Why Patriotism Matters?
But before you pack your bags, I want you to remember a moment from thousands of years ago. It answers the question that every young Indian eventually asks: "What does my country give me?"
The Choice: Gold vs. Dust
Imagine the scene. The war is over. Ravana is defeated. Lord Rama stands in Lanka.
Lanka was not an ordinary city. It was Swarnamayi—literally made of gold. It had technology, wealth, and luxury that Rama’s own kingdom, Ayodhya, could never dream of. It was the "First World" of that era.
Lakshmana, young and impressionable, was mesmerized. He asked, "Bhaiya, why go back to Ayodhya? It is made of mud and dust. We can rule here. This is paradise."
Rama’s answer was not political. It was deeply emotional. He said:
"Janani Janmabhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi."
(Mother and Motherland are superior even to Heaven.)
Rama chose the dust of his home over the gold of a foreign land. Why?
But Why Dust over Gold ?
Because Gold can give you comfort, but only Dust can give you identity.
Before we talk about politics or religion, let’s talk about Biology. Why did Rama feel this? Why do we cry when the National Anthem plays?
It is not just "culture"; it is chemistry.
Inside our brains, there is a powerful chemical called Oxytocin, often called the "Love Hormone." It is the same chemical that floods a mother’s brain when she holds her baby. It creates a bond that says, "This is MINE. I will protect this."
Think about a family. Can you build a strong family without investing emotion? Can you raise a child like a business transaction? No. You need emotion to make sacrifices.
As Sadhguru says, "If you can't build a family of four people without emotion, how can you build a nation of 1.4 billion people without emotion?"
Patriotism is simply that necessary emotion scaled up. Without it, the structure collapses.
Evolution gave us this chemical for a reason: In-group Altruism.
Thousands of years ago, humans could not survive alone in the jungle. We needed a tribe. Nature wired our brains to sacrifice our own safety for the safety of our group. Without this "Team Spirit," humans would have gone extinct. Patriotism is simply that biological survival instinct expanded to the level of a Nation.
Have you ever stood in a stadium when India wins a crucial match? Or felt that sudden wave of goosebumps when thousands of people sing Vande Mataram together?
That electric feeling—where your heart races and you feel invincible—is what sociologists call Collective Effervescence.
This "Collective Effervescence" doesn't just feel good; it creates future champions.
Before 1983: Cricket was just a game. We were happy to participate.
After 1983: When Kapil Dev lifted that World Cup, something shifted in the Indian DNA. A generation of kids (including Sachin Tendulkar) saw that and thought, "We can be World Champions." That one win birthed a thousand cricketers.
In the 2023 World Cup, Rohit Sharma (the Captain) did something extraordinary. In almost every match, he scored 40s, 60s, or 80s.
When a batsman reaches 48 or 80, they usually slow down. They take singles. They play safe to reach the "Milestone" of a Century.
Rohit didn't. He kept hitting. He threw his wicket away playing risky shots to keep the team's momentum high.
He sacrificed his personal centuries to ensure the Team had a buffer. He killed his own statistics to build the Team's domination. That is Patriotism on the field: "Let my name be on the losing side of a record, if it puts my Nation on the winning side of the match."
Consider the soldiers at Siachen Glacier. They stand at 22,000 feet in -50°C temperatures. They aren't just fighting enemies; they are fighting death itself.
If they were just "employees" of the government, they would quit and go home to their wives and children. Who would blame them?
Imagine, In the below video what exactly might be going in her mind while saluting to her father's dead body.
Even after this struggle and lethal consequences, they stay. Why? Because of this "Collective Effervescence." They are fueled by the belief that they are the shield for 1.4 billion people. That emotion is stronger than the cold or their life.
Modern life is lonely. We sit in front of screens, isolated in our own little bubbles of "Me." We are starving for connection. Patriotism offers the cure. It is one of the few forces left that allows the "I" to dissolve into the "We."
