IAF Pilot Abhinandan Is a True Patriot, Not Social Media Warriors

A young student, Naimisha makes an earnest appeal for peace and for us to understand what true patriotism is.

With bullets of words and tanks of intellect, the social media ‘army’ was all set to fight the enemies of meme-istan.

One meme, two meme, three meme, go!

“Call war-war-war,” shouted the army general of – “not working, still studying” country. “Send the troops to border, another surgical strike is needed,” screamed the warrior from ‘Working at Daddy’s princess land’. “KiLL ThEm WitH NucLEar BomB,” echoed the brave solider who is employed at “NoT WoRking, EaTing ParEnt’s MonEy”.

The New India of Facebook ‘Warriors’ & Twitter ‘Strategists’

Welcome to the new India of Facebook warriors, Twitter strategists and Tinder wannabes. The past few days have been perhaps the most daunting, capricious and challenging thus far, for many Indians, young and old. In the blink of an eye, the day for celebrating love, i e Valentine’s Day, transformed into a black day for the entire country.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad attack on the CRPF convoy that killed over 40 security personnel in Pulwama on 14 February, united the nation in one voice, from candle light marches at India gate to contributing to the families of the martyrs, to youths rallying to join the Indian Army.

But I stand here to question if our patriotism is only about killing others or about saving our brave hearts. Many of my friends who were part of the pro-war groups, were the same people who were against the Supreme Court’s order to stand up during the national anthem at cinema halls.

Of Hypocrisy & Hyper-Nationalism

Them calling for war was more shocking because half of them didn’t even ever bother to fill the NCC form and what breaks my heart is that the same group of people using the tricolor as their cover photograph on Facebook don’t bother to pick the fallen flag on roads after Independence Day celebrations.

I generally do not question others’ patriotism, but how can one not question the intentions of ‘trending’ patriotism that is seasonal in nature?

I have seen more die-hard country lovers whose patriotism is beyond the social media posts, who work day and night in the hope of making the society a better place. Their patriotism is often questioned because they don’t see war as a solution. These are the people who understand the consequences of a war and know that the price of a war is more than what we can afford.

“A Nation Can Survive Its Fools...But Not Treason Within”

I remember the words of American novelist Taylor Caldwell, “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself.”

(Continued...) “For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.”

So, my dear friend, patriotism is not only a feeling to keep your own head high as an Indian, but also to make sure the next generation is safe enough to hold their heads high as dignified Indians.

Patriotism is what Wing Commander Abhinandan displayed, not bowing away in the face of grave danger.

Can you do what Wing Commander Abhinandan did?
Because, I can’t.
So, how is the josh, Sir?

(The writer is a student of Sociology (H) at Delhi University. She can be reached @SpeakNaimisha.‏ This is a personal blog and the opinions expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)