What was Nationalism some six-to-seven decades ago is not the same Nationalism what we see today. A word which created a sense of pride among the masses earlier has lost its importance now. Colonial era witnessed a series of breathtaking and brave contributions from our freedom fighters, for whom Nationalism was a part of their DNA. They criticized each other's viewpoints as well as they grew on those criticism to mould the true meaning of Nationalism. It was not required for those brave fighters to show the love for their nation by shouting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", as they were the people with senses, who understood that true love for nation was not in words, but in action. They believed in actions, as to how to overthrow the British and regain the motherland. They believed in propagating ideas of brotherhood among different communities and to bring them to the common objective of regaining the Swaraj. The true moulded meaning of Nationalism, was flowing through the blood veins of each and every citizen of the country. Children of that period were so much ideologically advanced that they had that inbuilt thirst of freedom. Their ideologies were so much developed by the time they reached their adolescence, that they were never unclear of the concepts of Nationalism.
But alas! This idea of Nationalism has been tarnished and has lost its true meaning. The idea which our ancestors had developed through critical review, has been disfigured by the pseudo-nationalists. The main reason for the present condition is the narrowing of space for any kind of criticism. Nationalism which we see today is stuffed with ideas of religious fundamentalism. This epidemic of religious fundamentalism is fast spreading among the youth, the same age group which in the colonial times was the backbone of freedom struggle. The present brand of Nationalism, as we should say, has originated from a particular section of people hailing from an organisation which has nothing to claim for their contribution in freedom struggle. It is because of their blank history in freedom struggle that they are trying to create a hysteria among the masses and creating a new opium for the masses, in the name of (their version of ) Nationalism. The same people supporting those organisations which cleaned the boots of British, are now playing this fake card. Who are they to provide us with the certificates of being national or anti-national, by placing a worthless criteria of chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai"? Recent remarks by a yoga guru of beheading those who do not chant "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and that of a state CM for labeling them as anti-national, reflects the intentions of the whole lot of brainless, yet dangerous, outfit which is ruling our country. Carl Sagan has beautifully explained the difference between "Science" and "Pseudo-Science" in his book "Demon- Haunted World: Science as Candle in the Dark", where it is said that
Science thrives on errors, cutting them away one by one. False conclusions are drawn all the time, but they are drawn tentatively. Hypotheses are framed so they are capable of being disproved. A succession of alternative hypotheses is confronted by experiment and observation. Science gropes and staggers toward improved understanding. Proprietary feelings are of course offended when a scientific hypothesis is disproved, but such disproofs are recognized as central to the scientific enterprise. Pseudoscience is just the opposite. Hypotheses are often framed precisely so they are invulnerable to any experiment that offers a prospect of disproof, so even in principle they cannot be invalidated. Practitioners are defensive and wary. Skeptical scrutiny is opposed. When the pseudoscientific hypothesis fails to catch fire with scientists, conspiracies to suppress it are deduced.In the same way the difference between Nationalism and Pseudo-Nationalism is to be understood. Nationalism is always open to critical review, while Pseudo-Nationalism is habitual with suppressing the critics through force.
Voices of dissent against these outfits are been suppressed, but the positive sign which we are witnessing is the uprising of students for the rightful i.e. right for rationale thinking . For every suppression, there is an uprising and it is rightly said.
It is once again in the hands of young minds belonging to that age group, who during the pre-independence era ignited the struggle for independence. If earlier it was for freedom from the ruthless colonial rule, now it will be for freedom from the dangerous communal rule.
