The Feelings of Helpless Patriotism

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PPL_DDlcOpQ


It’s not about Shahrukh saying this, it’s about image he presents of an ideal Indian and its about Amir saying in his blog, ‘What I would really like to see emerge from all this is the youth of this country starting a political party. A group that stands for strong, clean, honest and fresh leadership. A group that we can all support'.

Yeah, they all said it, but I believe deep down we can feel it too, each of us, who were glued on to the TV sets those three days felt it, the frustration, the disgust, that feeling of helplessness, that feeling of gratitude for those who fought bravely. It also built a critic in us, a critic of the entire system, a critic of the operations being carried on. Moreover and most importantly, it built in us a patriot, it built in us an Indian and more than that it built in us a Human.

No, I cannot do what Amir said confess, i can’t initiate it, and certainly not alone. However, if initiated, I believe I won’t step back, neither of us would. Unless i m empowered to apply my own beliefs, all i would be left doing is quoting words of faith, screaming out slogans of patriotism and end it there. And honestly, that is what has always happened. Movies like Rang de Basanti and Yuva, wakes up the Indian in us and then we are exposed to live telecasts portraying the extent of helplessness a citizen of India is in, that puts it back to sleep. The real world ain’t like a movie, I agree, but how different is it, when it affects us to such high magnitudes. When it inspires us and propagates the feeling of unity among each of us. A population so large, it’s impossible to unify thoughts, statistically applied, it evens out extremes. Well, apparently we have been hit hard by the extremes. Extremes not only comprise of our own spreading terror, but also those who prioritize self bliss over nationwide success. The powerful, they are, they limit opportunities and smirk at those who tried. And eventually, so do we, saying what they did no one could do, and cite examples.

Amir continued in his blog saying ‘In my opinion, you really want to change things? Change yourself. Each one of us needs to take a very honest look inwards and rectify and work on what we think is wrong with us. If each one of us does that individually then there will be a sea change in our society at large. I have to promise myself that I will not be corrupt, will play my role in society with honesty and sincerity. Doctors, lawyers, judges, people in the IAS, police force, media persons, businessmen, job workers, labour force, everyone. We have to stop thinking of our own individual gain and loss and do what is honest, true and right, and think collective. It calls for personal sacrifice in this time of chaos but from chaos will emerge clarity. Even if we don’t manage to achieve this for ourselves we will achieve it for our children.’

Felt good to read it, but the next second I feel so artificial thinking how long would this stay in all of us. How long would this statement of his matter to me. Would i just have heated arguments, discussions and end it there. Or would a time come when actually a change would come.

I, as an individual, believe, Allah had given me a world in which i was supposed to gather deeds, and secure my space in heaven. Everyone who follows my religion is my brother and those who don’t are my equal. To those elderly in and around my family who succumb to the negatives of the system, I m a better human. But how long would circumstances let me stick to his belief.

Clearly, there is something expected from each of us, what? We all know deep inside. We fail to realise it. The other day i remember telling my friend from Sri Lanka, ‘your country needs a Gandhi’, ironically it crosses my mind now that how less do we need another Gandhi. He was needed when our nation was hit by the then terrorists for us. He freed us and left, our nation was going through the same then. Most of us being born and brought up later wouldn’t know the intensity of the situation. I wonder if it was any different. Even then he called upon the youth of the nation, shunned their aggressiveness, converted them to the religion of faith and gave us victory. The youth, this time, is being called on again. This time what is different, we know. We support, we pray, but then we have our lives to take care of. So did Gandhi. We are far from our country. So was Gandhi. We know the truth. So did Gandhi. We don’t have an identity strong enough to bring about change. Neither did Gandhi. We are not empowered. Gandhi was. We aren’t empowered because we chose to give power to those whose effective governing capabilities have been exposed pretty well.

I don’t sit here and bluff without realising I am equally guilty, equally frustrated and equally helpless.

I remember sitting down with friends in Saudi and talking about our country saying things like let them give the country to us for one day and we will show them how to run it. But when each of us went back home, we were disappointed, disgusted, we were lost. Let alone the nation, we first had to make a place in the society so different from what we thought to be a perfect, sensible society. We had to suddenly live up to the expectations of the materialistic world so much that all our expectations drowned in the whirlpool of the surroundings. With time, we were embedded into the same situation- ‘Where are we?’. We were so lost. Some still are, cross identities. Drastic changes. Confusions. Eventually- disgust. I myself didn’t feel any different from the rest.

Why do i feel more responsible when i go out of India, because i feel i wasn’t there when things happened, or because my presence would have made any difference? Its human nature I presume. Nothing more or less. But whatever it is, it does contribute as we all identify ourselves as Indians, we unite ourselves, trust each other and somewhere, love each other. And as Amir said ‘Allowing love, peace and trust to grow within us is not a sign of weakness but a sign of immense strength.’ I hope and pray this strength shall prevail and overpower each of us in such a way that we all one day, with a Gandhi inside each of us, drive out the elements of fear, communalism, hatred and eventually terror from every corner of our country, and strongly identify ourselves as Hindustani. A ‘Sthan’ of ‘hind’. A ‘Sthan’ so different from every other country in this world. A unique ‘Sthan’ where peace and harmony prevails. This of course is a perspective which i doubt would ever be true. It won’t. Period.

My views may be contradicting a readers perspectives but i am not here to propagate a controversy. Mine are a random flow of thoughts i wanted to share. There are many other well and better acknowledged with the entire situation, and with different perspectives and beliefs, i support and respect each of them. If I m to be contradicting, contradict me with a sense of making me understand and not with spite. As a naive individual, I call for statements that make me understand what should be done and why in compliance to what i believe to be right and true. That is how a youth more honest, more practical and more sensible would emerge out of me, instead of making me go against my own nation.

Yes, people may have different views on what SRK says about religion, but one of the things that got me thinking was 'I explain to my children the holy Quran in English, which makes it easier for them to understand'. True, the Quran is meant to be read in the language it was sent, but honestly i respect him for what he does. To know what the Holy book says is more essential than knowing how to read it. People before had the stamina to do both. But as for now, even this little effort could bring about changes unforeseen.

Islam propagates harmony and not violence. A lady used to throw garbage on Our beloved prophet (PBUH) everyday when he crossed her path. The day she didn’t do that, he went to her house to ask if she was well and found out she was sick. He sat next to her and prayed for her. This is what Islam is all about. Patience, harmony, peace. As has been said in the interview, I follow the Islam of Allah. And I choose to understand it myself. Sanely.


‘ Jhuth ka badhta jaaye raaj o baapu
aapne hi ho gaye dhokebaaz
aaj hamein apnon se bachale
aaja re baapu mere
paai paai mein insaan bika re
jaan yeh ho gayi sasti re
soya zameer baapu phir se jaga de
aaja re baapu mere’