Nationalism is our basic inspiration
Nationalism is our basic inspiration
By Arun Jaitley
The role of ideology in polity is paramount. Ideology is a representation of one’s conviction. It’s a representation of your broad prospective on the nation. Ideology determines priorities with regard to the direction in which the country is to be taken. There may be many routine matters in public life and in governance which are guided on the basis of principles of good governance. Some of them may not link to ideology.
For any political party there are three distinct areas of priority, the first is ideology, second values and the third relates to governance. As far as ideology is concerned it governs your priorities. For example we in the BJP are governed by a basic inspiration which is drawn from nationalism. The word nationalism could be even substituted with Hindutva. It could also be substituted for cultural nationalism. But if you see the common thread between the three, it is a ‘India First Ideology’ that we stand for, whatever that suits my country.
Now, if in areas of ideology we chalk out our preference, the first priority would be the security of the country. My country and its territories are precious to me. Therefore anything that denudes alters or reduces the territorial sovereignty of my country is totally unacceptable. If there is a refugee influx from Bangladesh which leads to subversive activities, if there is an ISI infiltration into the country which creates an element of subversion, if one third of Kashmir is in possession of Pakistan, if there is any further threat to any territory of India, my nationalist priorities don’t approve of it.
A weak nation, a diverse nation, a nation with divergent priorities will never be able to hold together and therefore in those areas ideology plays a prominent role.
Secondly, to preserve the pride of this country and to preserve the sovereignty of the country what is it that holds my country together? It is not merely love for a fellow citizen but has some larger relationship, a larger binding force which emanates from the culture of my country. That is where the ideology of Hindutva and cultural nationalism gain utmost priority.
There are symbols of my national pride. There are symbols of my country’s personality, which are represented in mythology, which are represented in history, which are represented in our cultural religious and even nationalistic priorities. Preservation of the identity of each one of these is important. Our nationalistic priorities, our cultural roots give a complete freedom of religion and allow an equal coexistence for all religions. At the same time denigration in any form, of our cultural roots is derogatory to the coexistence of all religions. So when Ayodhya is denigrated and not given its pride of place in Indian life, how is it consistent with the ethos of—Sarvadharmasamabhav and a peaceful coexistence of all religions? When separate sub nationalism in terms of Article 370 is perceived of in Kashmir how is the sub nationalism consistent with the national identity? How in the absence of a Uniform Civil Code, separate Laws which are discriminatory in character consistent with the nationalistic priorities?
In routine governance it is idealism which has to dictate your priorities and idealism requires the values of good governance.
Therefore, it is always in the country’s interest that ideology in these issues of nationhood takes a priority. A weak nation, a diverse nation, a nation with divergent priorities will never be able to hold together and therefore in those areas ideology plays a prominent role.
Secondly, the economic nationalism has to be the guiding milestone in management of the country’s ideology. Economic nationalism entails that we have to pursue that path of economy for development which suits the interest of my nation. Today I believe for instance, economic nationalism requires that in dealing with the WTO we have to give priorities to those areas from which my country and its economy benefits. Where I benefit I can afford to be liberal, where my country does not benefit, I have to be conservative. The guiding force is again economic nationalism. In terms of management of the domestic economy, again ideology is the governing force, because the path to rapid development, equitable development is the route, I have to pursue. My growth rates have to be higher. The benefits of the economic development have to percolate to the weaker sections. It is that path which I have to follow very clearly.
Anything that denudes, alters or reduces the territorial sovereignty of my country is totally unacceptable.
Education is another area where ideology has to take a front seat. In education some people have traditionally tried indoctrination against our cultural roots. This can not be permitted. These are several areas of political functioning where ideology always takes a front seat.
The second category that I mentioned are values that we practice and profess. Here ethics and morality must govern us and these must be the same irrespective of which ideological prospective you are governed by. Individual honesty, organisational discipline and good values are role models. These are our priorities today.
The third is routine areas of governance. There are several areas of governance particularly in relation to finance, commerce, home ministry and external affairs where ideology plays a role. In rural development, economic ideology plays a role. In routine governance it is idealism which has to dictate your priorities and idealism requires that the values of good governance, proper decisions are the ones which must guide your discipline.
We in the BJP are governed by a basic inspiration which is drawn from nationalism.
When we discuss ideology, a large part moves around the true content and definition of secularism. I don’t wish to avoid that debate. That debate is essential. But I think in the last fifteen years the real agenda of the debate has come to the centre-stage and the real agenda is the true content of secularism. We in the BJP have a strong line against terrorism. We promulgated an anti-terrorist law. Our opponents consider it as anti-secular. How can it be anti-secular? It is against terrorists irrespective of religious denominations. We want one common law for the whole country. How can this be anti-secular? We want a pride of place for symbols of our cultural and religious nationalism such as Ayodhya. That is consistent with peaceful coexistence with all religions. I think there is a difference between minoritism and secularism. There is a difference between secularism and majority bashing. And this debate has come to the centre-stage in the last fifteen years. And I think our view point has become loud and clear and hugely accepted in the whole country.
(The author is general secretary of the BJP.)