This is the secret reason why the scientists at ISRO do what they do. Many of them could have gone to NASA. They could have earned 50 times more salary. They could have driven Ferraris.
But they stayed. They worked in simple offices to send a craft to the dark side of the moon—something no other rich nation could do.
Why? Because when Chandrayaan touched the lunar surface, they felt that Collective Effervescence. They felt the heartbeat of 1.4 billion people beating in their own chests.
The Debt of Gratitude
There is a dangerous trend today to teach Contempt for our country rather than Reverence. We look at the potholes, the corruption, and the poverty, and we ask, "What has this country done for me?"
This question implies that you are a customer and India is a shop. But you are not a customer. You are a Beneficiary.
We have become "Rights-Oriented" always demanding what is ours but we have forgotten to be "Duty-Oriented."
We blame the politicians, the system, and the administration. But we never ask the mirror: "Am I doing my duty?"
In Indian philosophy, we speak of "Rina" (Debt) specifically Pitru Rina (debt to ancestors).
Think about it:
- You speak freely today because someone else rotted in a colonial jail.
- You vote today because someone else took a lathi blow to the head.
- You sleep peacefully today because a soldier is standing in -50°C snow at Siachen right now.
We are enjoying the shade of trees we did not plant.
Patriotism is not about thinking your country is perfect. It is about Gratitude. It is the humble acknowledgment that your freedom was paid for by someone else’s blood. To be unpatriotic is not "intellectual"; it is simply ungrateful.
Like one of great songs go "Ae mere watan ke logo jara ankemein barlo paani. Jo Shaheed hue jo unki jara yaad Karo kurbaani "
We enjoy our weekends, our cafes, and our freedom of speech. But have you ever stopped to ask: What was the cost of this life?
Think of Bhagat Singh. He was just 23 years old. At an age when we worry about Instagram likes or job packages, he was worrying about the noose around his neck. And he smiled as he wore it.
Think of Mahatma Gandhi. He fasted for 21 days in jail. Can you imagine missing lunch for just one day? You get a headache; you get angry. How did these men go without food for weeks? How did they endure torture without breaking?
What was the "Kick"?
It wasn't money. It wasn't fame. It was a fire called Freedom. They were intoxicated by the idea of a Nation that didn't even exist yet. Their dopamine, their oxytocin, their entire existence was fueled by the vision of a free India.
Imagine if they had been "practical." Imagine if they had said, "Why should I starve? Let the British rule. Even british is human, let them take care"
We wouldn't just be a colony today; we would be destitute.
- When the British arrived, India held 24% of the World's GDP. When they left, we held just 4%.
- Economists estimate the British drained $45 Trillion from India. They didn't just take our diamonds; they took our dignity.
- They destroyed our Gurukuls and education systems to turn us into clerks who looked Indian but thought British.
If those freedom fighters hadn't had that "Kick" of patriotism, we would be one of the poorest, most broken nations on earth today, with no history and no future.
You are not self-made. You are sacrifice-made.
The Patriotism of the Common Man: Karma Yoga
Independence struggle is past, not everyone is in military what it means to common man ? We often think patriotism means dying on the border. But that is a limited view.
Patriotism is not just saluting the flag on August 15th.
- If a Sanitary Worker cleans the street thinking, "This is my country, I will keep it clean," he is a Patriot.
- If a Railway Gangman checks the tracks sincerely to ensure passengers are safe, he is a Patriot.
- If a Teacher teaches not just for a salary but to build the next generation, she is a Patriot.
This is Karma Yoga. You don't need a gun to serve India. You just need Sincerity.
When you do your job corruptly, you are attacking the nation. When you do your job honestly, you are building the nation.
Real patriotism is active empathy—it is wiping the tears of your fellow citizens when floods or disasters strike, rather than just waiting for the government to act.
