What really defines patriotism? Before I could even make my humble attempt to try and define it, I see so many things around me that masquerade themselves as purported symbols of patriotism.
Shouting slogans on streets, Slumdog bashing, ushering Team India (Yeah, there is only 1 sport and 1 team in India. You could say "It's not cricket" but it is Cricket indeed), donating to charity organizations with the only purpose of getting tax benefits. Believe it or not, most of us live in this strange kind of fallacy where we get a false sense of patriotic pride virtually out of nothing or rather very trivial and petty things.
For instance, Oscars and accolades to Slumdog Millionaire has been the talk of town of late and I can see some of my friends getting furious and deeply offended as they think of the movie as some sort of poverty porn sold by a 'gora'. They say that as Indians they were deeply hurt. WTF? Give me a break. This is what I call "pseudo patriotism". Don't they know that majority of India is still below the poverty line? But they see only what they want to see. Rising Sensex doesn’t mean India is shining, it's just a handful. And if they are so hurt by seeing those slum kids, then my simple question to them is "Guys, what have you done for your country"? All they did was to pass on the blame and move on for greener pastures in life.
Just like we get offended by silly things, we get ecstatic by equally trivial things like some beautiful Indian chic winning a beauty pageant or beating Pakistan in cricket. My intention is not to trivialize their achievements but these things are not something that should satiate one's national pride.
It's quite funny that almost every one of us is hard core fanatic when it comes to our religion or our mother tongue but when it comes to our country, we just run away from it. Let us not even talk about a small section of people who go out on streets and confuse jingoism with patriotism.
All said and done, the question still remains unanswered how do I define true patriotism? I remember during my good old school days, we all students used to take this everyday pledge.
"India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage. I shall always strive to be worthy of it. I shall give respect to my parents, teachers and elders and treat everyone with courtesy. To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their well being and prosperity alone, lies my happiness."
I reckon these simple words pretty much encapsulate true meaning of patriotism, at least for me. Hopefully before I lie down on my deathbed, I would have done enough to fulfill my obligations.