India celebrates her 64th year of Independence from British Raj today. In this day and age of social media, you see umpteenth videos being posted about glorious India and receive wishes for “Happy Independence Day” (or “Mera Bharat Mahaan) but as an Indian, living abroad, I am uncertain on how to react to these messages. I, for one, will soon lose my Indian citizenship in exchange for a more advantageous Canadian citizenship and secondly, I feel Patriotism has no value in this globalized world anymore.
Every year, millions of Indians living abroad, most of whom have already given up their Indian citizenship; celebrate August 15th by marching on the busy streets to mark yet another year of Indian independence. That celebration reflects the passion and sentiments NRIs carry for India but at the same time we don’t contribute in India’s growth (at least not the majority), we conveniently ridicule every scam in India, we mock India’s Legislative and Judicial system, we have no faith in India’s civil society functioning and most importantly, we propose solutions on improving the system but never take part in it. How do we then go out and audaciously swing the Indian flags on foreign streets to glorify the independence which, if at all did anything, perhaps provided us the opportunity to cross-over and look for a better lifestyle? If I can’t stay in that society and bring about a change, I have no right to comment on its shortcomings or feel part of its progress.
In a vast country like India where providing parity in any field is a challenge, you will find almost every other citizen wanting to leave its shores for better prospects elsewhere. With majority of the population categorized as backward classes, no one has any sense of belonging there. Rich send their kids to expensive universities abroad so they can live and settle down there and others are just looking at any other possible way to intersect to other side. Despite the tremendous economic growth in the country, if given the opportunity to settle down abroad, majority of the Indians would take that in a heartbeat. It’s not the problem of the people who wish to seek more comfortable life even if it means moving away from homeland. A secure and comfortable life is our right. Personally, I am first loyal to my loved ones and then to any other union, society or government. I definitely conform to certain laws manufactured by a society but I will never put a country over my family.
Culturally, we remain rooted to our background and family values but there’s no need to mix that with Patriotism, Nationalism or Jingoism. All these sentiments have no value if you are feeding off each other in this free market. My identity will always remain Indian despite living anywhere but it only means that I must take pride in the cultural values inculcated in me. I must resent and shun any discrimination against people of the Indian community but I shall also not get carried away by any patriotic emotion as it will only create division among people. I have utmost respect for all Indian freedom fighters because imperialism is a curse and they did exactly what was right for India. I just refuse to be a part of Indian movements mirroring nationalism on foreign lands where those acts have little or no significance to locals and majority of Indians.
Every year, millions of Indians living abroad, most of whom have already given up their Indian citizenship; celebrate August 15th by marching on the busy streets to mark yet another year of Indian independence. That celebration reflects the passion and sentiments NRIs carry for India but at the same time we don’t contribute in India’s growth (at least not the majority), we conveniently ridicule every scam in India, we mock India’s Legislative and Judicial system, we have no faith in India’s civil society functioning and most importantly, we propose solutions on improving the system but never take part in it. How do we then go out and audaciously swing the Indian flags on foreign streets to glorify the independence which, if at all did anything, perhaps provided us the opportunity to cross-over and look for a better lifestyle? If I can’t stay in that society and bring about a change, I have no right to comment on its shortcomings or feel part of its progress.
In a vast country like India where providing parity in any field is a challenge, you will find almost every other citizen wanting to leave its shores for better prospects elsewhere. With majority of the population categorized as backward classes, no one has any sense of belonging there. Rich send their kids to expensive universities abroad so they can live and settle down there and others are just looking at any other possible way to intersect to other side. Despite the tremendous economic growth in the country, if given the opportunity to settle down abroad, majority of the Indians would take that in a heartbeat. It’s not the problem of the people who wish to seek more comfortable life even if it means moving away from homeland. A secure and comfortable life is our right. Personally, I am first loyal to my loved ones and then to any other union, society or government. I definitely conform to certain laws manufactured by a society but I will never put a country over my family.
Culturally, we remain rooted to our background and family values but there’s no need to mix that with Patriotism, Nationalism or Jingoism. All these sentiments have no value if you are feeding off each other in this free market. My identity will always remain Indian despite living anywhere but it only means that I must take pride in the cultural values inculcated in me. I must resent and shun any discrimination against people of the Indian community but I shall also not get carried away by any patriotic emotion as it will only create division among people. I have utmost respect for all Indian freedom fighters because imperialism is a curse and they did exactly what was right for India. I just refuse to be a part of Indian movements mirroring nationalism on foreign lands where those acts have little or no significance to locals and majority of Indians.
