The debate rages on this blog and on Nitin’s blog on what constitutes the Indian National Interest and of course on the inane subject of exclusive inclusivity. Offstumped makes yet another attempt at shining light on that rather obscure subject on where the Indian National Interest resides.
So how do we know when somethings are in the nation’s interest while others are not ?
Some basic rules for starters.
That which is in this nation’s interests
- speaks for the people of this nation and not other nations
- does not hurt the territorial integrity of this nation
- does not subjugate the freedom of this nation to another nation
- is explicitly and exclusively committed to securing all of the above both in the short term and more importantly in the long term
- will not work for the primacy of any ideology, organization or individuals over any of the above
- will also not compromise one of the above to secure one or more of the above
So let us apply these basic rules to contemporary issues to see where the National Interest lies.
Speaking for the people of this nation and not others
- When the CPI-M lobbies the Indian Parliament on behalf of the Hezbollah it is not speaking for the people of this nation and hence was not serving the national interest.
- When the Communists, the Samajwadi Party, TDP and others organized Muslim rallies in Uttar Pradesh on the Iran Nuclear Issue they were not speaking for the people of this nation and hence were not serving the Indian National Interest.
- When a few Congress Leaders in Bangalore mobilized a rally of muslims to protest Saddam Hussein’s execution they were not serving the Indian National Interest.
- When Karunanidhi writes to Manmohan Singh protesting Malaysian crackdown on ethnic Indians (majority Tamil and Hindu) he was not serving the Indian National Interest at least directly (indirectly he may be, for some of the people of Indian Origin in Malaysia maybe stakeholders in the Indian Economy)
Does not hurt the territorial integrity of this nation
- When the Communists hold a brief for China on border issues they are not serving the Indian National Interest
- When the Manmohan Singh Government goes soft on tackling terrorism it is not serving the Indian National Interest
- When successive Indian Governments put the Kashmir issue in cold storage they are not serving the Indian National Interest
- When successive Indian Governments drag feet on key defense upgrades and play politics on big ticket procurements they are not serving the Indian National Interest
Does not subjugate the freedom of this nation to another nation
- No need to labor on this one, we have centuries of history to clarify this beyond any doubt or debate but for the question of Treaty Making. Unless we are signing up to treaties of the NATO or EU kind no Treaty subjugates the freedom of this nation to another nation. Our nation has the freedom to pull out of a treat at any time of its choosing. There will be consequences that our nation will have to bear responsibility for but that is no different from consequences stemming from unilateral action. So the Indo-US Nuclear Deal serves national interest as long as it secures long term energy/defence interests while not relinquishing sovereignity in a NATO or EU type arrangement.
Is explicitly and exclusively committed to securing all of the above for the long term
- When the Vajpayee lead NDA Government created the National Security Council and the role of a National Security Advisor it was serving the Indian National Interest
- When the Manmohan Singh lead UPA Government created the Knowledge Commission it was serving the Indian National Interest
- When Manmohan Singh calls for “long term strategic thinking” and a group of people who have a “long-term stake in the system he was serving the Indian National Interest
Will not work to ensure the primacy of any ideology, individual(s), organization(s) over any of the above
- Commitment to an ideology like Communism that calls for revolution, compromises the territorial integrity and explicitly calls for class war does not serve the Indian National Interest
- Commitment to a Pan-Islamism that speaks for the Taliban over military action against Afghanistan, speaks for the Hezbollah over defence collaboration with Israel, speaks for Saddam Hussein over defence collaboration with the U.S., and that speaks for the rights of the theocratic regime of Iran over access to Nuclear Technology does not serve the Indian National Interest
Will also not compromise one of the above to secure one or more of the others
- Commitment to a military pact like NATO or a political pact like the EU would not be in the Indian National Interest
Well all fine and good some would ask – what of Hindutva, how pray does it serve the Indian National Interest ?
One must ask the above questions of its various adherents as there is no single official version or an authoritative interpretation of what Hindutva is or is not.
As far as Offstumped goes the key test is does it call for the primacy of ideology over all else. If it does then it fails the National Interest test else it doesnt. The Flat World Hindutva that Offstumped has articulated is clear on the secondary role of ideology as a moral compass to guide local communities and individuals on socio-cultural issues. It has no role to play in Governance and does not call for a Theocratic State. By coming out firmly in favor of securing the nation’s long term interests it serves the National Interest.
What of Psuedo-Secularism, how pray does it serve the Indian National Interest ?
It doesnt, for it fails the test multiple times as pointed above when it stood for pan-Islamic causes.
