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Tag: india

  • Major Gaurav Arya: Patriotism or Jingoism?

    I firmly believe that patriotism or love for one’s country is a great emotion. One should not ask what the country has given to him but what the person has given to the country. One should take pride in one’s country and cherish its great history and culture.

    There is however a fine line separating nationalism and jingoism. While nationalism or patriotism strengthens the country, both from internal and external foes, jingoism or what I sometimes call as “blind patriotism” can drift the thinking away from reality and rationality.

    I have faith in the Indian armed forces and take great pride in its capabilities to repulse any misadventure from Pakistan and China. I too have faith in the Indian foreign policy and its diplomatic weight. However, I cannot turn a blind eye on the ground reality. I refuse to let this “blind patriotism” create a fog in my mind and impair my thinking.

    I have been following Major Gaurav Arya’s You tube channel since a few years now and I do appreciate his insights on issues pertaining to defense and geopolitics. However, as I watch his videos more and more, I have now started to believe that he suffers from this Jingoism as well, at least to a certain extent. His thoughts are driven by this “blind patriotism” and do not take into account a holistic view of the actual situation.

    Lets take the recent Indo-Canadian diplomatic row over the growing footprint of Khalistan movement in Canada. Major’s analysis was driven mostly by emotions failing to take into account what the reality might be. Although I do agree that Khalistan movement has lost its relevance and Canada needs to take imperative steps to dismantle Khalistan stronghold, one should not paint an incorrect picture of the country thereby creating false impressions.

    During the Indo-Canadian row, Major Gaurav Arya, while lashing out at Canada stated that – “Canada ek bada sa Gaon hai”, implying that Canada is just like a big village. In another of his statements, he specified that we (India) have better armed forces, better diplomacy and more money than Canada. I was flabbergasted by his thoughts. Does he even fact check what he says? I am inclined to believe that he probably does not. Or if he does that, he makes these assertions just to create a false impression on his viewers or to get more likes on his videos. If Major wants to engage in “Khalistan bashing”, its his right to do so and express his opinion about it, but it should be done by dissecting and criticizing the Khalistan movement and the Canadian policies that allows it to perpetrate. It should not be done by creating a false image of a country or by disseminating lies. Oratory does has a mesmerizing effect on people and it seems it is working for him.

    Canada’s reality is a very different one from that of India. Unlike India, Canada does not have any border disputes with any country. India, on the other hand is sitting in one of the most dangerous regions in the world. Surrounded by nuclear armed enemies like Pakistan and China necessitates India to have a strong military. On diplomacy and foreign policy, Major is again wrong. Canada has played a vital role in various peacekeeping missions across the world from Suez canal crises to Rwanda crises to Balkan crises. It has played a crucial role in creating bridge between India and the western world after the Indian independence. The first nuclear test that India conducted under the able leadership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi in 1974 was done using “CIRUS” reactor which was made in Canada.

    On his fractured opinion that Canada is just like a big village, I would recommend he get his facts right by reading something about Toronto, which has evolved to become among the top five most economically powerful cities in North America. Even the country as a whole is highly industrialized with one of the highest research output in the world.

    While I do agree that it is important to take sides on issues concerning national security, I strongly disagree that one should undermine a nation with arguments that do not fall under the precinct of truth and actual reality. It is a universal adage that one should even respect his enemy and acknowledge its strengths, something that Major Gaurav Arya fails to do in his videos.

  • How successful has India been in isolating Pakistan globally?

    Propaganda plays an important role during national conflicts and wars. It has a unifying effect on the country and gives its people a common voice. May it be the “Tokyo Rose” in the Pacific theater between United States and Japan or the evil rhetoric propagated by the Nazis against Jews, propaganda is a potent weapon in building a narrative against the enemy state or against a particular community.

    But the coin has other side as well. Propaganda can be extremely vicious and can fill the minds of people with venom. It can sway the thinking away from the reality and create a fallacy.

    Amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan in wake of the Pahalgam attack, this propaganda emanating from the media houses has taken a front seat on both sides of the border. The press industry is beating the war drums and each side is boasting its military might to crush each other and its diplomatic prowess to garner the support of the international community.

    In a recent interview of an Indian politician, it was mentioned that Indian government has successfully isolated Pakistan on the global stage. It was further communicated that the entire world is firmly standing with India. Nothing is far from the truth. Although the entire world has condemned the cowardly attack that claimed 28 innocent lives, all countries have asked for restrain and de-escalation of the situation.

    Have we really isolated Pakistan? The answer is no. Even if the west has chosen to take a neutral stand, Pakistan has three staunch allies, Turkey, China and Bangladesh. China recently stated that Pakistan is its “Ironclad” friend. With investments running into billions, it is highly unlikely that it will abandon Pakistan for its wrongdoings. Pakistan accounts for eighty percent of arms exports from China. There are even speculations that Pakistan surreptitiously informed China about the Pahalgam attack. Whether China will provide direct assistance to Pakistan in case of an all out war is something that is contentious, but one thing is for certain. It will aid Pakistan, both financially and militarily.

    Turkey is another country on which Pakistan is relying. The two countries have very strong ties that go back historically. Both being Sunni majority countries share a lot in common, especially culturally. It has been reported that Turkey is already assisting Pakistan to build its Cyber warfare capabilities. The country’s unwavering support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue is known to the Indian administration and the world at large.

    Recent anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh has changed the geopolitical landscape in the South Asian region. The country owes its independence to India but since the last few years, has found an ally in Pakistan. Trade, especially the one centered around defense is increasing every year with Pakistan supplying fighter squadrons to the Bangladesh Air force. The peril for India here is that in case of an armed conflict with Pakistan, Bangladesh might open its front giving a strategic and military advantage to Pakistan.

    When it comes to western countries, their stand on the crises is neutral. Even though they have condemned the Pahalgam attack, they have asked both sides to de-escalate the matter. European Union has even taken a step further and recognized Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism. This is a shocking statement for a country with a track record of supporting terror activities, not only in India but in Afghanistan and Iran as well. Dr. S Jaishankar has already lashed out at EU for its “double standards”.

    So, should Pakistan be isolated? I believe yes. But is it a reality? The answer is no. Can it happen at least in the near future? Unfortunately, the answer again is no.