TIGblogs - Anu

Passion, Patriotism and Orkut.

I often ask myself, what is patriotism?

How shall we define it and is our patriotism becoming virtual day-by-day or only seen on orkut debates, b-logs and discussion?

Today the country thrives on the Internet world and is big time net savvy; we talk to more people online than passing a smile to our neighbour. Relationships, friendships, arguments, fights are all done here rather in real life, I don’t feel that day is far when human laughter will reduce to just LOL and you will hear it only on a chat window rather than with your own ears.

Coming back on patriotism, Orkut has become a forum for online discussions and debates, though most of us would have never opened out mouth ever in an inter school debate competition (and neither will care to participate if given an opportunity) but here we all are dexterous masters in debating, so much so that we give a blood boiling hard times to our opponents.

Debates take place on various topics, and God forbids if it is on a topic of national concern then suddenly we become the virtual incarnation of Bhagat Singh. All we try to enforce is to display love for our country (mostly) in front of a Pakistani and a Pakistani in front of an Indian, may be by making them look down with our so called perfect argumentative skills, or make fun, mock and jibe and then become self proclaimed saviour of the nation or a perfect debater (or also debator).

It’s a trend which is seen on orkut that whenever any national event is near like Independence Day or Republic day, people put up pictures of national flag to show there love for the country and talk about improving the condition of the country, politics, economy, social religious issues.

I just wanted to point out one thing, is this Patriotism for us? Is this the limit of the passion for our country? Discussing national-international issues, proving our point, indulging in constructive or unconstructive debates or may be outsmarting the others?

How many of us have actually proven their patriotism for their country? How many of us instead of discussing have tried to bring a change?

It’s very easy to fight for a cause here, but what about fighting it in real?

Well reality is something different, we speak about change but never want to be a part of it, and our thoughts shut down with the computer. Some get busy with their routine life, work or college, and other vellas (who only sit at home and do nothing) find new ways of showing their patriotism here on orkut cause actually they don’t have the courage to move out in real. Why is that the youth today has restricted himself to the world of net, eat, sleep and drink. When we read on orkut the discussions and debates, it gives a feeling of elation that the young generation has such profound thoughts for their nation but often it seems that passion for the country and also religion is only limited to most of them in this net world only. Our attitude is very reluctant we don’t even bring a change in our personal life, leave apart changing the situation of the country, most of us are a bunch of cowards, who can just blabber and not even personally follow what we say… its just for flaunting in this virtual world how modern, educated, liberal and patriotic we are.

We dedicate here communities for the army, celebrate army day, defence day, Victory day, etc. but how many of us even know the names of the martyrs of Kargil or any other war or how many of us have contributed to the war widow relief fund? I guess many of my fingers will be spared after counting such patriots.

Today what we are trying to do is to turn nationalism into racism it appears more like a racist ideology than patriotism. We like the vaunted display of our patriotism by putting the flags on orkut unlike our National leaders of past. In our national struggle they marched with the flags to establish their rights on their motherland. Now it has reshaped into a show off one's patriotism.

I am who is probably giving this lecture must have not done anything great in life but at this point of time I guess the realization is enough, so that in future I must do what I say. The only thing, which will help, is good education and the utmost zest to really-really bring a change. Go make use of what you have learned for the nation and give it back to it, you owe a debt to the land, you wont be indebted by just blabbering here.

To end I will put forth Gandhiji’s Talisman

"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?
Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Go educate an illiterate, feed a poor, fight for justice, then come and say you are patriotic – actions speak more than words. Think next time on this before you claim yourself as a patriotic.