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The Rediff Special/ Jayaprakash Narayan

The Dangers of Nationalism

The growing habit among us of imposing our views on others is not conducive to democracy. Though we have accepted a democratic constitution and a democratic governmental set-up, most of us are unaware of the significance of these institutions.

A democratic way of life means tolerance of other people's opinions which must receive full and free expression. Otherwise, true democracy cannot function. Some people all over the country are constantly trying to prevent me from expressing my views, and while they deny me the right to speak out for myself they themselves are making all kinds of propaganda to turn my countrymen against me.

Of course, I don't want to give this undue importance as I do not really believe that anyone can stop me from doing what I feel I ought to do. I have decided to serve my country in my own light till my last day, and this I will do even if it costs me my life or even if everybody forsakes me. And for this cause I shall not finch from telling the truth as I see it.

I request you to dwell dispassionately on the problems which face us today. As a Hindu, I feel that two courses are open to us today; the one that was shown by Mahatma Gandhi and Gurudev Tagore, and the other that of Godse, the murderer of Gandhi. Will you pause and think for once which one you are going to follow, I asked students at a Bangalore meeting the other day. Unfortunately a very few among us today believe in a course shown by Gandhiji and the atmosphere is charged with hatred and violence.

I must warn you that if these few sane voices don't raise their united protest now it will soon be too late because fascistic tendencies are growing very fast indeed.

I was reading Gurudev's Nationalism once again and I was amazed by the breadth of vision that he showed decades back. He realised clearly that the aggressive nationalism which he saw in all the Western countries then was spreading disaster for the human race and therefore visualised a way out of this vicious atmosphere in the acceptance of internationalism as a higher goal. He abhorred chauvinism and jingoism and preached world brotherhood.

Mahatmaji used to say: "I am a nationalist, but my nationalism is neither narrow nor aggressive." We are living in a time when nationalism, as we practise it, creates more problems than it solves.

Think over the problem of national integration too. The two biggest communities in India, the Hindus and the Muslims, have been living side by side for centuries now. What must we do to solve the conflicts which so often take place between them? Adoption of a secular and democratic Constitution is only one step towards the solution of that problem. The letters of the Constitution have to be made real in our life.

I come from a state whether the evils of casteism are more rampant than communalism. We have so many kinds of conflicts within the Hindu community itself, another example of which is the conflict between Brahmins and non-Brahmins.

We are far from achieving that integrity and unity which is the ideal of our nationhood. These fundamental problems cannot be solved through excitement, shouting of slogans or fighting among ourselves. It is a nation-building task which needs constant persuasion and infinite patience; it needs idealism as well as self-sacrifice. If our life is demanded for this ideal we have to give it as Mahatma gave his. Harmony is bound to prevail if we are ready to give sincere thought and effort to solving the communal problem.

But to be able to solve the problem we must face the truth squarely and coolly. We should not delude ourselves with fiction. If you put the newspapers of Delhi and Karachi side by side and read them you will think the world has gone mad. Both sets of newspapers are war-mongers, and each is constantly blaming the other for this. We always delude ourselves with the thought that the source of all our conflicts is in Pakistan, and communal riots start here only as a reaction to Pakistani aggressiveness. But what about the reaction in Pakistan to happening here?

I was against the partition of this country from the very beginning. Our socialist group and myself tried to prevent Partition till the last day though almost the entire country wanted it. I mention this today because I want to remind you that this is not the first time I am standing against current opinion. Partition, however, took place, and from the very next day I felt it my duty to bring two parts of this truncated continent as close to each other as possible.

I sincerely believe that destiny will bring us together ad the peace and prosperity of these two peoples, who are in fact the same people, lie in constant co-operation. Such co-operation. Such co-operation will be possible through a confederation or some other political organisation. But neither government is ready for it now, and the majority of the people in both countries are incapable of thinking in these terms.

So the time is not ripe yet and we have to create the preconditions for such developments. As I talk of the reunification of the two peoples I remember that the Hindu Mahasabha also has a similar aim. But do you think the means which they propagate will bring the subcontinent together?

I am nationalist in the sense in which Mahatmaji or Gurudev was though I am not fit to touch their feet. I fell that enlightened national self-interest demands that we come to terms with Pakistan. Today all the world is talking of peace, and can't we talk of peace with our nearest neighbour? We cannot safeguard our national interests by following the wrong path. Why are we creating war hysteria instead of preparing our people for peace?

An anti-nuclear armament conference was held lately. At that time one of the foremost peace leaders of the world was discussing the prospects of peace with our late prime minister. He said the world was spending billions of dollars for research on the means of war, but why was not a single penny being spent for research on peace? Does any government give any thought to this immensely more vital need?

We are living in constant fear of China and Pakistan, and spending a vast amount of our resources in preparation for war. Should not we rather give more thought to the possibilities of fostering peace through international organisations? Because our relations with Pakistan are bitter, whenever anything happens in Pakistan we take revenge in impotent rage on our fellow-countrymen and weaken our own nation.

In no condition should the atmosphere in this country be charged with so much madness that a section of Indians should burn the houses or rape the women or strangle and throw into fire the babies of another section of Indians. If we want to live a healthy and civilised life we must get rid of such blind communal passion.

Some people tell me that however much I try I shall not be able to change the heart of Pakistan because Pakistan was born in hatred and because it is in Pakistan's interest to have constant friction with India. But I do not believe this reading of Pakistan's attitude to be correct. I have great faith in the new generation which is growing up in both countries. I am sure they will not be guided by medieval passions in this age of science and technology and revolutionary socio-economic ideas.

I am a humanist and I trust in human goodness. Can I accept that hatred and bitterness are the real feature of Hindu society? No, the truer picture of our society is obtainable in attempts like this for fostering peace and amity. If we want to give this effort a sound foundation we have to start with a programme of re-education of our people in the ways of love and sympathy. I believe this to be possible. Let the scope of this work enlarge every day, and let us gradually realise our great Indian self in which there is tolerance and love for every human being.

The Rediff Specials

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