Rashtram and Rajyam

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RASHTRAM AND RAJYAM

Bharatham is a huge Nation, in land area, population, Natural wealth, Industrial clusters, agriculture, size of economy, military etc. etc. Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Brahma Desh (Burma), Sri Lanka, Maldives, are her neighbours. The neighbours may be seen in two broad groups, Nepal, Bhutan, Brahmadesh and Sri Lanka with predominantly Hindu and Buddhist population, in one group and Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives, with predominantly Muslim population, in the second group. Let us take the first group in this discussion.

I have visited Nepal and SriLanka. I never felt, I was in an alien land. It seemed a travel from my state to Andhra, Gujarat or any other state in Bharat. Except for a little change in food, dress, language, and other practices, there was nothing in these lands to make me feel I was in a 'foreign' land. Bajaj Autos, Tata trucks, Ashok Leyland buses, Maruti cars, and other consumer products in market made me conclude that the market is dominated by Bharateeya industrial products. "Why should this land be different country? Should it not be a part of Bharat? One or two more states!!" "Why do these small countries have to maintain an army?If we could ensure protection to these small countries, their limited resources could be used for development. If we take up their communication, satellite requirements etc. not with commercial interest but as a responsible and affectionate elder brother. (Big brother attitude is understood in a different way.)" These thoughts rose in me. Do these thoughts indicate 'imperialism or expansionist intentions? Many of the 'educated' in these countries and a few in our Nation too, would answer in affirmative. (Please do not compare this with huge investments by the US in our universities for researches. That may be for tapping the huge human resource here for their scientific missions like NASA. Investment through the NGOs may be with an intention to subjugate or at least manipulate the Govt and its policies.) Can there be a different attitude?

Should boundaries be the only criterion to determine Nationhood? This is where these two words, Rashtra and Rajya, become significant. Rashtra is 'Oneness among people' while Rajya is government. (Nation, though used as such, is not the equivalent word in English for Rashtra. The word Nationalism reminds Europeans of Hitler. For them, Nation is fanaticism and means destruction for other countries.) We have always been a Rashtra, Aa Setu Himalaya, (आसेतु हिमालय), even in the absence of a single and unified Rajya, even during Rajya controlled by 'foreigners' like the Mughals or British. People continued to crisscross the length and breadth of Bharat for Teertha Yatra, Kumbha Mela and other congregations continued and Sadhus continued relentless travel and Satsang during these 'foreigners' rule. If these foreign rulers had not tried to foist their views and systems on people, if they had not tried to meddle in social life, if they had restricted themselves to plain, simple governance, they might have continued to rule without any popular resent. Any ruler, be him Buddhist or Mughal or British, trying to impose his own religion, impose restrictions on people's expression of Rashtra bhavana was thrown out or there were widespread opposition. This phenomenon is ignorantly taken as lack of Patriotism. Whenever the occassion demands, people of Bharat have come forward to donate land, jewels, cash etc. and have not waited for the Government to do so. I have seen that almost all the government schools in Tamil Nadu, built in the first three or four decades of last century, have come up on acres of land donated by villagers. All the freedom fighters and all the great social movements were inspired by Sadhus and Sannyaasis. Swami Vivekananda called the Patriotic Saint, was not an exception but a fully manifested product of this phenomenon. Even in the modern times, no other country sees such an enormous pooling of assistance by people, during an earth quake or Tsunami or any other Natural calamity, as in Bharat. We do not wait for the government. We, Hindus are used to Minimum Governance, Minimum visibility and interference of Government, in our normal day-to-day life. Rajya is expected to bind itself to protection of people, lives, property and frontiers. Rajya is in special demand during Natural calamities. In modern context, Military, Communication, Transport, Infrastructure and Justice and may be a few more fields, can be a Rajya's domain.
Rashtra Bhavana is planted, nourished and protected by the Sadhus. Government has no role in this. The best it can do is to stay away and not interfere. Languages may be different, but the Vision expressed in each of these languages is same. If I suddenly forget Tamil and start speaking and reading Bengali, I do not lose in anyway, as all the Ideas and values, imbibed in me by Tamil scriptures are there in Bengali too. Food habits may be different, but the attitude towards food, hunger etc is same throughout the length and breadth of Bharat. Religious practices may be different but Oneness of God, Values cherished, are the same everywhere in this Land of Dharma. There are visible diversities in Nature in this vast land, but Nature is Mother to all. This is the unifying aspect in Bharat. A Marwari settled in Tamil Nadu or a Tamil in Nagpur, a Malayalee in Dilli, a Gurkha in Hyderabad, Gujarati in Mumbai or a Bengali in Jabalpur, Konkani in Kerala or Saurashtrian in Tanjore has no problem living a harmonious life with his neighbours. Hectic efforts are necessary to cause disharmony and hatred. Harmony happens naturally, casually. This is what I meant when I said in the beginning that I did not feel myself among 'Foreigners' in Nepal or SriLanka. Our Rashtra Bhavana extends to these lands as well. You may remember that Swami Vivekananda started his Journey of spiritual education in SriLanka and proceeded towards Almora on the Himalayas.
There are many challenges to be faced in efforts at strengthening Rashtra Bhavana.
Sadhus: Sadhus who do not get trapped in narrower identities, who do not glorify 'Unique' sectarian identities are in great demand. (Neither a Sadhu need be a Sannyaasee, nor are all Sannyaasees Sadhus.) Wherefrom and how are the Sadhus generated? The values cherished by individuals, the priorities set in families and the society are factors influencing raising Sadhus. Preaching will not help. Information and 'knowledge' will not help either. It is an organic process. Live inspiring cells are essential and supporting catalytic agents are essential too.
North east: Yes, North east is a challenge. Disconnect from other parts of Bharat for continously long period, effect of racial theory proposed by the British and propagated by the Church, separatist movements funded and armed by the US through network of Churches and NGOs and of course political and bureaucratic corruption are boosters to this enormous challenge.
Islam: Islam is the gravest of these challenges. We have not been able to assimilate Islam into the Hindu fold, on the strength of Rashtra Bhavana. Yes, there have been valiant efforts by Sikh Gurus and the Sadhus during Mughal rule. Freedom struggle also offered an opportunity, lost by a weak Hindu leadership.Post 47, Hindu society, confused by overdose of 'secularism'; was too weak even to suggest such an assimilation. That is the reason why Pakistan and Bangladesh, though under the umbrella of Rashtra, were not considered for this discussion, as influence of Islam there is stronger than influence of Rashtra Bhavana. Ascendance of Shri Modi to premiership has kindled a hope, that these challenges will be met and Rashtra Bhavana will once again thrive in the glorious land of Bharat, that is India and Her neighbours.