What of Non Alignment, how pray does it serve the Indian National Interest ?
It doesnt again for it stands for primacy of an ideology and an organization over all else.
Offstumped Bottomline: In closing the National Interest is not a Common Minimum Program based on compromises and political correctness. It is unambiguous and clear on what it stands to secure and what it does not seek to compromise or subjugate.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Just curious…..has the incident 2 days back, of Modi writing to PM to protect the interests of Gujarati’s (Not Indians, Gujarati’s – his words, not mine)in Kenya slipped out of your mind???
Or is it that he has this blog’s blanket permit that whatever he does is actually national interest?
Cynic – u are right if he is speaking for gujarati speaking persons of indian origin and not indian citizens he is not serving the national interest directly just as in the malaya scenario the indirect caveat holds
There maybe an argument on civilizational or ethnic interest tomorrows post on that question.
Good post.
Same question also needs to be asked of the major electronic media. There’s good reason why phoren funding, JVs or worse, direct ownership of desi media outlets were prohibited by law.
Now, with CNN-IBN in, things don’t look so clear anymore. I wouldn’t be surprised if these chaps push a US POV. Psy-ops galore. The access they have to personalities so soon after launch is impressive, to say the least.
Shouldnt we take into account the fact that since the CMs are concerned with the interests of their respective states, they’re only towing a line which is in that state’s interest, may be because of monetary or other reasons, whatever.
Sud – foreign investments in media may not be a problem as long as we have strong public ombudsmen and media watchdogs to keep bias and agendas in check
Not anonymous – parochial interests wud be the right way to describe it
We wouldn’t be having this discussion if the Hindutva movement, especially RSS, VHP had been successful in projecting their views as they actually believe. By refusing to engage media, they have ceded their right to talk about themselves.
However, I am proud of RSS and other Sangh Parivar organizations for standing for their cause despite the worst imaginable atrocities and bad mouthing committed against them. Does any other ideology/organization in India has stamina to stand a stigma like murdering of Gandhi? No. It is impossible for Sangh Parivar or any ideology to exists and expand continuously for 83 years without being in synch with Nation’s Interest.
I don’t need to remind people that starting way after Communists, Sangh Parivar organizations BJP, VHP, ABVP, Bhartiya Mazadoor Sangh, Bhartiya Vanvansi Kalyan Parishan, and Sewa Bharti have all become # 1 in their field. This has happened despite all kind of obstructions, including hostile media and government for 75 years! And the root cause of SP’s success is their undying faith and belief to work towards the core national interest of Bharat as expertly articulated by yossarin.
To me, Hindutva is nothing but a movement to help realize the destiny of Bharat. The same Bharat whose soul is Hindu culture.
Brilliant article, Yossarin.
A slightly practical version of Hindutva, but nevertheless a lucid point of view is here… don’t miss it!
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1142899
I found the last paragraph particularly appealing to my POV.
A similar thing is happening with Buddhism. Today’s Dalit converts pay lip-service to the Buddha’s teachings, but are, in reality, creating a kind of aggressive neo-Buddhism for mass market combat with the upper castes. When religion is used to battle for the mass market, sparks are bound to fly.
Cynic claimed:
“Just curious…..has the incident 2 days back, of Modi writing to PM to protect the interests of Gujarati’s (Not Indians, Gujarati’s – his words, not mine)”
If you want to claim that they are his words, quote the full text of his letters.
Good post Yossarin
In 1956, India embarked upon reorganization of States on linguistics basis. And that is how erstwhile Bombay State was bifurcated into Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960.
There is therefore nothing for the CM of Gujarat to speak about the plight of his State subjects residing as NRIs in Kenya if they are Gujaratis.
Gujarati is an official language of India Union and Gujaratis staying wherever in the world will be NRIs but Gujaratis too.
There is absolutely no case of cynicism here.
Who will speak for NRIS in Kenya speaking Gujarati? Punjabis, Maharashtrians or Tamilians or Telugus?
What did Karunanidhi do when the plight of NRIs in Malayasia is worsening? He protested because they are Tamilians and require the backing of their home State.
The line in 2nd para should read:
There is therefore nothing wrong for the CM to speak about the plight of his State subjects residing as NRIs in Kenya if they are Gujaratis.
Yossarin – “If “???
OT – Has this blog quoted any of the “full text of letters” you wanted? Some of those points are just rah rah. You ok with that but want letter from me?
