By Dr. Gyan Pathak
Hyper-nationalism as a political thought is an outdated concept, since not a single country in the world has ever benefited from hyper-nationalism, since it is dehumanizing. It always brings miseries, as we have already seen in Mussolini’s fascism and Hitler’s Nazism. The most modern political philosophy is to work for shared prosperity and peace, among the countries of the world in general, and between neighbouring countries is particular.
Hyper-nationalism of a political leadership drives support for itself from the citizens of their country more easily than any other stratagem, for it talks about nationalism and the nation first approach. Political leaders resort to hyper-nationalism to gain and retain power. We are experiencing it in India, where Hindutva brand nationalism, has just got too noisy to be manageable within the country. And for our neighbouring country Pakistan, which goes on sponsoring terrorism against India, it has taken the shape of jingoism. Anyone, who talks of peace, is abused by jingoists, and booked by government under various laws for anti-India activities.
Pakistan’s political leadership has been resorting to anti-India activities, including sponsoring terrorism, and resorting to jingoism against India for political advantage in their country, to gain power or to retain it. It brought large scale destruction of lives and properties in India. Nevertheless, to successfully deal with such a rogue country is not possible through hyper-nationalism, that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched just after 5 PM on May 10, the time when both India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire agreement, after a brief conflict of four days since May 7 mid-night.
Why India agreed to a ceasefire agreement with Pakistan? Since the purpose of the military engagement was achieved, said Modi government, and claimed victory over Pakistan forces. Right, it was welcomed by Indians with enthusiasm. From the ceasefire, both India and Pakistan should have engaged in talks for restoration of peace between the two countries, but it was prevented chiefly by hyper-nationalism adopted by political leadership of both the countries.
Since, hyper-nationalism has its own pitfalls, PM Narendra Modi must reconsider his strategy before falling into an unfathomable abyss of miseries for people of both countries – India and Pakistan. Roguery of Pakistan is to be dealt firmly, but not with noisy nationalism, jingoism, or hyper-nationalism, since it would create more problem than solve.
I would be novice for any person to believe that PM Narendra Modi is not aware with the pitfalls of the hyper-nationalism, but his ambition of gaining and retaining power come in the way. The opposition raised questions if PM Narendra Modi has surrendered India’s interest by accepting US President Donald Trump’s mediation in the bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
The question was too damaging of PM Narendra Modi’s image. Mediation of Trump was denied, repeatedly, which people of India are not ready to believe, since it was Trump who had first announced the ceasefire. There are also several damaging questions that haunts the government, such as how and why the claimed security blanket for Jammu and Kashmir failed to prevent the terror attack on April 22, and then how it come that the attackers are still not apprehended even after a month?
Hyper-nationalism has given cover to Modi government’s failures in this regard. It is but a temporary relief for the government. PM Narendra Modi can get or increase political support within this country, but that is not the solution for lasting peace with Pakistan. Rather it would be very difficult for India to bring Pakistan to peace talks if India goes on humiliating Pakistan’s political leadership, without giving them safe and honourable exit, though on the condition that they must come out clean from now on by committing not to sponsor or support any anti-India activity, including terrorism.
The language, PM Narendra Modi, his officials in the government, and leaders in his party are using, is not the language showing willingness for peace, but the language used is the language of confrontation. Domestic politics may be the real reason behind this, but as a matured statesman such languages need to be avoided, without diluting measures to be taken against the roguery of Pakistan.
Hyper-nationalism must not form part of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘New Normal Doctrine’, since it is too noisy to establish peace between the two countries. India’s heroism must also be humane. Neither, PM Narendra Modi, nor the opposition leaders should resort to hyper-nationalism, though such an attitude may bring temporary political benefits for them or their parties within the country.
We have just seen competitive hyper-nationalism between the leaders of the ruling establishment and the opposition. It is a dangerous trend. We need to remain calm but act firmly against any Pak sponsored terrorism.
In fact, hyper-nationalism serves PM Narendra Modi and his BJP’s political aim of Hindutva brand nationalism. Opposition must not play his politics, but press him to leave his hyper-nationalism based ‘New Normal Doctrine’ since it would ultimately lead the country to fascism. It would ultimately disarm the opposition of their effectiveness in fight for reinforcing secular democracy within the country.
Hyper-nationalism breeds discords within India among various religious groups, and worsening the hostilities with our rogue neighbour Pakistan. Less noisy approach to keep national interests unhurt would be far better. It would be a mistake for India to believe that Pakistan’s political leadership is capable of controlling the Frankenstein terror networks of their own making. Pakistan’s political leadership also need some help against terrorist networks. Situation is more complex than the hyper-nationalism of PM Narendra Modi can alone deal with. India needs a cool meditative and less noisy strategy to deal with terrorists and political leadership of Pakistan, separately and in all their permutation and combination.
India’s opposition must also rethink on their political strategy afresh, especially in respect to Pakistan and new normal doctrine of PM Narendra Modi based on hyper-nationalism. They must support the national interest, but must not fall prey to hyper-nationalism, which has grave implications for the future of India. India has already shown Pakistan that it can’t tolerate their sponsoring terror and also their military misadventure. Now, let us talk peace replacing the language of confrontation. Hyper-nationalism may prove to be disruptive in restoring peace with Pakistan, and peace within the country. (IPA Service)
