You can't drive forward by continuously looking in a rearview mirror

Traditions, culture, history, and legacy all connect us with our past. Any country or civilization that is old enough will have enough incidents and achievements to celebrate and feel good about it, at the same time, there will be incidents about which they owe an apology to a certain section of their society. Old civilizations like the Chinese, Indians, or Romans are no exceptions to it. History is not only about glorious triumphs or grand wars or golden eras, but it is also about racism, casteism, gender discrimination, massacres, and exploitation of certain sections of society at the hands of a few privileged ones. It won't be an exaggeration to say that each golden era of any civilization is associated with some sort of travesty inflicted on some section of society. This is true irrespective of which country or civilization we are talking about. However, there will be very few from that corresponding country or civilization to acknowledge this fact, rather, we can find many who either deny or try to justify even the ugliest or most cruel historical incidents.

Learning lessons from history is important, that is why we study history, it is not just important to know what happened, but also important to know why happened. Also, if we don't feel sorry, bad, disgusted, apologetic, or angry while studying history, then we may be studying something but not real history. There is no country or civilization that does not have skeletons buried in their closet. As I mentioned, there are some bright spots in every civilization, and it is important to know about them. But the problem arises when in the mode of hyper-nationalism, people highlight only bright spots and cover up or worse, blatantly deny some inconvenient truths. The result of this is that the most vocal class of such societies keeps on indulging in past glories. They fall in love with their past so much, that they do not even recognize that their current situation is not even close to the so-called golden era about which they are harping. It is like trying to drive a vehicle on a highway by continuously looking in a rear-view mirror.

The rear-view mirror has its utility, one has to look at it occasionally while driving to check on the surroundings. One cannot look in the rear-view mirror and drive forward, if we do that we are bound to crash. Check your present situation and think about how to move forward, know about your competition today, and design a strategy to compete based on what you have today. If I want to win a gold medal in the Olympics, then I need to train hard and compete with my fellow contestants, not brag about my grandfather winning Olympic gold, such bragging is not going to help me a bit to win any medal or even get qualified for that event, rather, others might feel pity for my situation. This is what is happening in countries where hyper-nationalism is on the rise, they are forgetting that their competitors are getting better day by day, by thumping their chest about their past glories they are not doing any good to their current situation but helping their competitors to get better and better. Hopefully, these people realize their mistakes and shift their gaze from the rear-view mirror. Because if they don't, all they can go is in the reverse direction. The more one indulges in the past, the more one loses connection with the present, this is true for an individual, group, or country.  Learn from the past to create a better future for everyone, for things from the past apologize or salute and move on, don't get stuck.

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True nationalists recognize and work on drawbacks

It is not hard to notice the rise of nationalism among the social and political circles of different parts of the world. Nationalism has become the new political mantra to succeed in most of these parts. A stereotyped image of nationalists is propagated and even accepted in most places. True nationalist is supposed to do the chest-thumping about their country, shout from their rooftops how theirs and only their country is better and superior to all others. They are also supposed to protect their country's history as a glorious one and defend even some discriminatory or oppressive periods by galvanizing with some justification or even by twisting facts. Finally, the most important duty, they need to vilify anyone who does not agree with their views, if possible, brand such dissenters as anti-nationals. Is this what really nationalism means and what nationalists must do? The answer is an unequivocal NO.

True nationalists do not shy away from the drawbacks or weaknesses of their country. No doubt, they are proud of their country's achievements and try to highlight them wherever and whenever possible, but they also recognize and work on the drawbacks. Without diligently recognizing and working on the drawbacks no nation can become a real superpower or leader of the world. Singing praises about past glories while completely ignoring present realities is a perfect recipe for failure. Loud chest-thumping and shouting that their country is greatest might create a notice, a social media trend, or a media buzz, but it will do hardly anything on a ground level to change any realities. This is dangerous for a developing country like India, where a lot needs to be done, as well as for a developed nation like the USA, which needs to keep up its pace ahead of other countries that are trying hard to catch up with them. When people get into the habit of only reciting past glories and hiding or ignoring present problems, they enter into a dangerous illusionary zone that blindsight them to real challenges. It takes tremendous courage to accept as a society that we committed a mistake and be willing to rectify it, it's not easy. But courageous and just societies dare to accept their mistakes, correct them, and move forward.

