This is not my own work. This article is a translation of Mr.Ilavarasan's article. Please click on the link for the ORIGINAL WORK in Tamil version. I tried my level best to preserve Mr. Ilavarasan's work. some might have lost in translation. Please Excuse!
Wanna explain nationalism? It can be described as the attachment of the citizen of a country. If you have a deep look into - it may be explained as the attachment that one may possess with his fellow citizen, co-speaker of his language or with his race. In this context, if we look into the Indian nationalism, we find the exhibition of a vacuum. If we presume the nationalism that we have sweared of fraternity with the other linguistic brethren, truly that turns to be the mockery of Nationalism!!! Indian nationalism is a tranquilizer which is the secret behind the North Indian medias that exaggerate the people caught into the Taj Hostage and suppress the fact of dying fishermen of Tamilnadu, the reasons which turned the housewives of Kashmiris to be revolutionaries, the reasons brought the Maoist uprise in East India and the East Indian women whom were molested by their national Army.
This is no secret- in fact known to everyone.
These happen when the majority wants to subjugate the minority for the recognition of their due (!) place. This is the secret behind the Indian communists’ opposition against the American invasion into Iraq, but their silence to the atrocities against their fellow citizens. If we go further into Indian nationalism, it is pretty against the loud slogan of ‘Unity in diversity’.
May it be the Cauvery issue-the life nerve of Tamil peasants, or Mullaperiyar issue, the Kashmir issue- the Indian imperialism in the cover of nationalism (a terrific tranquiliser) successfully forbids the minorities from complaining and agitating. To perpetuate the tranquiliser, India needs rivals (Pakistan, China) at least in games, like Cricket. Right from the Ayothya issue to the Cauvery disputes, it is the nationalism which makes people forget and muffle the memories. The ire of the Indian public upon Pakistan and china, which is caused by the Indian media successfully conceal the atrocities and biased administration of Indian government on its own people. The motive of the Indian media, which describe the Cricket match against Pakistan like a world war, is to divert the people’s ire towards aliens from towards the handicapped Indian government. The media successfully divert the people’s anger and helps for the perpetuation of Indian imperialism. To say it right, we the nationalised people are also one of the reasons behind the atrocities in Kashmir, dying tamil fishermen and suppressed north-east. The secret behind the unison of Congress and the BJP, in Kashmir issue is very simple. Both need Kashmir for their survival in politics-or else it would be unmanageable to deal with the internal frictions. The Indian government has never tried true efforts to resolve the decadal Kashmir issue, rather wanted to perpetuate it. Because, the true enemy of Indians, that is India, is concealed behind the India’s enemy, Pakistan- in the Kashmir smokescreen. If we take a deep look into it, we may find that India have been always concerned on the kashmiri land, not the people. If India were the country that patronizes its citizen, kashmiri housewives and children wouldn’t have been brought to street to pelt against the military earthmovers. The stone pelting by the civilians clearly portrays us the past atrocities by Indian forces in Kashmir.
The pride tamils were the only people challenged the Hindi invasion into their domain. The Indian apathy towards tamils is ever since the anti-hindi agitations. Since once the leaders of anti-hindi agitations, now lick the North Indian boots for their political survival, fishermen deaths in palk strait have become everyday news-like a weather report. Indian Home minister very lightly states that it is impossible to save the fishermen crossing borders. But…. It is impossible to spot the borderline in the sea Mr.Home Minister!!! Further, no international law sanctions firing& killing of cross-borders. Before you count the dead bodies of fishermen, before you understand the apathy of Home ministry, the media make you count the Indian medals in the commonwealth games. When one third of citizens are below poverty line, with a torn economy, the Indian media exaggerate and enforce self pride to the public upon the rupee symbol- we resonantly nod our heads and forget the bloodsheds. People!!.. it doesn’t impart direct influence on you now. Some fishermen die somewhere. But it is not far to impart direct influence and it is already commenced by the Indian government in the extinction of tigers of Tamil eelam.
Hitherto untouched by military boots, south India will soon experience the atrocities on behest of Chinese presence in Srilanka. A great danger is on its way to the south Indians like what happened to the Kashmiris. The danger would be greater than that of the Chinese aggression. Human rights would be denied-under emergency situations. South India, particularly Tamilnadu will experience the same that the Kashmiris experienced in the behest of Srilankans and Chinese-may not be tomorrow, but not very far.
The present pyre of national struggle in Kashmir, turned even the staunch nationalist like Omar Abdullah dare against India and luminaries like Arunthathi Roy, put forth the freedom struggle to the international forums.
Arundhathi roy’s statement is pretty praise worthy.
“Pity the nation that needs to jail those who ask for justice, while communal killers, mass murderers, corporate scamsters, looters, rapists, and those who prey on the poorest of the poor, roam free."
Stop getting tranquilised by the Nationalism. Stop getting muffled by it. Stop viewing government designed enemies as your enemies. The attachment of a citizen towards his nation is justified if the nation considers him at least a human being. In the contrary, if the nation on its imperialist motive, consider its citizen as just a vote, where is the point of nationalism?
Understand the governance that India is doing. You don’t need to rebel! At least, understand that the national flag that you pin on your kids’ shirt on Independence day is dipped with the blood of Kashmiris, assamese and dying tamil fishermen!
All will be on their course!!!
"You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it."
— Malcolm X
— Malcolm X
