'Our Identity Is Not Defined By The Majoritarian View Or The Assertion Of One Homogenized Religion Or Cultural History' : Justice G S Patel [Watch Video]

The Asiatic Society of Mumbai organized its 27th Smt. Bansari Seth Memorial Lecture on the topic "One Nation under the Constitution" on 18th August, 2020 in memory of Late Shrimati Bansari Seth, former Honorary Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. The lecture was delivered by Justice Gautam Patel, a sitting judge of the Bombay High Court and was presided by Senior Advocate Mr. Navroj Seervai of the Bombay High Court. Justice Patel in his breathtakingly brilliant speech covered a breadth of issues relevant around the world today such as the issue of false patriotism, a warped notion of nationalism, the use of othering to create identity distinction, populism, the religion versus secularism debate and emphasized on the value of dissent, rule of law, and constitutionality in relation to the Indian democracy. Below is an excerpt of some of the important issues addressed in the lecture. Highlights from the Lecture On Nationalism Justice Patel addressed the concept of nationalism at a great length in his lecture to argue that the concept of nationalism has suffered great distortions over time. Explaining the idea of nationalism, he stated that: "At its simplest sense nationalism is identification by the individual with the large community that comprises the nation. It manifests itself sometimes as a support for the nation state's interests and in its more virulent form to the detriment division or exclusion of all other nations. At a social level, it sometimes takes the hues of jingoism, the sense that one's nation is always the superior one. The core of nationalism is both self-determination and self-governance. Historically, notions of nationalism were crucial in ending colonial rule and the term is thus used in opposition to both colonialism and imperialism. A contemporary view is that nationalism as we understand today is far more complex and deal with social, political and economic structures essential to the existence of modern society governed by one overarching quality- rule of law and in particular rule of constitutional law. Two key concepts define modern nationalism- unity or unification and identity. Nationalism of one stripe was responsible for the rise of Nazi Germany and nationalism of another for the Zionist movement that led to the creation of the State of Israel". He then contrasted the change in the connotations attached to the term "Nationalism" in India over the years. He quotes Siddharth Luthra and Nivedita Mukhija to emphasize the earlier connotation of the term. "In India, nationalism was once synonymous with the freedom struggle. For colonized people, for whom unity was needed to weave together different peoples and regions with diverse cultures to obtain freedom from British rules, nationalism was a liberating force- promise of equality and freedom from colonial subjugation. This view of nationalism was rooted in the ideas of progress and development not only politically but also socially, economically and culturally. On one hand, it was accompanied with a revival of religion, culture, language, art and more and on the other hand, there was development of modern spirit and ideas". He then quotes Sadanand Menon to explain the current connotations attached to the term which is referred by Mr. Menon as cultural nationalism. "What is visible today is a new hatred for the idea of democracy as we know it and with the rights that are guaranteed in the Constitution. This is quite in keeping with the genre of cultural nationalism which thrives by creating a climate of intolerance and intimidation to keep civil society in a state of constant agitation by subjecting it to constant attack. Cultural nationalism is a rogue version of nationalism which is already present in the concept of the nation state. A systemic ejectment of the political rights and debate and the substitution of these by usually four ideas of shared cultural rights. Cultural Nationalism is irrational and occupies the space of imaginary hurt, insults, wounds, defeat inflicted by imaginary enemies who always belong to religions and regions not you believe are your own. History is to these cultural revenges a source of immense worry". Growth disparity and cultural nationalism According to Justice Patel, India's trajectory as a society has been a remarkable march away from becoming more civilized, more just. Disparities of income, opportunities, environmental rights and legal rights have not narrowed. The poor are poorer and the rich very much richer and nowhere is this more visible than in our cities. Quoting P. Sainath, he states that To equate private wealth growth with development and progress is just flat out wrong. Unemployment particularly urban unemployment is particularly hugely disruptive force. Young men and women unable to find suitable jobs and ending up taking whatever work they can even as delivery ...

'Our Identity Is Not Defined By The Majoritarian View Or The Assertion Of One Homogenized Religion Or Cultural History' : Justice G S Patel [Watch Video]

Monisha Purwar

'Cultural nationalism is a rogue version of nationalism', he said.

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