Patriotism, In The Era of Internet.

Freedom of Speech! Well you read that right. It's that one fundamental right that has been bestowed upon us as a part of a social agreement between us and the state, or even simply put, the basic rights you get from the Government, which by the way, is run based on our votes. A lot has been  happening lately, and before I went ahead and posted my opinions about any issue, I had to get my facts right. You ask me why? Well, for starters, nothing will ever be truly lost on the internet, and I want to leave the right impression behind.

Life, as we know it, has changed a great deal since the internet came around. And with Life, it also changed the way we looked at it, and the way we expressed our gratitude, dissent, love, hate, and perspectives. Our views are no longer limited to our friends circle, once on the internet, EVERYONE is going to read it. So what happens when one person, or a group of persons, goes ahead and preaches, what may be their own Utopian concept of the way we're supposed to be living, EVERYONE reads it, and that sets the House Of Cards rolling down. Patriotism, as a concept, is in itself very self defeating. Or at least that is what I believe. And as you may reasonably foresee, I believe Nationalism is a fad too. And to explain the same, I'll direct the rest of this article. These views are definitely not influenced by the biased media, or the supposedly unbiased student movements in India. So! Read on to see how I've tried to strike a balance between Activism, Blind Patriotism, and apparently Extremism.

As of 2013, India houses 1.252 Billion people. And trust me when I say this, You can't expect all of them to have the same outlook towards a problem or an issue. Some of the recent incidents which bring this to light are the JNU Fiasco, The Hyderabad University- Rohith Vemula Case, and even the Haryana Riots! As the situation stands, it is indeed safe to say India isn't the only country facing a similar issue. European Countries facing the Immigrants Transfer Issues, America having its own sweet time with a Fascist Donald Trump, and China's South China Sea dispute, all have a key factor tying all of them together. Excessive Love for one's country, Lack of Trust in others' countries, Believing that ones country is truly the best one that there is, which one could also believe to be borderline Jingoistic Behavior.

While one side of the story rests heavily on the fact that since we are citizens of this country, we have every right to criticise the way we work; The other side rests on the fact that the means adopted to criticise are neither fair or acceptable. While we are at this, It should also be highlighted that hasty generalisation has led to a lot of students being caught in crossfire. While the media is busy covering what one politician had to say about Condoms being found in the Campus, social media was abuzz with updates from students who were frisked just for uttering the words J.N.U. Agreed that the actions of the students might have been a little too extreme, but how do you justify generalising a factions actions as the whole student fraternity’s actions? Personally, I do have my reservations about why someone would yell anti-national slogans, but I also understand that these Universities are supposed to do the same! No, not make anti nationals, but rouse curiosity, spread knowledge, and quash ignorance.

While I was completing my research on this issue, I happened to stroll across a brilliantly crafted speech by the HRD Minister, but well, even that has a loophole. It selectively picks on some students who have vandalised our fabled gods and goddesses and their backstories. She incisively uses these examples and then shifts attention to the other issues, of Caste and Race. Having felt the heat and aftermath of the Riots myself, I can definitely tell you it was a means too extreme to an ends too biased. People who love their caste so much and identify themselves by it, are, on a microscale, the same as Nationalists! Going by this logic, all our freedom fighters were extremists too, and as I read somewhere, Our Beloved Tagore would have been jailed for Anti- National Songs!

There were indeed other incidents being highlighted by these so called Anti-Nationals, and one of the most controversial issues was Indian Army's brutality in Kashmir. A quick google search would lead one to the Kunan Poshpora Incident, which I'd suggest readers to look up for themselves. Yet again this strand of their debate is highly specific, and targets a specific section of the Army, and quite frankly speaking, they are right when they say they have the right to criticize the way our country works. While this view is from a layman's standpoint, the very same negligibly knowledgeable Layman would praise the same Military's quick response in times of natural disasters. Their rescue operations are generally front page headlines, and it's not that easy to turn a deaf ear to these heroics. Not just at times such as that, any call of distress has the same army walk in to save the nation's public, from threats both external and internal. While I've been a firsthand witness to the reliability of the Army, (Rapid Action Force + Army= Safety from Haryana Riots + Immense Respect for their Sacrifices) I can't not notice the AFSPA- The Armed Forces Special Powers Act.While I may not have the standing of a learned diplomat, I do have a fair understanding that this very same act derives its origins from an Act which was framed to curb the Quit India Movement. And as it may be, I don't agree with how such power can be put in the Army's hands without a proper system in place to check on the possible violations that could be caused due to them. Which brings me to another critical cog in the wheel of Justice and Good Governance, The Legislative. But before we move on, think for a minute, Are all the soldiers in the Indian Armed Forces Patriots? Or are they Nationalists? Or even worse, Jingoists? Well, the answer may vary for different people, but one can't simply write them off because a small faction resorted to grave lows. Action needs to be taken. But to what degree?

The Legislative in India, is more a mockery of family lines than anything at the first look. I don't understand what one of these new generation Princes is doing by going out and announcing the present government doesn't care about people's voices, while it was his own government that set the criminal to a death penalty. The criminal in question is the same one that sparked the JNU row. While this was happening, Riots broke out in another part of India, and the supreme power, was actually concentrating on some scheme regarding cows. How can one be so proud of a country that is riddled by such problems? And why is it that Human Curiosity and Criticism is now being Punished? And Yet Again! Why is it that we see students taking to roads to achieve their means? It is indeed a tough task to make sure that all peoples of this nation are served what they need, but why is it that Violence is being used as a means to achieve that end?

Yes! Patriotism, In The Era of Internet, is nothing like what it used to be years ago. This very same Internet once toppled governments, restored democracy, but why is it that today, it's pushing us into the darkness? If it can topple, It Can resurrect too. It is indeed very easy to pick a side. #IstandwithJNU (or)  #ShutDownJNU, these two phrases are the two extreme sides of the same coin. While one side has a few that show utter disregard to what the country has to offer, the other side has ridiculous fanatics who'll tie any dirty laundry to a genuine question to make it sound bad. Am I a Patriot? Maybe Yes, Maybe No. And what side do I pick to stand with? I choose to stand with the side of Freedom. Words these days spread faster and are also misinterpreted even faster so.

I am a Citizen of India. I do love my country. And I definitely am not blind to not see that there's a lot wrong with this country. But I do know something for sure. If I was born anyplace else, I may not have felt the same. And to deal with the wrongs of a few, I wouldn't drag the country to a shame.

Satyamev Jayate.