NIKHIL MORO writes from Atlanta: I was heaving a sigh of relief that the jingoistic debate over N.R. Narayana Murthy‘s patriotism was over, when I read the latest: The Kannada Sahitya Parishat president, Chandrashekhar Patil, demanding that the government “deport” NRN.
I found myself pondering a curious question: Why are we, as a society, so edgy about issues of patriotism?
For all our feelings, the evidence out there is clear: Patriotism or nationalism may well be dead, slain by the demon of globalization.
Let’s consider the evolution of patriotism.
For early humans, the only loyalty lay to themselves: While the neanderthals walked West Asia some one-lakh years ago, there was also a Dawn of Man (to use a term from the 1968 classic 2001: A Space Odyssey). Humans turned hunter-gatherers when not themselves hunted, and looked out for themselves.
Later, the feeling of loyalty or patriotism expanded to include little villages or communities when humans progressed to agrarian, pastoral or animal-raising professions, such as in the Indus Valley (of some 4,500 years back, the largest of the four ancient civilizations).
Even later, patriotism came to be defined by a city’s boundaries, upon the emergence of city-states such as Athens, Sparta, Troy (ancient age), Frankfurt, Amsterdam (middle age), Singapore, Monaco and Vatican City (modern age).
In about the 16th century, “nationalism” was born as patriotism, grew into a more profound ideology upon the birth of nation-states. Today nationalism, or patriotism, is evident when we discuss our cricket team’s performance, or the latest Agni launch, or ISRO’s Chandrayan program.
More recently however, the Columbia economist Jagdish Bhagwati and others at the London School of Economics (Drs. John Hutchinson, Anthony Smith, et al) have suggested that because of migrations and cultural mixing the nation-state has ceased to exist.
This is especially true in the West where nations, as distinct political-economic entities, are disappearing due to the cross-border movements of money, labour, technologies and cultures. Indications include the European Union, NAFTA, American immigration crisis, etc.
India is globalizing as well, thanks to satellite media, foreign investments, and migration from Bangladesh. The Internet has acted as globalization’s irrevocable agent, supporting Marshall McLuhan‘s “global village” aphorism.
And with the nation-state dead so would be any notion of nationalism, however laudable.
In this kind of mahaul, we need to ask: What entity, if any, has replaced the nation-state as the fulcrum of our feelings of loyalty? My guess is that there indeed has been a replacement—the Multinational Corporation.
Employing much of the world’s finer talent, the multinationals have gained a disproportionate influence on many facets of our life—we hardly need a George Ritzer to show us that. Regardless of our love for Karnataka or India, if our multinational employer posts us in Timbuktoo we better go. That’s reality, and so much for patriotism.
Whatever remains of patriotism seems to be increasingly in the chokehold of chauvinists: just listen to election speeches by some Shiv Sena or BJP candidates.
Is the apparent shift in loyalty, from the nation to the corporation, a good thing? That’s a value judgment we should make for ourselves. But one thing seems clear: NRN recognizes that loyalty shift.
Narayana Murthy is a man for our times. He and the rest of his progressive ilk see a world beyond Karnataka. They create jobs beyond borders and make wealth (not manage the poverty, like the socialists ended up doing). They respect the demand-supply marketplace, and thrive in it. They reject the failed welfare state but accept the oversight of government to sustain the free marketplace.
To me, NRN is a leader of a new culture of “marketplace nationalism” (a term my IRS-officer friend Venkata Bujimalla used whenever he and I discussed patriotism at Ohio State University).
While I have many misgivings about that new culture, I’d any day prefer it to the status quo represented by the losers in our Vidhana Sabha who called NRN names, or by folks such as Sri. Patil who demanded NRN be “deported”.
What arrogance!
All well Said!! Shake it and stir it!! you get a new blend. Thats how a world with new face emerges, a new smell emerges..
Well we are seeing those tall figures rising up to shake and stir the society and thinking. let this boil again and let them stir it again.. because we are now getting tired of the old ways of thinking
Nikhil,
If NRN were a votary of “Marketplace Nationalism” he could have made himself unavailable to his own grandiose plans to plant himself in Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The talk started in strait times on April 3rd 2007 that NRN wanted to contest presidential elections. Marketplace Nationalist in NRN could have clarified to the world about his aim being white house instead of rastrapathi bhavan as part of this Marketplace Nationalism.
