Nationalism In India?
Drawing lines, and the faultlines, of ‘nationalism’- Kanhaiya Kumar lights up second day with spirited discussion: Courtesy by The Tribune, Chandigarh and others also:
Posted at: Oct 16, 2016, 1:18 AM; last updated: Oct 16, 2016, 1:18 AM (IST)
KASAULI LIT FEST
(A) Kasauli clapped and it clapped for various ideas of nationalism, the most volatile subject today. With Kanhaiya Kumar, former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union, on the panel, this session was certain to be the most interesting on day two of the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival.
(B)  As the first speaker, the student leader questioned the idea of nationalism. He said nationalism is culture-based but the State sees it in a legal framework. He said an identity that sparks hatred can’t be a
national identity.
(C) Kanhaiya, who faced charges of sedition earlier this year, said, “Tagore says the idea of nationalism is flawed in itself, it becomes a burden. Had Tagore been alive today, he too would have been labelled
anti-national.” “A Bihari Hindu may eat rice and dal, but can’t tell a Kerala Hindu to not eat beef,” he said. “What I eat and what I don’t eat, the State can’t decide. That right I have been ensured by the Constitution,” he insisted, to a thunderous applause. He pointed out that while we claim to be secular, we deny Muslim actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui a role in Ramlila. “That means we are not against Pakistan, but a certain religion.”
(D) “Ultra-nationalism is a threat,” he said and “hope lay only in upholding the Constitution”.
(E)  Next up was actress Gul Panag. She said she was a nationalist, “loved her country”, but wasn’t blind to her country’s faults.
(F) Refusing to comment on whatever was said by her fellow panelists, an apparent reference to Kanhaiya, writer Madhu Kishwar said nationalism was a nasty idea and spread blood wherever it went. She said nationalism wasn’t about saying ‘Jai Hind’ or wrapping yourself in the national flag or jingoism, but something that at the mohalla level and spreads across the country.
(G) As Learned PRATIBHA RANI, J. (Delhi High Court judge Pratibha Rani) quoted in first paragraph of JNU student Kanhaiya Kumar's bail order dated March 2, 2016 as under:
‘Rang hara Hari Singh Nalve se,
Rang laal hai Lal Bahadur se,
Rang bana basanti Bhagat Singh,
Rang aman ka veer Jawahar se.
Mere Desh ki Dharti sona ugle
Ugle here moti mere desh ki dharti’

Fair Criticism of the order was as under:
1.     Interestingly, the song (This patriotic song from ‘Upkaar’ by Lyricist Indeevar symbolizes individual characteristics representing by different colours and love for motherland) quoted by Learned PRATIBHA RANI,
J. (Delhi High Court judge Pratibha Rani) celebrates freedom heroes like Bhagat Singh, Tagore and Gandhi, all considered anti-national under the British Raj, and compares them to the diverse colours and seasons that make up the beauty of India.
2.     While dealing with the bail application of the petitioner, it has to be kept in mind by all concerned that they are enjoying this freedom only because our borders are guarded by our armed and paramilitary forces. Our
forces are protecting our frontiers in the most difficult terrain in the world i.e. Siachen Glacier or Rann of Kutch.”
3.     Paragraph 47: The investigation in this case is at nascent stage. The thoughts reflected in the slogans raised by some of the students of JNU who organized and participated in that programme cannot be claimed to be protected as fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. I consider this as a kind of infection from which such students are suffering which needs to be controlled/cured before it becomes an epidemic.
4.     Paragraph 52: The time is ripe that while giving some concession to the petitioner on monetary aspect for purpose of furnishing the bond, he can be required to furnish an undertaking to the effect that he will not
participate actively or passively in any activity which may be termed as anti-national. Apart from that, as President of JNU Students Union, he will make all efforts within his power to control anti-national activities in
the campus.
5.     There are several other views against the bail order, of which senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan’s views (In Karan Thapar’s show To The Point) are very important to note. Highlighting the absurd nature of the
order passed by the judge, Bhushan said: “Nationalism or anti-nationalism is not offence under any law. It’s not defined by any law. Her view to expound on nationalism or anti-nationalism was totally uncalled for. Her
inputs on infection, gangrene, surgery make it more of a political speech rather than the judgement of a court. She had no business to go about saying what was happening in JNU was anti-national. These are the kinds of
political speeches BJP spokespersons go on making.”
For Detailed References:-
http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2730519/Kanhaiya-Kumar-bail.pdf
http://www.dailyo.in/variety/kanhaiya-gets-bail-court-patriotism-sedition-jnu-row/story/1/9336.html
http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2016/03/kanhaiya-kumar-bail-order/
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/drawing-lines-and-the-faultlines-of-nationalism/310140.html

Edited and forwarded by:
Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
First posted on October 16, 2016 at 4: 29 PM (IST)
http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com/
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