History should be remembered and lessons should be derived from it so that we do not repeat the same mistakes, but the real challenges always reside in the present and future, our eyes and ears should be open to those challenges. Also, people need to remember that not every criticism is meant to demean or hurt, many times listening to criticism offers an opportunity to improve ourselves. So, nationalists or non-nationalists please honestly try to recognize the drawbacks and weaknesses of your country and work on it, this is the only way your country stands a chance to become a truly great nation. This is an extremely hard path, but this is the right path, all the very best.

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Why banning Chinese good is not a good option for India

India and China are going through a serious confrontation over an old unresolved border conflict. The conflict is not new and the standoff is also not new. The intensity this time might be different compared to previous standoffs and the amount of media attention it is generating also is at a different level due to the social media and 24/7 news channels which want something sensational every hour to keep their audience engaged. This conflict has resulted in a renewed demand for banning Chinese products in India. Also, it was not the first time any such demand had been made. India has a glorious history of banning books and movies. I agree that the demand to ban foreign-made goods is different in context compared to demanding a ban on some controversial book or movie. However, the central idea remains the same, people want to stop something that is not illegal per se but they want to block its legal path. That is, by calling for a ban or a boycott, people want to block legal access to those things that are allowed under normal circumstances. Also, I feel the current scenario is more like a call for a boycott than a ban.

First, if something is of national importance and critical to national security, then the government should come into action and take cognizance of that fact. If Chinese products are harmful to India's economy or national security interests, the central govt should make them illegal. If the trade terms are unfavorable, then the Indian government should negotiate a better trade deal with China. The current central government not only has the power to do these things, but they also have the mandate to do it if they want. Calls for such boycotts or bans are often the result of nationalism fever which is at its peak whenever something happens at the border and gets nationwide coverage. In India, normally these border skirmishes are used as a political capital, they have a great political value especially when some major election is around the corner. One can easily see the pattern in the way these things happen, they are so predictable that many times one gets to doubt if they are choreographed for mutual benefit at the cost of the lives of poor soldiers who are used as political cash, this will be very unfortunate if true.

Second, there is a downside if you try to manipulate the market artificially. For this, let's discuss what is the downside if you eliminate the competition not by outperforming it but by boycotting or banning it. The first immediate benefit is that you eliminate a competitor. Second, you can now enjoy the monopoly, especially if you were the second-best, now, you are the best. Third, consumers are forced to come to you, not because you are the best option, but because you are the only option. These are short-term benefits. India was a closed economy for at least a couple of decades until it opened in 1991. One of the major drawbacks of this approach is that the lack of competition results in a lack of incentive to spend on R&D, and a lack of incentive to improve. Monopoly is taxing on customers' pockets, the worst, govt may seize this opportunity to control pricing and production by enacting new rules and regulations (remember the license raj era in India?).

Finally, another drawback is that things that are banned get smuggled and eventually sold in a black market for higher than their fair market price. Underground liquor sales in so-called liquor-free states of India are an ideal example of this. Bans are rarely effective in stopping something unless the govt is really serious about implementing them, and most of the time they are not serious they do it for appeasement or political reasons. This is the reason why bans rarely work. 

There are many other issues that one can discuss in this context, but the main thing that should worry Indians is the effect on the quality of available products in the marketplace and what if other countries take similar steps. Any country or its people have the right to decide what is best for them, they can choose to buy or not to buy whatever they want, and Indians can do the same as the rest of the world. Indians should just remember that as other countries like to sell their products in India, Indian businesses also need to sell their stuff outside to make a profit, and shutting the doors of a lucrative market like China is not a good option at this stage. The better option is to outperform the competition and make Indian products so attractive options that customers buy them on their own merit not under the fever of nationalism because fever comes and goes, but the quality stays.

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JNU oh JNU

Whatever is happening in India after the controversial protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has raised many questions in the minds of people like me. This incident exposed deep-rooted hypocrisy in the minds of people belonging to both camps. I wonder why Baba Ramdev was not allowed to speak at JNU but shouting anti-India slogans is considered a right of freedom of expression? I also wonder why a trivial student protest is treated like some sort of terrorist attack by the Indian government? Questions are many but I don't think there is anyone who is looking for answers, most of them are busy delivering judgments. It is sad to see the sense and sensibility murdered like this. It also exposed once again the inability of the government to control mob violence and their desire to encourage the tendency to deliver mob justice whenever this type of behavior suits them. Let me first clarify that, I am not in any way sympathetic with any leftist ideology and not associated with any political party or ideology so I have no interest in justifying any side's behavior in this case. What was supposed to be a student agitation rally has now turned into a full-blown national crisis. It seems everyone is trying to judge other person's nationalism or patriotism using their own prism. 