J – The cynicism is not about anyone asking for protection of some other human beings. Caring is always a positive thing. But if Karunanidhi & Modi do the exact same thing, then both have to be either nationalists or anti-national !! No?
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
Cynic – they are both parochial in their actions but indirectly they are nationalists as well as a large number of these pios could be stakeholders/investors and hence it is in the indian national interest to protect those who have invested in its future.
Yossarin,
This might interest you.
http://ia.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/03sheela.htm
(It also has a link to a video of NM asking for protection of Kenyan Gujarati’s – in case some want “full text” )
Those Gujarati’s have migrated to Kenya end of 19th century which is more than 110 years ago. SO there is little chance that they are Indians by nationality. There is little evidence of Kenyans (Of Indian/Gujarati Origin) being prominent investors in India.
However, I am all for helping them out. Humanity or emotional roots are something too. Isnt that why “some politicians” are helping out Taslima Nasreen in India? Err…but by your posts criteria that would be an anti-national thing to do. After all they are lobbying for and speaking for those who are not from India. Right?
Good Article…However, I have one point to make…If we discuss Ideology over here…why drag poor ol comrades….COMMUNISM IS DEAD WORLDWIDE…What is in China is hybrid…that cant be called Communism as preached by Marx, Lenin etc.
So our desi communists out to get hold an ideology to be allowed in forums discussing ideologies…..
>>It also has a link to a video of NM asking for protection of Kenyan Gujarati’s – in case some want “full text”
In the video, the word he uses is “bhaiyon”, not “Gujaratis”.
You’re one interesting cynic, cynic. You score a self-goal and claim a victory.
Yoss boss,
Seems to me its much ado about a name. Hindutva in that sense has perceived (not necessarily real) baggage among a vocal section of otherwise well-meaning desis. What you refer to as a flat-world Hindutva could better be described as ‘Indicism’ or ‘Indictva’, perhaps (pardon my feeble imagination in the name-game). The word ‘Hindu’ is itself a phoren construct. If I ain’t mistaken, you’re describing a kind of ‘civilizational nationalism’, if you will (yup, ‘cultural nationalism’ is already taken and tainted, so to say, by association).
Why allow mere semantics to distract from the true import of the message, which I suspect all but the commies and the jihadists (and possibly some phoren funded evanjehadists) will find wholsesome, inspiring and ahem, ‘inclusive’? BTW, might as well clarify before someone jumps the gun, the commies, Js and EJs are by nature ‘internationalists’. Strengthening India-centric nationalism weakens their pan-world goals, so 2 say.
All IMHO, 2 naya paisa worth etc.
/Have a nice day.
Also, read TIME STARTS NOW, By Meghnad Desai:
http://mi-jiggs.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html
Yossarin, Good post. I agree with almost all of what you have written, except that i have some more to add about the first point. You say that people with national interest “speaks for the people of this nation and not other nations”. In my opinion i would modify it to say that: people with national interest speaks for the people of this nation; they can also speak for the people of the other nations as long as their speech helps the interest of the people of this nation (or as long as their speech does not adversely affect the interest of the people of this nation) For example, if one speaks against America bombing Hiroshima, it is not against our national interest. Or if one speaks for the friends of our nation, say Israel, it is not against our national interest. In fact it is for our national interest. In many cases we will have to speak for other nations (eg. say, supporting Israel in the UN; i think that is in our national interest).
The stark reality is that if exodus of Gujarati speaking POIs begin from Kenya, they will turn their eyes to no other State than Gujarat, as their natural refuge, although some of them might have migrated 110 years ago. And that will remain the major concern of the CM of the home State.
Yossarin has linked the issue to parochialism and in the same breath to national interests also. This is a delicate issue and the dividing line is very thin.
Great post!! I agree with your view point.
I think speaking up for the People of India Origin (PIO) where ever they live, may not be in national interest of India but it is definitely in the strategic interest of India. PIO all over the world, especially who have maintained their Hindu culture, are more supportive of India/Indian Interests that some of the Indian in India.
Also, not being in national interest in doesn’t make it anti-national, as long as it is not hurting the national interest.
I think the argument is terribly wrong that somehow people in India should not care about ethnic Indians in fiji, kenya, or malaysia, however long they have been out of the country, and to do so would be to contrary to India’s interests.
India is not just a country, its also the birthplace and the last bastion of the hindu civilization. Just like Jews cherish Isreal, Indians all over the world cherish India, regardless of how many generations they have spent outside India.