It is possible for one to have alternate view on nationalism. But NRNs comment on TV showed none of that. NRN never had what Jagadish Bhagwathi is advising . For example, Jagdish Bhagwathi has been a vocal advocate for paying your taxes. In fact he is on record to have asked for dual taxation for dual citizens!!!. (Refer this link http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/World/NRI_News/Dual_citizenship_NRIs_should_pay_tax_too/articleshow/msid-1031385,curpg-2.cms)
My grouse is why does not NRN pay taxes? Why is he cheating poor in India of their land, Indian tax machinery its taxes, Educated Indians their due wage. Do not try to put an aura around NRN. He is just a reckless profiteer and his hollowness comes out often with these kind of statements.
Regarding the statements from Patil, I agree Patil is no saint. But in democracy each one needs to be there. When a business man who profited immensely at India’s expense forgets the sacrifice the country men have done for him, he has to be threatened with deportation.
It is another matter , that NRN will fight nail and tooth any deportation. Because he wants to eat free and it is possible only in India. He knows that very well .. that explains why the minority interest on INFY balance sheet is negative. I do not know any other company that has such peculiar accounting.
I have done enough analysis on NRN’s nefarious schemes at
http://muthry4prez.wordpress.com
Do not forget to read the latest blog at http://muthry4prez.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/infy-tax-need-help-from-tax-experts/
It will make your blood boil because you know the taxation in US.
Infy pays only 11.69% tax because there is provision to deduct profits from operations for about 10 years.
Secondly, Infy can claim tax deduction on the Social Security contribution towards its employees only if there is such a provision. Nowhere is it mentioned that Rs247 Cr is towards the SS contribution.
A big company cannot hoodwink many countries by some accounting fraud. If Infy is involved in such an act, it is bound to show up somewhere.
Nikhil,
its not the question of whether NRN is patriotic or not. Its about the way he gave a reason not to sing the national anthem. The word used there does not fit well. His mistake was not selecting the right word. Not singing national anthem does not account to non-patriotism and not a national sin. It is not expected out of a national figure. He should be good in choosing words. Well it happens, some times unknowingly we use a wrong word and it is sufficient to draw peoples attention to criticise.
it is sad that none of the great indian republics figured in your roster. it doesn’t matter to the thrust of your post, but it figures. perhaps it was deliberate.
@TS , whats the purport of ‘great indian republics’???? bidise hele saar
Patriotism and nationalism is not something physical to be measured. Patriotism or nationalism is an emotional bonding of a human to something which has made him what he is today. And for a human the land where he resides contributes a major part. In animals we call it territoriality. Infact animals are very fierce when it comes to guarding their teritories. Humans call it as patriotism. And the concept of motherland has been from the days of Mahabhratha where Yudhistra tells Vysampayana “Janani janmabhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyesi” (Mother and Motherland are greater than heaven)
Any amount of globalisation can never change this emotional aspect of humans. Even if an indian goes to US and settles down for generations they would still identify themselves with India. In the name of globalisation we are only trying to find reasons for everything we do right or wrong.
Globalisation has nothing to do with patriotism.
Why NRN is being criticised is that he careleslly uttered things which hurts the emotionality of the common man.
A small anecdote from Ramayana about patriotism which somebody sent to me a couple of days back.
In Ramayana, after the death of Ravana , Vibhisbana fell at the feet of Rama and said, “Swami, I never aspired to be the King of Lanka. I only wanted my brother to give up his bad qualities. I pray to you to take over the Kingdom of Lanka.”All the rakshasas also came and prayed to Rama that he should become King of Lanka .
Lakshmana also supported them saying, “O brother, Bharatha is already ruling over Ayodhya. Even if you return to Ayodhya, you may not be crowned as the King. So, I request you to take over this kingdom and transform all the rakshasas.Lanka is full of golden mansions. Where else can you find such a beautiful place? I will be very happy if you rule over this Kingdom.” =Rama lovingly took Lakshmana close to him and said,
“Lakshmana, how could you get such a silly desire? Just because one’s mother is ugly, can he call any other beautiful woman as his mother? Even though my country is poor compared to Lanka, I still consider it as my mother. Lanka may be full of gold, but I don’t want it”!!
