When Global Solidarity Overshadows National Loyalty
In today’s India, the definition of patriotism seems to be caught in a quagmire of contradictions. Across the country—and more vividly in states like Kerala—there is a growing trend where solidarity for international causes like Iran, Palestine, and Ukraine dominates public discourse. Streets echo with chants of support, social media overflows with posts and profile filters, and mass gatherings express vehement opinions on global conflicts. But amid this cacophony of international empathy, an unsettling question arises: where is that same passion when it comes to standing up for one’s own nation?
While it is commendable—and even necessary—to feel for global issues and humanitarian causes, it becomes deeply problematic when that solidarity overshadows or outright replaces the sense of loyalty and responsibility toward India, the real Bharat. The irony deepens when one observes that many waving foreign flags and reciting revolutionary slogans rarely bat an eye when India faces internal crises, cultural erosion, or threats to its sovereignty.
The Influence of Religion: A Quiet Takeover?
In the name of liberalism and secularism, states like Kerala have become breeding grounds for selective patriotism. The rhetoric of “no religion, only humanity” is peddled in public speeches, but on the ground, religious influence has subtly and deeply penetrated socio-political behaviour.
This quiet but potent shift in allegiance has altered the emotional geography of patriotism. Celebrations for India’s festivals or national events often pale in comparison to the fervour displayed during political demonstrations for international religious conflicts. Patriotism here is not just redefined; it is slowly being replaced by a loyalty to transnational religious identity.
Democracy, Not Anarchy
India is a democracy—a vibrant, noisy, and often chaotic one. But democracy is not a free pass to dilute national identity. Being critical of the government is a citizen’s right. Being apathetic or divisive toward one’s nation, however, is not. Patriotism should never be a seasonal affair dictated by trending hashtags or international crises.
Let us remember: true patriotism is not about choosing sides in global wars; it is about being unwaveringly rooted in one’s own soil first. It is time to wake up and ask: If we can raise our voices for distant lands, why are we mute when it comes to the soul of our own Bharat?
