Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

Of all the things in the world to be recognized as, the best is to be seen as a Patriot.

With lesser regard for Chauvinism, Patriotism is a pure feeling of love, attachment and piety towards a Motherland or country and also of compassion with its citizens who aim to share a similar sentiment to create oneness and brotherhood amongst themselves.

Though nothing can define it because of its vastness in perpetuity, it may not be difficult for people to be wise towards different perspectives of Nationalism or Patriotism.

This abstract word has evolved in times immemorial.

The first known use of ‘Patriotism’ has been in 1716.

Greeks and Romans antiquity provided the basis for a politics-affiliated patriotism that conceives an idea of loyalty to the patria.

To the ilks of Jean Jacques Rousseau, it meant the love for homeland but a felling against loyalty towards the Church, for the sake of an argument that they served heavens and not Earth.

Enlightenment thinkers were even against excess of Patriotism or false patriotism. “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”, said Samuel Johnson in 1774, but who is wise enough to judge afterall?

Many writers have dared to understand this feeling but it seems to be a subjective one for all.

George Orwell has written well in his essays: “Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.”

However, in the recent times, all meanings tend to fall short of its derivatives, when the world is groped with the Pandemic, taking lives, destroying livelihoods, plunging people more into poverty and hunger, even causing world-class economies to fall feeble.

Just before a week of Indian Independence, IPCC released its sixth Assessment report, informing the world of gross reality and threatening the world citizens to nullify their travesties and work towards safer environment, if humanity wants to survive.

In the wake of this change, we dare to ask after 75 years of sovereign freedom: Can we stretch and encover conservation of Nature under the banner of Patriotism?

Several studies have indicated a positive connotation and association between patriotism and environmentalism.

Though not quantifying this relationship, the studies have so revealed the effects of good patriotism and social well-being on pro-environmental attitudes across the world.

How do Patriotism and environment affect each other? Can these co-exist?

“Conservation is a great moral issue, for it involves the patriotic duty of ensuring the safety and continuance of the nation”, as per the study.

Individuals with good patriotism can correlate and sense belongingness in preserving the environment they had been endowed with, by their forefathers whereas altruism and biospheric values can foster values to serve Nature and ultimately, the Nation that holds it.

Patriotism, can range from local to National level, the need to protect every aspect of its importance. It is certainly not the love of a political candidate or a party, rather a sheer love for one’s people.

It so encircles the love for land, place, traditions, rivers etc., whatever one can call home. Are these not collectives of an environment?

In one of the most powerful expressions advocating patriotism, one shall be willing to fight for the health of such land or place, for clean water, clean air and soil that is not poisoned or degraded. Sand we have not been wrong to had been embroiled in such a fight since long now.

 

Every Indian soul remembers Chipko movement and considers it our legacy till eternity.

Is it the same case with Nationalism, what do the studies suggest?

Nationalism represents a sense of identification with one’s own nation and it’s interests, upholding the country’s superiority and hostility towards all those who can be hostile to its interests.

Generally, arid Nationalism gets associated with skepticism toward environmental issues in one’s country due to pressure from other stakeholders and international competition for scarce resources.

One can take China’s example: Chinese nationalism is unique and differently averse to the Western versions. It is deep in China and visceral, mainly developed from the effects of continued humiliation by outsiders.

In a drive to serve their own interests, they leave no regard for their own surroundings.

‘Love for Nature’ in Indian Constitution:

The dream that our forefathers fancied about India when it was about to gain its hard-earned, long-pressed freedom may still not be fulfilled in absolute terms.

It has been tough for a difficult Nation already to deal with perils inherited from the pre-Independence era (ignorance, education, scientific pretence etc) while improving along the lines of public health: infant and maternal mortality, hunger, poverty etc.

Article 21 guaranteed under the Indian Constitution has been extended to absorb the principle of “Environment as a basic right” after India participated in Stockholm conference that gave birth to Environmental Institutions worldwide.

“The right to life guaranteed by article 21 includes the right of enjoyment of pollution-free water and air for full enjoyment of life”, the court observed in Subhash Kumar case.

Since then, we have seen a bunch of legislations like Water Act, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 or the recent Plastic waste Management (amendment) act conserving and defending various resources of Nature.

While Article 48A, the part of elaborate and ambitious Directive Principles of State policies, mandates the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forest and wildlife in the country.

We were even sure to reflect our affiliations with environment in our Constitution and several times, our Judiciary has upheld it (pre-project EIA mandated, Ramagundam Thermal plant judgement etc.) even though our dedication Institutions may have failed.

It was advocated in SC: “The issue of dilution of environmental norms is very serious. But when it comes to primacy, we must choose the environment, for the present and for the intergenerational ecological justice. Future generations possess a legal right to a clean and healthy environment”.

This consolidates our faith that serving Environment is in the best interests of every entity surviving in this country. For Nation to sustain, we have to work towards replenishing its resources. Economic prosperity will follow.

However, it is just not an executive obligation to serve Nature under public service, but it lies within the contribution of every soul living in India.

Article 51-A (g) of the Indian Constitution states it under a Fundamental duty: “It shall be duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures.”

It is okay this time to stay inside, celebrate and cherish a bit of Patriotism within, contribute in Nation-making the way we can.

For we cannot see that splendid flag unfurling in our offices, schools and other places, for now let us all reflect on the true spirit of sacrifice that true patriotism demands of us.

Making India great again demands making India green too!

Happy Independence Day!

By Alaina Ali Beg

I am a lover of all arts and therefore can dream myself in all places where the World takes me. I am an avid animal lover and firmly believes that Nature is the true sorcerer.

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