I am amazed at the high decibel level controversy created by our political class. They do not have time or interest or intellect to discuss the problems of millions of our future generation not being able to read in tax supported government schools. Crores of rupees are squandered and exploited by the political class to distribute kerosene which is preventing millions of poor from cooking food or lighting their houses. India’s energy security is threatened every day by our development model. But these subjects are not on our national agenda.
Narayana Murthy has said so many things so many times about our falling educational standards. He has made the shocking statement that only 20% of our graduates are employable. Yes they do make headlines for a day and then conveniently forgotten. But a mistake though very big in the eyes some gets the attention of many even after an apology is tendered.
The same phenomenon is taking with the sickening frequency when any one makes a statement on Cauvery which is different than the one held by the majority.
It is time that we start looking at this totalitarian fascist tendency imposed on a tiny minority which is making most of us intellectual prisoners. When S. L. Byrappa expressed his support to NRM, he was criticized. When U. R. Ananthmurthy expressed his support to Girish Karnad, he was attacked by Cauvery agitators. How many have the courage to express their true position on how to solve Cauvery issue? Who in media has the courage today to print or telecast the views which are against the accepted wisdom of the tiny political class? Only blogs like this which is read by very few give an opportunity to express our views freely today.
It is time we start debating the real issue and not the ones set by the political class though they are our rulers. Otherwise we will start losing one more freedom in our country.
Hi,
All of us Public are hostages of the Politicians.
Politicians who burn buses, stop cars and trains, tell blatant lies, divide us on caste and religion basis, hate people of other communities, and more importantly have destroyed our educatiion instititutions and infrastructure,
are quick to take every opportunity to hang on to any public opinion and get take their grudge out.
As far as NRN is concerned a normal Citizen of India, not connected in IT in any way, either by of stocks or employement or anything visible direct interest is hurt by a captain of an Industry make such a comment.
But, with the apology offered, i am satisfied. But, i ask the larger questions pride is also related to the actions we do and comments we make.
The politicians in the Assembly, showed clearly what kind of people are ruling us.
It is an everyday shame, that Mr. Jaiprakash Narayan of Lok Satta has openly challenged that more than 50 crores were spent in the recent Mysore elections.
None of the same politicians are willing to take up the collapse of Bangalore infrastructure.
Let us be first be proud of ourselves. When someone says sorry, we should be graceful to accept it. Afterall, NRN is willing to accept he may have hurt the sentiments. Reminding him and agitating is not in the spirit of things.
api svarNamayI laN^kA na me lakshmaNa rochate |
jananI janmabhUmishcha svargAdapi garIyasI ||10||
Rama to Laksmana !!
Nikhil,
You hit the proverbial sixer. Putting on my anarchist hat, I would say that vegetarianism is the root cause of all nationalism! If our ancestors didn’t have to start agriculture and protect their holdings, we wouldn’t have such strong feelings about a piece of land.
That is probably why the nomadic gypsies of Europe are said to have the “gypsy spirit” – they don’t (or didn’t) have such issues to deal with!
Now taking off that aforementioned hat, such feelings are unavoidable and I don’t think unnecessary. Since the concept of modern nation-states of the Westphalian model came to India with the British a few hundred years after it made its debut in Europe, we still have a lot to go through in our development and management of it. If we all learnt from history, it would’t repeat itself. So I will continue to feel good about my nationalism and patriotism and at some point our society will come to grief because of too much of it; just like what happened in Europe.
We can then get down to business of talking about the real issues that Dr.Shenoy writes about. Until then, I will enjoy the chest thumping as much as the next Seena or Kitta. The post WWII leadership in much of the Western world consisted of “strongmen” who did have a vision for the near future and set about implementing it. They didn’t tolerate nonsense and sometimes even democracy. NRN is that kind of person. He’d be what people call a “benevolent despot”. The man has demonstrated his ability to reach a goal and set new ones.
Thinking of the future and our place in it will lead to us promoting people who themselves have a vision of the future into the public sphere. But when has any people thought of its own future? The American view of the future is of itself standing static while it “manages” the world for its benefit. The Indian vision of the future is actually based on our past (thank God for APJ Abdul Kalam who broke from that). Ditto with the European vision. The Chinese are pretty close to the American version while the Japanese seem confused.
Well written piece .
