R. Kumar: Lack Of Commitment Towards The Nation

Although it is necessary for citizens of any country of the world to be committed towards their nation's unity and solidarity, for a country like India--which has unity in diversity and diversity in unity--it is absolutely necessary. History bears evidence that due to the narrow-mindedness and selfish motives of a man or a group of men, some Indians were filled with false hopes and thus lagged behind in their commitment towards their nation overall. This weakened India internally and consequently its unity and integrity could not remain intact, which ultimately affected everyone negatively.

For the last few decades, some groups of men--driven by narrow-minded and selfish motives, especially in the political sphere--have been engaged in separatist and anti-national activities in the name of language, local culture or religious-community in some regions of India, most recently in the province of Maharashtra. In the name of regional loyalties they have targeted poor people and have attempted to deprive them of their fundamental rights provided by the Union Constitution. This is in fact an inauspicious sign for the unity and integrity of the nation. Furthermore, it is a serious challenge to the secular character of the nation and its harmonious and composite culture; it is a challenge which must be countered collectively by all Indians. Indians must overcome separatist political ambitions and hold their commitment towards the nation supreme. The people must confront the heart-rending reality that if our nation disintegrates, its solidarity is broken--thus leaving all Indians without a future.
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After independence from centuries-old slavery India achieved its unity through the merger of 554 odd and scattered princely states into its Union in 1948; the great nation-builders with their sense of commitment towards the country began work to take India on the pathway to development. Leading figures from different fields also contributed in this regard. Whenever separatist forces tried to weaken the nation in the name of regionalism, language or local culture, India's leaders viewed them as challenges. By keeping national unity and integrity first and foremost, India's leaders took strong action against anti-national elements and ultimately defeated them. Leading figures from all walks of life--especially artists, poets, writers, journalists and social-workers--also joined hands with their national leaders and played a vital role not only in exposing to the public those individuals used their separatist views to achieve their narrow-minded political ends.

Today the unfortunate series of incidents in Maharashtra undoubtedly challenge the unity of the nation. Furthermore the government's slack approach to counter these incidents is a matter of serious concern and it is an indication of lack of their commitment towards the nation. Simultaneously, the indifference of leading figures from different walks of life--as evident from their lax approach towards countering the separatist activity collectively--is also an indication of a lack of their commitment towards their motherland.

It is time to overcome different political ideas in the matter of national unity and integrity and to collectively challenge those who are indulging in separatist tendencies and anti-national activities. It is time to show the same solidarity and firm determination which Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel practically exhibited for the sake of solidarity India, stated explicitly in the following statement issued on the eve of his undertaking the task of national unity in his hand: "It is the lesson of history that it was owing to her politically-fragmented condition and our inability to make a united stand that India succumbed to successive waves of invaders. Our mutual conflicts and internecine quarrels and jealousies have in the past been the cause of our own downfall and our falling victims to foreign domination a number of times. We cannot afford to fall into those errors or traps again..."

ENDS

A noted Indologist and the former Vice-Chancellor of Meerut University, India, Dr. Ravindra Kumar has been associated with a number of national and international academic, cultural, educational, social and peace organizations & institutions. He is the Editor of Global-Peace-International Journal.

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