Nationalism cannot be trivialised: Dakshina Kananda former DC

MANGALURU: Nationalism cannot be trivialised to what we see nowadays, said Dakshina Kananda former Deputy Commissioner S Sasikanth Senthil.
Senthil delivered a talk on 'Bapu and Nationalism' as part of 'Gandhi 150 Chintana Yatre' that was inaugurated on Wednesday. Explaining the difference between state and nation, he urged, not to confuse state action with nationalism and that state cannot instill nationalism.
"Mere geopolitical agreements would not instill nationalism.It has to be nurtured with love and empathy. Nationalism survives on diversity and enriching each other's lives. If there is no love, empathy and bonding, then there is no nationalism. It is a bonding force and never a divisive one. The nation does not survive if we are not together," he said.
Further, he explained that the idea of nationalism is not about flexing one's muscles all around the globe, it is rather standing up for the underprivileged and protecting the diversity in society. Gandhi's idea of nationalism is not about Chauri Chaura incident, it is about Dharasana. It was never violence of differentiating people from people, said Senthil.
"Bapu is more relevant today than any other time in modern history. Humanism was Bapu's creed and religion and that was his nationalism. It is only humanism which Gandhi said was nationalism and that shall and may be guiding light for all of us."
Stating that these are testing times, Senthil said, "We are witness to a time in which many of us are often asked to prove our nationalism," he said, expressing how on a single day he became anti-national in the country, after serving the government for 10 years.
He called Gandhi an authentic global figure. He linked the Thambi Naidoo- Gandhi episode and Gandhi-Smuts agreement to the ongoing NRC exercise.
Jagadish Koppa, senior journalist spoke on 'Bapu Emba Manukulada Belaku'.