Besides, when Americans think of Indians, they dont think Gandhi ( the real one, not the Italian kind ), they think about the guy in the 7-11 or their family doctor, and people in UK think about the guy in the curry restaurant. So NRI/PIOs are the tangible representations of an otherwise rather strange ’snake charmers, fakirs, and outsourcers’ land.
These people just dont make money and get nostalgic when they talk about India, they send billions in much needed remittance, and lobby for India. Indians in america have poured their blood, sweat and their hard earned dollar to bring about support for the nuclear deal.
If anything, India should learn from Isreal in accepting PIOs and utilizing their experience, wealth and lobbying to help the Indian cause. It’s funny to see hostility towards Indians that have been out of the country a few generations, when one sees Jews being invited back to ‘their’ country from all parts of the world after 2 milleniums.
But then, Isreal has beat Islamic terrorism, won every war, and secured it’s dominance in it’s tough neighborhood, I should have known, comparing with India, is a gross mis-comparison.
Theer are many things which fall under some of the above categories :
In 2004 JNU leftist gang –
JNU Students Union (JNUSU), the Left outfits voted against a resolution condemning China for repeatedly showing Arunachal Pradesh as not part of India
.The one line resolution reads:
“The council condemns the Republic China for continuing to show Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory.”
http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2004/12/wake-up-call-to-indians-on-leftists.html
Strong protest came NOT from ABVP , it is from SECULAR CONGRESS student’s front NSUI
NSUI president said: “People know the Left’s history of betrayals. NSUI will not tolerate even an inch of Indian land being claimed by our neighbouring countries, while striving all the time for better relations with them, a fact highlighted by Dr Manmohan Singh’s recent participation in the ASEAN summit.” “Who can forget the stand of the Left in the 1962 war with China, when they openly supported the Chinese aggression by stating that the war was over a piece of land that India claims to be India’s and China claims to be China’s. Left outfits owe an explanation to the whole nation for such a blatant anti-national stand,”
________________
http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2005/02/jnu-communists-insult-president-bharat.html
JNU communists insult President Bharat Ratna Abdul Kalam
South Asia Tribune, Washington D.C., Feb. 22, 2005
” * Independent thought in India’s better universities is alive and well. Office bearers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University students union in Delhi were requested by the university’s administration to present flowers to President Abdul Kalam at the annual convocation. They flatly refused, saying that he is a nuclear hawk and an appointee of a Hindu fundamentalist party. Moreover, as young women of dignity they could not agree to act as mere flower girls presenting bouquets to a man. ”
http://www.satribune.com/archives/200502/P1_hood.htm
__________________
WHEN KARGIL WAR is at peak , JNU students Union arranged an Indo-Pak Mushaira — it was outright India-bashing , anti-India rhetoric . Poetess Fahmida Riyaz, from Pakistan characterizing India as “Fundamentalist and evil” . When 2 armymen , brothers objected , JUN guys beat
Some of the onlookers later admitted that the Pakistani poets on stage were cursing and insulting the three brave brothers in the most derogatory and obscene language. Some even mocked them saying that they were “Hindu Hijras”.
http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2005/05/kargil-war-jnu-students-union.html
CAN SOMEONE CHECK THIS :
PRAKASH KARAT is not a degree holder from JNU
Aryan,
I dont think Israel won every war. For eg, the summer 2006 war in Lebanon.
I am not disputing you argument though.
[...] is now my turn to add fuel to the fire pitch in my bits to the debate that began with Nitin coining a new word: anti-Hindutva. The debate in itself is another [...]
An otherwise good & clear post but this i think might be a liability..
One must ask the above questions of its various adherents as there is no single official version or an authoritative interpretation of what Hindutva is or is not.
If it can’t be defined then it can be spun in many ways and effectively misinterpreted. Of course it also allows an exit by its adherents to say that’s not it but its rather like this..
I agree with most of the responses that India should not ignore the plight of PIO’s abroad, who sometimes through history, can only turn towards India for mercy, as we’ve seen in Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Fiji where a more prosperous Indian-originated community envoked jealousy among other ethnic groups and well…you know how they retaliate. Whether or not the BJP can do anything about the situation of Indians in Malaysia or Kenya is irrelevant…it is the only party to even say anything on the matter while no one else could care less (after all, PIO’s can’t vote!)
Keep it up, Yossarin – the national interest is going to become more important in the years to come, if the media takes great joy in seeing Indians vote on the basis of caste or a free tv or sack of rice they can get, at least you should keep the effort up…
And I hope you savoured Jyoti Basu’s 30-year late admission that capitalism is necessary to develop West Bengal!