However no more comments on NRN .(He has absolutely zero influence on my life and my weekend ) . I dont want any HANUMANS or JAMBAVANTHAS jump on me .
Since the transition of winter to spring has taken a long time this year hope I have a bright sunny day .
foreseeing deep into future, the circle will get completed, started with
a single human being will end with a single human being, the notions of
community, society, region, country, world…. will fall by the wayside as
these are time dependent.
Offtrack to above post (duplicate too ) ..but something related to patriotism and nationalism
An open ‘COMMENT’ to swarghavaasi Annavru .
Preethiya Annovre,
Karnatakadha aaradhya dayva yella Kushalave?? Swargadhalli yella araamagidhe yendhu bhaavisuthene .Naanu englishnalli mundhvaristheeni .
Namma ‘Sampathavaranna’ keli anuvaadhakke .
People are busy with NRN these days questioning his patriotism and nationalism and ‘YENJALISM’ . Global kannadigas were busy and engrossed for the past few days to ‘GADIPAAR’ or not to ‘GADIPAAR’ another kannadadha Kandha …Mr.Narayanamurthy .
I am sure Mr.Narayanamurthy has not seen any of your movies like Mayoora or Bangaradha manushya to understand the love for ‘NAADU’ , ‘NUDI’ or NELA and JALA . Nimma Abhimaani devaragaLu Should make all attempts to screen ‘Mayoora’ in front of Infy Campus so that the ONLY 2 kannadigas(Mr.NRN and PAI ) in the company see the movie with their families . They can then translate the ‘Summary’ of the movie into various ‘PPTs’ and present to their Audience (Incl the foreigners) this way your abhimaani baLaga will increase . This can be a very good vaarshika ‘NAMANA’ this year ‘.
People have always questioned yours and NRN contribution to Kannada and Karnataka . I as your abhimaani cannot question like that even in my dream since your ‘KODUGE’ is apaara in the Motion Film Arts and Music world. regarding NRN’s contribution I would leave to others to discuss .
Yinthi nimma Katta abhimaani.
DG
Tarlesubba, about the “great indian republics,” well, the article mentions the Indus Valley civilization which included the famous cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa.
Raghu, excellent comment. Enjoyed it.
Gaby, thanks for the citation!
Dr. Shenoy, you raise excellent points that we should learn to prioritize. In the current scene the media seems to be at fault, sensationalizing irrelevant details.
Dheerendragopal Says:
April 13th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
“However no more comments on NRN .(He has absolutely zero influence on my life and my weekend ) . I dont want any HANUMANS or JAMBAVANTHAS jump on me ”
Good let us keep that way!! Every homosapien has weekness of one kind or another. I suggest an’NRN -free blog postings for at least six months”
Nikhil Moro puts forth a theory of evolution from Individual -> Group -> Village -> City States -> Nations -> Corporation.
While the contrary seems to be true starting with the end of Second World War. Joint Families -> Nuclear Families -> Individuals/Single Parents (this could conveniently include Husband and Wife team working at different times and meeting only during the weekends).
Loyalty in the capitalist world is to one self and money. Individual is the king. Money is the power.
Read the employee turnover in India is among the highest in the world. Know friends who have changed jobs 6 times in a year and quadrupled their salaries. What loyalty to company? What “shift in loyalty, from the nation to the corporation”?
Nikhil,
How can you describe NRN and his ilk as progressives? Progressivism stands for social justice and regulation of large corporations which are not the values NRN believes in.
Neither is he a “marketplace nationalist” as you descrine. At best he is a “Free Market Globalist”. Remember, Infosys is at the epicenter of the flat world, at least in Thomas Friedman’s mind.
“The Kannada Sahitya Parishat president, Chandrashekhar Patil, demanding that the government “deport” NRN”
Does this person know the meaning of deportation. Is his term ‘deport’ misused here. Deporting NRN to where? NRN is a brahmin and if you take the argument into a silly direction which will be: brahmins originally descended from Aryans ( it is not my opinion but that of Karunanidhi, the uncle of Maran the ‘wonderful’ IT minister of India), and Aryans history says had their homesteads in NW of India, bang on where the region of Pakistan’s Punjab lies today. Which means deporting him there. The president of Pakistan will receive him personally there with military honors!!!.
Mr Patil may be into Kannada, but he has an irrational mind. The Kannada Sahitya Parishat hadhad great presidents. Mr Patil will down in its annals as the worst.
