Bengaluru: Patriotism being replaced by jingoism, says Ramachandra Guha at Lit Fest


Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Oct 28: Eminent historian Ramachandra Guha attacked both the Indian left and the right factions and blamed them for the rise in jingoism in the country.

Guha was speaking on the topic "Jingoism versus Patriotism" at the Bangalore Literature Festival (Lit Fest) on Saturday October 28.

He said the model of patriotism was now in tatters and was being replaced by a new model of jingoism. He outlined four features of this jingoism - being an Indian was equated to being a Hindu, Hindi being considered the national language with everyone expected to speak it, considering Pakistan as a common enemy, and branding critics of these ideas as 'anti-national'.

He also pointed out the negatives of 'worshipping' a political figure. Quoting from Dr B R Ambedkar's final speech to the Constituent Assembly, he said, "Bhakti in religion is the route to God, bhakti in politics is the route to dictatorship. Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi have that (dictatorial qualities), make sure your leader doesn't have them," he said.

"In a piece I had written in 2009, I had a wishlist - a BJP rid of RSS, a Congress rid of the Gandhi family, a modern Left and a new Party with constitutional patriotism. Almost 10 years later, none have come true, " Guha said.

He critiqued the corruption and cronyism of the Congress. "It was tragic that the Congress, associated so deeply with the freedom struggle, had to be reduced to one family. It disowned leaders from outside, helping Hindutva gain ground. Congress disowned Vallabhbhai Patel and BJP misowned Patel. What ruled was the corrupt," he said.

He pointed that jingoism was a global phenomenon and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in India's neighbouring countries was cited as an example

Guha concluded by asking the constitutional patriots to fight against jingoism.

  

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Comment on this article

  • shomal, Bangalore/Mumbai

    Sun, Oct 29 2017

    Qualification and Education are the two faces of the same coin. In India we have the maximum number of qualified people but a few educated. We go after the masses without wisdom, which is core of education.
    Time has come that the youth of this country should understand that we need to create a society of abundance for our next generation and for that we need education which comes by means of wisdom. Mr Guha is very much talking on these lines, which can only create a new India, which is flourishing and generating opportunities for all its citizens. India cannot shine, unless its citizens shine, India cannot be developed, unless its citizens are developed, India cannot be an economic power, unless its citizens are enabled to become the financial power, India cannot become a super power unless Indians are united and work together with one strong constitutional truth "unity in diversity".

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • flavian dsouza, chik/bengaluru

    Sun, Oct 29 2017

    Guha speech makes sense but BJP without RSS is nothing and congress will need someone from the gandhi family to power it until a leader emerges and MMS was not bad at all and so was PVN .

    The bigger issue we have is we have stalled the econmic and social progress of the country in the name of Hindutva which is preventing the growth of 85 % of the population

    DisAgree [2] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gabriel, Sagar

    Sun, Oct 29 2017

    Patriotism is the domain of the head, but Matrioism is the domain of the Heart. Both Mix-up we have the Essence of Nationalism. Dictionary is poor without the term Matriotism

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Oct 29 2017

    Jingoism is nothing but FEKUGIRI ...

    DisAgree [9] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Mulki

    Sun, Oct 29 2017

    Well said MR Guha ,but the educated blind people won't understand till it's too late to repair the damage.Let your tribe grow. Otherwise we will be still 100 years behind the developed countries and yet wouldn't know it.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Bengaluru: Patriotism being replaced by jingoism, says Ramachandra Guha at Lit Fest



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