nia-old Vishnu Puranahasrecordedsobeautifully:‘Uttaram
yat samudrasya himadreschaivadakshinam.Varshamtad
bharatam nama bharatiyatrasantatih(Northoftheocean,
and south of the Himalaya,liesthenoblenationofBharat,and
there live the descendantsofBharat)’.
Not only is the beliefinournationhoodancient,itisalso
deeply liberal and inclusive.Indiahasacceptedrefugeesfrom
across the world. Inancienttimes,shegaverefugetothePar-
sees escaping ArabattacksandJewsfleeingRomanoppression.
Even today, HindupilgrimsvisittheAjmerSharifandMuslims
worship at the Venkateswaratemple.
We are tough. Unlikemanyotherancientculturesthat
died out over the last2,000years,wefoughtbackbrutal
invaders and stubbornlysurvived.Wewerealsoimmensely
successful. As BritisheconomistAngusMaddisonnoted,
India’s GDP was thehighestintheworldfor 15 ofthepast 20
centuries. India hasmorenon-printingpressmanuscripts—3
million—than the restoftheancientworldcombined;thisisa
marker of the massive knowledge production of
the ancient Indians.
Armed with pride, powered with a rebellious
innovative spirit, and infused with the spirit of
patriotism, India can take its rightful place once
again in the comity of nations. And if our mother-
land prospers, so shall we. If we infuse ourselves
with positive patriotism, we will revive a society
that is liberal, powerful and inclusive.
A patriotic spirit towards our ancient moth-
erland is not only a sentimental position to take;
it is also the smart thing to do. It is not just my
heart that swells with pride—even my mind gets
focused when I say these beautiful words: Bharat
Mata ki Jai! Glory to Mother India!Amishis the bestselling author of the Shiva trilogy,
the Ram Chandra series and Immortal IndiaNATION-STATES, IN THEIR BASIC DESIGN,DEFINE
THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARENOT.
THIS, IN THE MINDS OF MOST LIBERALS,MAKES
NATION-STATES AN ENEMY OF LIBERALISMIllustration by SIDDHANT JUMDE