Student life is and should be full of interesting things. We go through many phases during our student life, and passion for certain issues and causes is an integral part of it. People are prone to take risks at that age. As a student, I also went through these phases. At that age, we are very angry about so many things that we feel are wrong or unjust but have no idea about the reasons behind those things. This happens more in a country like India especially if you come from underprivileged background. I was angry about so many things and I didn't know whom to blame. I am sure this is still the case with many students. Students at that age already have highly impressionable minds when you add to it a lot of anger and unrest, there are very high chances of volatile behavior. During that age, we easily get attracted to rebellious behavior. Lack of patience and maturity can result in very immature or even foolish acts which we often misinterpret as rebellious or brave acts at that age. Therefore, a forceful and bitter attack on the government, a rival political group, or ideology is not something unusual at that age. Anger about the state, religion, or any other establishment is also not unusual. These types of things used to happen in the past also but because of the internet and mobile, we all can see these things now. Of course, there can not be any logical explanation for this but any sensible person should understand the reasons behind this indignant behavior. We can only blame it on ignorance, immaturity, or plain stupidity. But the question I am raising is not about the behavior of some students who acted foolishly, as it was no surprise to me, but the way government, media, and public responded to that immature or foolish behavior by even more immature and foolish actions. 

I am a supporter of freedom of expression, except in case of direct incitement of violence against anyone. I support the right of any person to express their feelings or opinions freely. I may or may not agree with what they say but I can not take away their right to express those things. I have the right to agree or disagree with anyone, and I have the right to oppose or support their argument but I have no right to silence anyone just because I don't like their views. It is amazing to see how various political outfits define 'nationalism' in a very narrow way, especially in a way that suits their own ideology. Not only do they define nationalism or patriotism at their own convenience, but they also start handing out certificates of patriotism. Both major political parties of India, Congress and BJP are guilty of this type of behavior. It is also sad to see that this drama of sedition, nationalism, and patriotism has been played on many national news channels. During most debates someone is branded as anti-national, news anchors are behaving as if they are sacrosanct judges and jury who are running some criminal trial. It is a pathetic display of jingoism and hooliganism in the name of journalism. In any democratic society expressing dissent in a peaceful way should not be considered as a crime. Actually, it should be encouraged and the right to express dissent should be protected. Any attempt to suppress any peaceful dissent is bound to create more disturbance, no matter how misguided that dissent is and how well-intended the action to suppress is. I wonder how and why the current Indian government committed this totally avoided mistake.  

The arrest of the JNU student leader was definitely a mistake. I think they have to release him ultimately but sadly this will not happen without a lot of political drama and chaos. There are so many other pertinent and serious problems that need urgent attention from the government and citizens of India but sadly they are busy focusing on the wrong issues. It is really distressing to see that so much energy and resources are being wasted to deal with such trivial issues. Politics should be played and there is nothing wrong in having bitter political rivalries but to take any political fight to such a low level is really pathetic. It is really disturbing to watch television debates and the kind of language used by some anchors and participants. It is also shocking to see that kind of aggression and violent behavior displayed on the premises of court where even sentenced criminals are also supposed to be treated with dignity. I hope some sense will prevail on both sides and they will stop all this drama.

JNU oh JNU I hope you forget this painful episode and get back to your normal routine. I hope educational institutes behave and remain like educational institutes. I hope they don't become political battlegrounds of various political parties to propagate their ideology at the cost of healthy debate and logical discussions. I hope we all try to listen and understand each other rather than judge and punish. I hope we apply the same rules to everyone and don't behave like hypocrites. I hope people stop perversion of terms like nationalism and patriotism. I hope the media behaves like media and not like the mouthpiece of some political party or ideology. I hope both sides realize their mistakes and try to correct them rather than playing the blame game, and I also hope that I am not expecting too much from the people and government of my country.

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[Copyright: Vinay Thakur. Please contact the author for re-posting or publishing]