s country.
- A patriot always fights against the internal and external enemies of his country. The black marketers, profiteers, criminals and anti-socials are all internal enemies of India. A true Indian patriot tries to free his country from all these enemies. He also must try to make his India free from poverty, ignorance and superstition.
- Many patriots fought against the British rule to secure freedom for India. They never hesitated to sacrifice their comfort, happiness and life for the cause of their motherland. Some of the most glorious chapters of Indian history have been written as well in the blood of patriots. Rana Pratap, Tipu Sultan, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Surya Sen, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Netaji, Jatin Das — are all great patriots to remember. Their patriotism is different from false patriotism, which is a danger to a nation and civilization as a whole
- A true patriot loves other countries as his own and wants to live in peace with them. He does not think his country to be the best in the world.
- Patriots are selfless people who care for the welfare of their fellow beings. They also fight against social evils. They strive for eradication of social evils and work hard to uplift the society.
- A thought is a reflection of the mental picture. Mahatma Gandhi infused the patriotic feeling among the Indians, as a result of which, we gained freedom from British rule. Even today, there is a need for patriotic thought among Indian. There is no place of narrowness in the mind of a true patriot. He thinks himself as a citizen of the world as a whole.
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