Nation > Religion: The "Practical God"
This brings us to a controversial but necessary truth: For your survival on this earth, your Nation is greater than your Religion. Religion saves your soul. The Nation saves your body. Lot of religions keep religion first nation later. But if you think logically Nation is same as God. So keeping nation first means keeping God first.
Swami Vivekananda understood this perfectly. He saw that Indians were obsessed with millions of gods while ignoring the starving humans right in front of them. He gave a thunderous call to the youth:
"For the next fifty years this alone shall be our keynote — this our great Mother India. Let all other vain gods disappear for the time from our minds."
He didn't mean you should stop praying. He meant that Service to the Nation is the highest form of worship. If you pray to a stone idol but ignore the suffering of your countrymen, your religion is empty.
Think about it practically
If you are a refugee floating on a boat in the middle of the ocean, you can pray to any God you want. But without a Passport—without a Nation to claim you—you have no rights. You have no dignity. You are just biological matter floating in the sea.
Religion gives you a name. The Nation gives you the right to exist. Isn't giving you existence Godly?
We see this tragedy today. There are millions of people who have their God, their prayers, and their scriptures intact—but they lost their Nation. And because they lost their Nation, they are treated worse than animals in refugee camps.
Don't mistake the altar for the fortress. You can pray at the altar, but you must defend the fortress first.
Vedas very well understand this
This idea that a Nation is a living entity is not new. It is the very foundation of Sanatana Dharma.
Our scriptures realized thousands of years ago that you cannot practice Dharma in a vacuum. You need a secure land (Kshetra) to practice it.
1. The First National Anthem (Atharva Veda):
In the Prithvi Sukta of the Atharva Veda, the Rishi declares:
"Mata Bhumi Putroham Prithivyah."
(The Earth is my Mother, and I am her Son.)
This is a revolutionary statement. It defines our relationship with the nation not as "Owner and Property" but as "Mother and Son." You don't sell your mother. You don't divide your mother. You protect her.
2. The Mahabharata & Gita:
Why was the Gita spoken on a battlefield (Kurukshetra)?
Because Krishna understood that Dharma needs a Field.
In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma explains that without a strong State (Rajya), the "Law of the Fishes" (Matsya Nyaya) takes over—where the strong eat the weak. The Nation is the force that allows the weak to sleep peacefully.
Therefore, protecting the Nation is not just a civic duty; it is the highest Dharma.
3. Sri Aurobindo’s Vision:
In modern times, Sri Aurobindo revived this ancient truth. He warned us against seeing India as just a map of fields and mountains.
He said:
"For us the Nation is no piece of earth... it is a Power, a Godhead... It is Shakti."
He taught that Nationalism is not politics; it is a spiritual sadhana. When you serve the nation, you are not serving a government; you are serving the Divine Mother (Bharat Mata) who sustains 1.4 billion souls.
The Illusion of the "Global Citizen"
Many young people try to skip all of this by saying, "I believe in humanity, not countries." It sounds noble, but it is scientifically impossible, practically dangerous, and philosophically immature. Here is why the "Global Citizen" idea fails.
1. The Problem of Scale: Why "Loving Everyone" Means Loving No One
Imagine your empathy is a torchlight. When you shine it on your family (5 people), it is bright. When you shine it on your community (150 people), it is visible. But if you try to shine that single torch on the entire world (8 billion people), the light becomes so faint that it illuminates nothing. When you try to "love humanity" directly, you usually end up feeling nothing for the individual because the scale is too vast to process. The Nation serves as a lens to focus your light.
2. The Trap of Inaction: The Bystander Effect
Psychologists have found that if a man collapses in a busy market, people often walk right past him. Why? Because of the Diffusion of Responsibility. Everyone thinks: "Surely someone else will help."
This is the hidden danger of Globalism. When you claim to belong to the "World," your sense of duty dissolves.
"Poverty? That’s a humanity problem (so I don't need to help the slum next door)."
"Climate Change? That’s a global problem (so I don't need to fix my own backyard)."
