Hindu Rashtra and the Vedas
Spirit of 'Rashtriyatva' was dominant in Bharat from ancient times. From the beginning of human history, Bhartiyas saw Bharat as a full-fledged 'Rashtra'. Many of us are of the impression that Western nationalism is the English equivalent of our 'Rashtriyatva'. This, however, is neither the actual case nor borne out by historical facts.
Nationalism in Europe: Initial European history is marked with family as the only social unit which was subsequently replaced by the scattered nomadic tribes. Tribalism based upon blood relationships formed the foundation during that period. Territorialism was evolved in course of a number of centuries in the Middle ages.
Synchronization of the two into nationalism is as recent as the French revolution. In the case of Bharat such synchronization was already prevalent when history opened its eyes. In the later period, Greeks furnished the first organized leadership to Europe. But they did not constitute a 'Nation'. They had their city-states but nothing like a' Greek nation'.
Rome was also a city-state until it attained the status of an empire, but breathed the spirit of international imperialism of a city-state and not of 'Nation'. Under the Christian church, all Christians belonged to one family. The growth of nationalism was inconceivable so long as the church was influential. The first patriotic war fought by English was the' War of Jenkin's Ear' in the Eighteenth Century. Before that wars were either religious or dynastic.
Hindu Rashtra as old as our sacred Vedas: Nationalism in Europe is recent in origin and reactionary in character. Western nationalism is incapable of being as intense and sanctified as Bhartiya Rashtriyatva which is as ancient as the Himalayas. In Bharat, the motherland and the National society have been so very identified that it is impossible to think of the one without being reminded of the other. Consequently, the sacred and tender emotions of the sons and daughters of the soil are naturally directed towards Bharat Mata. This is the unique feature of Bhartiya Rashtriyatva.
European nationalism and Bhartiya Rashtriyatva: European nationalism are narrow, reactionary, and anti-religion. Due to reactionary nature, it is incompatible with the idea of internationalism. The content of Bhartiya Rashtriyatva is positive. Hindu nationalism Is internationalist in its tendencies and approach as it exhibited the spirit of Universalism. Also, by virtue of its supremacy for centuries, the church constituted the greatest challenge to any other concept that emerged as its rival. The loyalty of Bhartiya is not torn between Fatherland and Motherland. To him, Bharat is both because every particle of its earth is sacred to him.
Influenced by western education our intellectuals are tempted to gauge by the yardstick of the west. Due to this, there is a general misunderstanding about the precise meaning or import of the terms Rashtriyatva and Nationalism. There is such a marked difference between the two that the one cannot be treated as an equivalent of the other. Our concept of 'Rashtra' is unique and the west can boast of nothing similar or parallel to it.
(The author is a Freelance Columnist and Prant Prachar Pramukh of Vidya Bharati, Punjab)