BENGALURU: Speaking on the topic “Jingoism versus Patriotism” at the Bangalore Literature Festival here on Saturday, historian Ramachandra Guha said the earlier model of patriotism was now in tatters, and was being replaced by a new model of jingoism. He outlined four features of this jingoism - being an Indian was equated to being a Hindu, Hindi being considered the national language with everyone expected to speak it, considering Pakistan as a common enemy, and branding critics of these ideas as “anti-national”.
Referring to RSS founder MS Golwalkar’s writings, he said, “His book identifies the internal threats - Muslims, Christians and Communists. I’m none of these, but have become a threat.”
Addressing the issue of why jingoism was on the ascendency in the country, Guha gave four reasons for the same. First, the hypocrisy of the Indian Left for being anti-patriotic. The other reasons he gave were the corruption and cronyism of the Congress, the fact that jingoism was a global phenomenon and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in India’s neighbouring countries.
Guhaspeak