Champa is a Lingayat and doesnt know the roots of Brahmin and doesnt understand Shankaracharya/Madhvacharya
I was pointing out the silliness of Mr Patil’s outburst.
One need not understand Shankaracharya/Madhvacharya , but one can exercise common sense. This guy should know that ‘deporting’ means forcibly removing some one to his/her land of origin. NRN was born in India and is in India. His outburst does not make sense. He exhibits the classic irrational mind syndrome.
French are the strongest nationalists and supporters of their language. They are very proud of their national anthem- La Marseillaise
When one becomes a French citizen, he/she is French, period ( no italian-American or African-American nonsense there) I do not imagine even they indulging in the type of hysteria that we hear from Mysore from ignorant men who are shamefully ‘men of letters’
Hanumanji,
Just the same way some us caned NRN on his ‘rational’ outburst?:)
Come on, Champa was angry–as president of KaSaaPa he is bound to serve and protect Kannada. Sure he has every right to his opinion!
Enjoyed reading NM’s column. He was flying high as also GK3S…wonder what these scholars are ‘taking’ :)
muthry4prez, you are very good. Thank you.
Madhav, excellent point.
In the larger picture, none of our artificial classifications of community, society, region, country, will matter. As you say, we started from one, and will end with one. Patriotism is just a temporary feeling of security.
We are all living in Maya; Shankaracharya was the wisest and greatest.
Hanuman, very well said.
Baree mathadi yaaroo uddhara agilla — ee blog nalli cynicsgaLdu yenu korathe illa.
Nobody can keep a good man down, or a good company down.
INFOSYS NET PROFIT UP 69%
PTI: April 13, 2007
Leading software services provider, Infosys Technologies today posted 69.27 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 1,124 crore for the quarter ended March 31, as compared to Rs 664 crore for the year-ago period.
The total income of the company increased by 43.38 per cent to Rs 3,675 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, from Rs 2,563 crore for the corresponding quarter a year ago, Infosys informed the BSE.
For the year ended March 31, the company posted a net profit after tax & exceptional items of Rs 3,783 crore as compared to Rs 2,421 crore a year ago.
The total income has increased to Rs 13,524 crore for the year ended March 31 from Rs 9,172 crore in the year-ago period.
The company declared a final dividend of Rs 6.50 on shares of Rs 5 each (130 per cent).
The group posted a net profit after tax, exceptional items and minority interest of Rs 1,144 crore for the March quarter as compared to Rs 673 crore in the same quarter last year.
The total income increased to Rs 3,891 crore for the fourth quarter from Rs 2,696 crore for the corresponding quarter a year ago.
For the year ended March 31, the group posted a net profit after tax, exceptional items and minority interest at Rs 3,856 crore as against Rs 2,458 crore a year ago.
The total income of the group increased to Rs 14,265 crore for the year ended March 31, from Rs 9,660 crore for the year-ago period.
Hanuman saar, I agree with you that Mr. Chandrashekhar Patil is being irrational. His outburst does not befit his position or his status as a “man of letters.” Mr. Patil seems to be a man of nonsense.
DB saar, you make no sense either. The debate is about NRN anthem issue, not about Kannada, so Mr. Patil’s opinion is irrelevant and irrational, even if he has a right to express it. In addition, he doesn’t even know what deport means. How an idiot like this Mr Patil got appointed to such an important post? — is there lobbying allowed?
mr.moro’s quasi-anthropological treatise is amusing to say the least.
Gadipaaru
As also your quasi-humorous observation…:)
Hanuman,
I would peg the origin of Aryans to present day Iran. Probably, now easy now, the astute Champa was referring to Iran gadipaaru fate for NRN:)
Just get don’t stop at Punjab, go all the way to Persia. When you are down there give my regards to our friendly Iranians. Thanks.
Nikhil,
You contributions on churumuri have always been food for thought and so is this. I like the way you analyse issues. It is worth reading your comments and aritcles, as they make me understand the issues better.
Thank you
To ‘ Gaby ‘ ( 13th April 2007 )
You have quoted the sloka ‘ Janani Janmabhoomischa ‘ ( 10 )
Please let me know the details of the sloka and the book ( Ramayana )
( Publisher, year of publication , page number etc )
Purushothaman