India Today – August 19, 2019

AUGUST 19, 2019 INDIA TODAY 63

ADOOR GOPALAKRISHNAN, 78

Filmmaker

BOMAN IRANI, 59

Actor

“I’m more concerned about

what’s not patriotism than what

makes you patriotic. Recent

incidents of humiliating Mahatma

Gandhi and celebrating his killer

Nathuram Godse prompted me to

think about what’s not patriotism.

To me, mob lynching or silencing

the victims of sexual violence or

suppressing voices of dissent is

unpatriotic. When we uphold and

validate our great Constitution

in every walk of life, we become

patriotic. Let our nation retain

its pluralistic essence and each

one of us give space to others to

live with their identity, then we

become truly patriotic.”

“For me, patriotism is not just a feeling but an act as

well. It comes in many forms; from fighting a war for

the country to making a difference in society as an in-

dividual. For example, if I am incapable of cleaning my

city, then I will try not to dirty it. I may not be trained

to represent my country at the UN, but I can be its

best ambassador when I am a tourist. I am incapable

of many things, but ‘basic civility’ is a fine attempt at

being patriotic for me.”

RATHEESH SUNDARAM

RAJWANT RAWAT