Patriotism solves this paralysis. It draws a boundary and says: "This is INDIA'S problem. And since you are Indian, it is YOUR problem." It turns you from a passive spectator into an active player.
3. The Reality Check: The Lifeboat
Let’s look at the hard reality. Global citizenship is a luxury for peaceful times. In a crisis, it evaporates.
Don't Judge by Perfection, Judge by Reality.
Young people often complain, "But India has so many problems!" Yes, it does. But do not judge your Motherland against a Utopian Fantasy. Compare it to the reality of the neighborhood.
Look at Pakistan. Look at Sri Lanka. Look at Afghanistan.Look at the students who were stuck in Ukraine when the war broke out. Look at the chaos in Sudan
When the bombs started falling, did the "Global Community" come to save them? No.
Did their university ID cards save them? No.
The only thing that saved them was the Indian Flag.
When the world turns upside down, the "Global Citizen" tag falls off, and you are just an Indian again.
The strength of your country is your insurance policy. If India is weak, you are weak—no matter where you live.
When you ignore your country's problems, you are poking holes in your own lifeboat.
4. The Philosophical Solution: Adhikara
Indian philosophy understood this psychology perfectly. It introduced the concept of Adhikara (qualification). You cannot jump to the roof without climbing the stairs.
The Self: You care for yourself.
The Family: You sacrifice for your parents.
The Nation (The Bridge): You work for your people.
The World: You love humanity.
The Nation is the mandatory Bridge between the Self and the World. It expands your ego enough to kill selfishness, but keeps it grounded enough to ensure action. If you burn this bridge, you don't fly; you fall.
Right now, our nation is in trouble. We have hunger, we have threats. We need Patriotism in full force.
Maybe in 50 years, if the whole world is fed and there are no wars, we can "downscale" our patriotism. First, climb the stairs: Self -> Family -> Nation. Only then can you reach the World
Patriotism vs. Jingoism: The Fine Line
A common fear people have is: "Doesn't placing my country first make me like Hitler? Does it mean I hate other countries?"
This is a crucial misunderstanding. We must distinguish between Patriotism and Jingoism (Negative Nationalism).
- Patriotism is Internal: It is motivated by Love for your own people.
- Jingoism is External: It is motivated by Hate for other people.
I love my mother more than any other woman in the world. Does that mean I hate your mother? No. Does it mean I want to kill your mother? Absolutely not.
It simply means that while I respect all mothers, my responsibility is to mine.
Similarly, loving India doesn't mean hating Pakistan, China, or America. It means prioritizing the welfare of the people you are responsible for.
Hitler wanted to Conquer the world. That is aggressive nationalism.
Gandhi and Rama wanted to Liberate and Build their people. That is defensive patriotism.
True patriotism is not about tearing others down to rise up; it is about rising up so you can stand as an equal.
On a flight, they tell you: "Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others."
Is that selfish? No. If you pass out, you can't help anyone.
Similarly, a weak, poor, broken India cannot help the world. A strong, capable India can.
Example: Vaccine Maitri. Because India focused on building its own pharmaceutical strength, we were able to save millions of lives globally during COVID.
You must be Strong to be Kind.
Conclusion: Don't Just Leave, Lead.
There is nothing wrong with going abroad. Go. Learn. Earn.
But never forget that your roots are here. A tree that grows high without deep roots will fall in the first storm.
Ideally, everything is God (Brahman). Yes.
But practically? You are the hands of that God. And those hands were born here for a reason.
Don't let your patriotism be just for cricket matches. Let it be in your work. Redirect that tribal instinct away from caste, away from religious division, and towards the Nation.
If you are a coder, code for India.
If you are a businessman, build for India.
If you are a student, learn to lead India.
Because in the end, the world will respect you only when you respect your Mother.
India might be dust, but it is your dust. And from that dust, you rise.
Question that we should answer is "What did we give to our nation?" not "What nation gave me"
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