By Arun Jaitley
The role of ideology in polity is paramount. Ideology is a representation of one’s conviction. It’s a representation of your broad prospective on the nation. Ideology determines priorities with regard to the direction in which the country is to be taken. There may be many routine matters in public life and in governance which are guided on the basis of principles of good governance. Some of them may not link to ideology.
For any political party there are three distinct areas of priority, the first is ideology, second values and the third relates to governance. As far as ideology is concerned it governs your priorities. For example we in the BJP are governed by a basic inspiration which is drawn from nationalism. The word nationalism could be even substituted with Hindutva. It could also be substituted for cultural nationalism. But if you see the common thread between the three, it is a ‘India First Ideology’ that we stand for, whatever that suits my country.
Now, if in areas of ideology we chalk out our preference, the first priority would be the security of the country. My country and its territories are precious to me. Therefore anything that denudes alters or reduces the territorial sovereignty of my country is totally unacceptable. If there is a refugee influx from Bangladesh which leads to subversive activities, if there is an ISI infiltration into the country which creates an element of subversion, if one third of Kashmir is in possession of Pakistan, if there is any further threat to any territory of India, my nationalist priorities don’t approve of it.
A weak nation, a diverse nation, a nation with divergent priorities will never be able to hold together and therefore in those areas ideology plays a prominent role.
Secondly, to preserve the pride of this country and to preserve the sovereignty of the country what is it that holds my country together? It is not merely love for a fellow citizen but has some larger relationship, a larger binding force which emanates from the culture of my country. That is where the ideology of Hindutva and cultural nationalism gain utmost priority.
There are symbols of my national pride. There are symbols of my country’s personality, which are represented in mythology, which are represented in history, which are represented in our cultural religious and even nationalistic priorities. Preservation of the identity of each one of these is important. Our nationalistic priorities, our cultural roots give a complete freedom of religion and allow an equal coexistence for all religions. At the same time denigration in any form, of our cultural roots is derogatory to the coexistence of all religions. So when Ayodhya is denigrated and not given its pride of place in Indian life, how is it consistent with the ethos of—Sarvadharmasamabhav and a peaceful coexistence of all religions? When separate sub nationalism in terms of Article 370 is perceived of in Kashmir how is the sub nationalism consistent with the national identity? How in the absence of a Uniform Civil Code, separate Laws which are discriminatory in character consistent with the nationalistic priorities?
In routine governance it is idealism which has to dictate your priorities and idealism requires the values of good governance.
Therefore, it is always in the country’s interest that ideology in these issues of nationhood takes a priority. A weak nation, a diverse nation, a nation with divergent priorities will never be able to hold together and therefore in those areas ideology plays a prominent role.
Secondly, the economic nationalism has to be the guiding milestone in management of the country’s ideology. Economic nationalism entails that we have to pursue that path of economy for development which suits the interest of my nation. Today I believe for instance, economic nationalism requires that in dealing with the WTO we have to give priorities to those areas from which my country and its economy benefits. Where I benefit I can afford to be liberal, where my country does not benefit, I have to be conservative. The guiding force is again economic nationalism. In terms of management of the domestic economy, again ideology is the governing force, because the path to rapid development, equitable development is the route, I have to pursue. My growth rates have to be higher. The benefits of the economic development have to percolate to the weaker sections. It is that path which I have to follow very clearly.
Anything that denudes, alters or reduces the territorial sovereignty of my country is totally unacceptable.
Education is another area where ideology has to take a front seat. In education some people have traditionally tried indoctrination against our cultural roots. This can not be permitted. These are several areas of political functioning where ideology always takes a front seat.
The second category that I mentioned are values that we practice and profess. Here ethics and morality must govern us and these must be the same irrespective of which ideological prospective you are governed by. Individual honesty, organisational discipline and good values are role models. These are our priorities today.
The third is routine areas of governance. There are several areas of governance particularly in relation to finance, commerce, home ministry and external affairs where ideology plays a role. In rural development, economic ideology plays a role. In routine governance it is idealism which has to dictate your priorities and idealism requires that the values of good governance, proper decisions are the ones which must guide your discipline.
We in the BJP are governed by a basic inspiration which is drawn from nationalism.
When we discuss ideology, a large part moves around the true content and definition of secularism. I don’t wish to avoid that debate. That debate is essential. But I think in the last fifteen years the real agenda of the debate has come to the centre-stage and the real agenda is the true content of secularism. We in the BJP have a strong line against terrorism. We promulgated an anti-terrorist law. Our opponents consider it as anti-secular. How can it be anti-secular? It is against terrorists irrespective of religious denominations. We want one common law for the whole country. How can this be anti-secular? We want a pride of place for symbols of our cultural and religious nationalism such as Ayodhya. That is consistent with peaceful coexistence with all religions. I think there is a difference between minoritism and secularism. There is a difference between secularism and majority bashing. And this debate has come to the centre-stage in the last fifteen years. And I think our view point has become loud and clear and hugely accepted in the whole country.
(The author is general secretary of the BJP.)
posted by Inquiring Mind at 11:03 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home