The Patriot

After the terrorist attacks in Mumbai I have been hearing a lot of voices of the so called “most patriotic” people in India about how all families should send one of their children to the armed forces. Laws should be made to make it mandatory for every family to send its children to the armed forces. Apparently by doing so people will become “more patriotic” and inspire patriotism in others. How one incident can bring out the insanity of people!! I respect the fact that people are joining the armed forces willing to give up their life for their country but I am sorry joining the armed forces is not the only way one can express or be called patriotic. Security threats are only one of the umpteen threats that a nation can have. Forget the fact that it’s impossible for the government can not take this many no of people into the armed forces. 

I often notice that the families of the people who are in the armed forces have a false sense of the notion of patriotism. The people who are actually in the forces are quite sensible and know what exactly what patriotism is. Somehow when it comes to their family, they feel that they are being patriotic by having one of their family members in the forces. Sometimes I feel that they try and take credit for what the people in the armed forces are doing. I respect what they are doing and I know how important it is, but the families should not take it to their head. They have a sense that their definition of patriotism is the correct one and no one outside(armed forces) can differ with them (this need not be true with all but just that I have been hearing such an argument from many families in the armed forces for a while). 

Defending the nation is very important but that’s not the only thing the nation needs. Joining the forces is not the only way through which a person can show their love of their mother land. Our nation needs help in various sectors like education, agriculture, energy, elimination of poverty, health care, etc. If a person chooses to work in any such field is no less patriotic than a person in the armed forces. Dieing is not that only action that defines patriotism. In fact if a person makes a change or does anything good for the nation, however small that may be, is a patriot. Helping the nation become a better place is as patriotic as joining the armed forces. There is a need for all round development and equal emphasis needs to be given to all aspects of the development, not just security. Each individual will be good at something and they should be let to do. Forcing people join the army is the last thing that we need. 

For the people who have been affected by the terror attacks it’s a time of crisis. But in this time of crisis I hope people don’t lose their equilibrium. This is one of the many absurd ideas that have been floating around since the attacks. I do believe that this is a temporary phase and normalcy will return soon in every sense of the word. Emotional decisions never produce the desired outcome.