What is the definition Anti-National in Indian context?

Indian intellectuals are at cross roads these days. We hear the world like intolerance & anti-national very frequently. One side accuses other of being anti-national & the other side fight back with world like intolerance & Bhatkts etc. Who defines the nationalism and what is it?

Before we discus nationalism, we need to look into nation state. As per New World encyclopedia Nation State is “a sovereign state of which most of the citizens or subjects are united also by factors which define a nation, such as language or common descent”. The former empires like Holy Roman Empire, Austria-Hungry, ottomans gave way to Nation States in Europe in 19^th & 20^th century like Germany, Italy, Greece, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia tec. It was a driving force for national glory in new countries like Germany & Italy. The start of 1^st World War was like a carnival in Germany as people thought that they are going to fight for their fatherland. Hitler & Mussolini took advantage of nationalism & created a false extreme nationalism & destroyed the whole world in World War 2. Nationalism is still not considered good in Germany even seven decades after the end of World War. Germans openly came out in large numbers with their flag during 2006 world cup. But after world wars, the tide of nation state was revered & globalization took a lead. Enemies like Germany & France joined European Union & later opened their boarders & even adapted same currency. But recently the tide of globalization is revered by Abe’s victory in Japan, Modi’s victory in India, Brexit & Trump victory in USA etc. Now major world powers are talking about themselves & they are putting their counties interest on top on expense of globalization.

Let us come back to India. BJP is a known right party & Modi is a nationalist. By saying this, I also must say that all our PMs tried to work for India in their own way. All gave prime importance to Indian national interest. Indian intellectual space has long been dominated by center & right e.g. JNU has always been dominated by Left. And Indian primer historians have been left minded e.g. till 2000, in our school history books there was a dedicated chapter for Russian Revolution but it hardly talked about American Revolution, French revolution or English Glorious revolution. Now Right wing also wants to enter into that space and this is causing friction. Indeed a frication of Left parties supported China in 1962 war. Even though Left has been wiped out of India except a few bastions. And right wing contains many blind extremists, which is also equally worrying.

It is said (no verified source) that Anti-India talks, slogans, teachings did happen also in 1980s. But last year’s JNU incident was an eye opening. We must criticize the Govt. and its our fundamental right. If there is no checks & balances then a ruling party might become dictators. But “Bharat tere tukre honge”, “Bharat ki Barbadi” etc. are out of line. Many Indians have voiced their concern about our Human Right records in Kashmir, Maoists effected areas, north east in past and a few have voiced their support for Kashmiri independence also. Even I sometimes feel that our forces may be using more force than what is appropriate in Kashmir and we need a political solution within the ambit of humanity as advocated by former PM Atal Bihari. Such type of force is not used in other parts of India generally. But this doesn’t mean that I will call for breakup of India or freedom for Kashmir. This is indeed a type of sedition against India. India is an unbreakable union of breakable state. Unlike Britain & like USA, our constitution don’t have any mean for succession of a territory from India. A Scotland or Quebec like referendum is illegal in India. So anyone should not cross the line to ask for disintegration of Indian Republic and its indeed Anti-National as per our constitution.

But many Right wing supporters are also guilty. They brand any criticism of Govt. as anti-national. Any views that doesn’t match their own views is termed as anti-national. Sometimes they take law into their own hand. We can express our views within our constitutional rights. I may be a nationalist being a member of center or left wing. This is also equally dangerous for India. Remember there is a thin line between a nationalism & dangerous extreme nationalism.