PATRIOTISM, NATIONALISM AND INTERNATIONALISM
(By Acharya P.T. Dharmadev Vidyamartand ji)
What is the difference between patriotism, nationalism and internationalism? What is their respective relevance and what should one opt for and why? What have the vedas to say about this issue'?
Yogi Sri Aurobindo has, in one of his writings made a fine distinction among the above three. According to him, to love the country in which you are born and be prepared to sacrifice everything for it and to channelize all your energy for the uplift of its people, is patriotism.
Nationalism also implies love for the country but with a little difference; that is, in this you are likely to be over-zealous and also aggressive and do not mind protecting and furthering its interests at the expense of others. While pure patriotism is praiseworthy, aggressive nationalism spreads intolerance, falsehood and hatred and may also involve injustice and violence. (Hitler’s aggressive nationalism may be cited as an example).
Commenting on this subject, Sri Aurobindo says in his book Nationalism 1923);
"We have felt its iron grip at the root of our life and for the sake of humanity we must stand up and give warning to all that this nationalism is a cruel epidemic of evil that is sweeping aver the human world of the present age and eating into its moral vitality.”
Internationalism means loving other countries of the world as your own. It also involves working towards the concept of one government which is still the humanity’s dream.
Says Yogi Sri Aurobindo about its "Internationalism is the attempt of the human mind and life to grow out of the national idea and form and even in a way; to destroy it in the interest of the larger synthesis.
‘The unity of the human race can only be secured and can only be made real if the religion of humanity which is at present the highest active ideal of mankind, spiritualizes itself and becomes the general inner law of human life.
"A religion of humanity means the growing realization that there is a secret Spirit, a Divine Reality, in which we are all one, the humanity is its highest present vehicle on earth. By its growth within us, oneness with our fellow men will become the leading principle of all our life; not, merely a principle of cooperation but a deeper brotherhood, a real and an inner sense of unity and equality and common life. "
And here are former President Dr Radha Krishnan’s comments on this subject:
"Interdependence of nations is the supreme factor today and there is no doubt that the world is moving towards the idea of a unified authority. "
The United Nations Organisation was set up with the long-term objective of gradually moving towards the realization of One World Government but even after several years of its formation, it still remains a distant goal. Lack of mutual understanding and trust among the member nations, groupism and conflicting goals may be cited as some of the causes of its virtual failure though it did succeed at times to defuse tension.
As the vedic teachings are based on the principles of peace, justice and universal brotherhood, it is obvious for them to support only patriotism and internationalism and the nationalism (as it is understood and defined in the light of history) is out of their reckoning.
Patriotism and Vedas :
Pure patriotism (as defined by Sri Aurobindo) finds its expression in several mantras in the vedas
Says Atharveda :-
(This Earth is my mother and I am her son).
The word "mother" has also been used for the earth (motherland) in the following vedic mantra:
(I have adopted this earth as my mother; let it also adopt me as her son)
(O Mother, may I never do anything Which may ever hurt or offend thee;)
Obviously if you truly love your country (as you would your mother), you can not do anything which hurts her; i.e., which brings a bad name to her or put her to embarrassment or shame. lt is understood mother cannot cause any harm to her son.
The same spirit of patriotism is reflected in the following prayer in the Yajurveda: (22. l2) which puts before us the concept of an ideal motherland:
( May the Brahmins be full of divine splendor and the kshatriyas of valour true; let them also be skilled in the use of weaponry; let the vaishyas possess cows and buffaloes; and let women be intelligent too! Let there be timely rains and let the herbs get ripe in time! Let everyone tread the path Of progress and prosperity)
It is in the same spirit of patriotism that another prayer is offered to the Motherland herself :—
(In this mantra, Motherland has been invoked for her blessings so that we remain physically fit and healthy, acquire knowledge, consume goods produced indigenously, and be always ready to sacrifice even our lives for her)
What better evidence of patriotism than these genuine and passionate prayers in the vedas for the welfare of all the four varnas of the society and also for the mercy of the Nature, consumption of indigenous goods, physical fitness, cultivation of values like truth, production of wealth including food grains, medicinal herbs, fruits and vegetables in the motherland?
And to such a motherland are offered salutations and our heads bow down to her in awe and reverence :-
lt is repeatedly said in the vedas that the thoughtful, the wise and the knowledgeable persons (who have been described as “Marutaaha swarkaah maryaha stotaaraha and ritwijaha) do their best for their motherland :-
(Through their good deeds let them work for the reputation and honor of their motherland)
Even others (i.e., the ordinary persons) should join them in the service of the motherland.
Says Rigveda :-
(Serve the Motherland with all your heart)
An assurance to dedicate ourselves to the service of the motherland and, if need be, even to sacrifice our lives for it has been given in Atherveda :-
Here is the pledge we are made to take to always speak well of our motherland:
(Wherever l may live - in a village, a forest or a battlefield, let me always speak well of my motherland) - Atharveda 12.1.56)
Preserving of the honor and integrity of our motherland is our first and foremost duty and we should not mind even using force to thwart the evil intentions of the aggressors.
Says Atharveda(12. 1. 14) :-
Internationalism and Vedas :
India with its motto of "VASUDHAIVKUTUMBAKAM" is the pioneer in this respect.
As pointed out earlier, vedas want us to look at all people with a friendly eye and want others also to look at us the same way.
ln another mantra from the Atharveda ( 3.30,50) God says:
(Love each other as two bullocks yoked together and working shoulder to shoulder to achieve common objective. Uttering sweet words to each other, let your hearts be united.")
Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam : Make the whole World Noble.
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