Nationalism needs a new definition: Dr. JP

Lok Satta President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan has underlined the need to give a new meaning to nationalism if freedom were to be meaningful to all,

“Nationalism does not lie in worshipping ‘Bharat mata’ or in raising slogans. Real nationalism lies in ensuring equal growth opportunities to every child irrespective of the accident of its birth in a certain caste or religion. It lies in making the citizen the center of governance and in keeping the nation united overcoming barriers of religion and caste and region and language.”

Addressing a meeting at KBR Park to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the adoption of ‘Janaganamana’ as the national anthem, Dr. JP recalled that failure to realize the significance of nationalism resulted in 16 lakh people dying and 1.5 crore being displaced in communal riots during India’s partition in 1947. Nationalism lies in remembering that we are all inheritors to one civilization, culture, and 5000-year-old history.

Dr. JP regretted that contrary to Rabindranath Tagore’s dream of a nation that holds its head high and is devoid of narrow walls, some forces continue to indulge in actions, which stultify thinking and wisdom and promote antediluvian and foolish trends.

He congratulated Mrs. G. Pratibha Rao and others on organizing the singing of the national anthem early in the morning in a city that wakes up late.

Later, Mahila Satta workers led by Mrs. N. Sarojadevi, Mrs. M. Mahalakshmi and Mrs. K. Gita Murthy garlanded the statue of Rabindranath Tagore in Ravindra Bharati.