A Hindu actress in Bollywood, married lately to a Muslim actor, has been brutally and stupidly trolled on Twitter final week for supposedly insulting the Indian Army. This was due to a tweet during which she mentioned one thing in regards to the Galwan conflict that would have been interpreted as a tribute to our troopers and never an insult, however the abuse was so relentless that she was pressured to delete her tweet. The Prime Minister himself defended China when he mentioned that no person had entered Indian territory or occupied any of our border posts, however he can’t be accused of being a faux nationalist as a result of it’s he who decides who’s a nationalist and who isn’t.

Once he indicators a goal his supporters get on with the enterprise of tarring, feathering, and insulting. In my view that is faux nationalism and most of the people who conceal behind nameless handles on Twitter would run for his or her lives in the event that they have been inducted into the military and despatched to considered one of our borders. But, the noise these faux patriots make is loud and indignant and meant to create not concord however hatred. The motive I start by saying it is because I need to speak in regards to the real, joyous nationalism that I uncover each time I come to New York for Thanksgiving. There is way that we are able to study from the Americans about actual, spontaneous, joyous nationalism.

On the 2 events I’ve been in New York for Thanksgiving, I’ve spent the pageant with a buddy and her household. After the meals and wine has been abundantly consumed, everybody participates in a play that tells the story of America. This play was written for a kid a few years in the past by Peggy Noonan who conducts the occasion. She is likely one of the world’s best columnists. Her play tells the story of the pilgrims who got here looking for the brand new world, the travails and hardship they confronted on their journey and after touchdown on Plymouth Rock. It tells of how three years later the primary Thanksgiving was to rejoice the primary plentiful harvest to thank God and the Indians.

Before these of you who’re phony nationalists remind me how the Indians have been massacred and robbed of their lands, let me remind you that in our personal excellent land many issues have occurred that we needs to be ashamed of. Instead of confronting our personal flaws we’re being informed by our neo-nationalist rulers to rewrite historical past in order that we are able to be sure that each Indian baby in class at present is reminded of the Islamic invasions in order that he can develop up hating Muslims.

In this peculiar neo-nationalist temper, we forgive the British one way or the other simply as we forgive China at present and focus solely on Pakistan being the true enemy. We ought to begin asking why that is. Could or not it’s that the drumbeat of hate solely rises in increased and better decibels on the subject of the Islamic invaders as a result of the aim of neo-nationalism is to create divisions and never deliver peace, love, and concord?

Other international locations have handled the injuries of historical past, and we should always too however this isn’t the aim of those that rule India at present. The function is to create extra divisions and extra hatred. I’ve been critical of the Bharat Jodo Yatra on this column however concede that Rahul Gandhi is true when he says that there’s an excessive amount of hatred being unfold within the guise of nationalism and patriotism. I’ve it on good authority that there’s a technique right here. Those closest to Modi consider that the one technique to win elections is by dividing Hindus and Muslims. People don’t vote for ‘vikas’, a senior chief of the BJP has privately mentioned greater than as soon as, their motivation to go to the polling sales space is hatred. Well, good for the BJP to have provide you with a method to maintain profitable elections however is it good for India?

These are questions we should ask. But the voices of these asking them are drowned out by the raucous noise that comes from the opposite facet. As an Indian who remembers effectively that ‘old India’ that’s slowly disappearing, my favorite reminiscences are of festivals like Diwali and Eid that have been celebrated by Hindus and Muslims coming collectively to eat and rejoice. Festivals ought to deliver individuals collectively in enjoyable and festivity. This is what Thanksgiving does.