India needs unifying nationalism

By Frank F. Islam In his Independence Day speech on August 15 this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaimed, “One nation, one constitution — this spirit has become a reality and India is proud of it.” Prime Minister Modi is correct when he says that “one nation, one constitution” should be the goal for the Indian democracy. He may not be so correct, however, when he states “this spirit has become a reality.” Goal requires unifying nationalism Achieving the goal of “one nation” requires a unifying nationalism. What India has achieved over the past several years instead is an overriding and overbearing form of religious nationalism. To my knowledge, Prime Minister Modi has never declared himself a nationalist. And, I am certain that he would never declare himself a religious nationalist. Still, he is proud of his religion and there may be an encroachment of it into his governance. This is evidenced by the plans to build a wide path from the Hindu Kashi Vishwanath to the Ganges River in Varanasi.
I grew up in Varanasi, and even though it is Hinduism’s holiest city it was a place where youth of all religions worked and played together amicably because they were bound together in the service of others. I believe this interdenominational history should be maintained and recognized by placing stations of all religions along that path.
Many pundits in India and in the free press around the world have criticized the Modi administration’s actions in seizing control of Kashmir and revoking Articles 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution which gave considerable autonomy to Kashmir as an example of religious nationalism. I do not know whether that characterization is accurate or inaccurate. The one thing I know unequivocally is that this action does not bring India or all of the Indian people closer together as one nation.