Understanding Patriotism: How the Constitution Separates Government from Nation
Inspired by Manoj Jha’s Ideas Page article entitled “Government is Not the Nation: Constitution Helps We, the People, to Distinguish Between the Two” in The Indian Express on September 09, 2024 (intended to be useful for GS + Polity).
Introduction
As India just celebrated its 77th Independence Day, it is a good time to reflect on what it means to be truly patriotic. Many people confuse loyalty to the government with love for the nation. However, true patriotism means loving the values, principles, and ideals of the country, which are protected by the Constitution. The Constitution, adopted in 1950, is more than a set of rules. It is the guiding light that helps us understand how to live together as a diverse and democratic nation. It also reminds us that while governments come and go, the nation and its values remain. This essay explains how the Constitution guides us to distinguish between government and nation, highlighting the role of citizens in upholding democracy.
The Constitution: The Foundation of Our Nation
The Indian Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It tells us how the country should be governed and protects our rights as citizens. It lays the foundation of India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. This means that India is a free country where all people, regardless of their background, religion, or culture, are treated equally. The Constitution is important because it recognizes that India is a country with many different cultures, languages, and religions, and it respects this diversity.
Granville Austin, a famous political thinker, called the Indian Constitution a “social document” in The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation (1966) because it promotes values like equality, justice, and liberty for all citizens. The Constitution is not just a set of laws; it is a roadmap that helps us build a better society. It provides tools for fostering unity among people from different backgrounds. Even though India is home to many different cultures, the Constitution binds us together as one nation, ensuring that everyone is treated with fairness and respect.
Understanding the Difference Between Government and Nation
One of the most important lessons the Constitution teaches us is that the government and the nation are not the same. The government is made up of people who are elected to serve the country for a limited time. The nation, on the other hand, is made up of the people, their history, and their culture. It is a broader, more permanent idea. This means that while governments may change every five years, the nation remains and is shaped by its people over time.
John Locke’s social contract theory posits that governments are created by the people to protect their natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property. This idea has influenced modern democratic thinking and is a cornerstone of many political systems, including the Indian Constitution. The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, reflects this democratic principle, with the power and authority of the government derived from the people. This is why, if the government does not serve the people well, citizens have the right to question and even replace it. True patriotism means staying loyal to the values of the nation, not to the government in power.
Patriotism in India’s Freedom Struggle
India’s freedom movement is a great example of how patriotism is about more than supporting a government. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru fought against British rule, but they were always loyal to the idea of India as a free, just, and equal nation. The freedom struggle was based on values like justice, equality, and non-violence, which later became part of our Constitution.
During the freedom struggle, leaders questioned the authority of the British government because it was unjust. However, they remained deeply committed to the nation and its people. This shows that patriotism is not about following the government blindly. Instead, it is about standing up for the values that make the nation strong. These values were later written into the Constitution, which now serves as a guide for all Indian citizens.
The Dangers of Confusing Nationalism with Government Loyalty
Today, many people mistakenly believe that being loyal to the government is the same as being patriotic. This is not true. Governments are temporary, but the nation is permanent. When governments ask for blind loyalty, it can be dangerous because it may lead to ignoring the rights and values of the nation. Sometimes, governments use nationalism as a way to distract people from important issues, focusing instead on creating a sense of loyalty to their own agendas.
Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, warned about the dangers of confusing nationalism with government loyalty. He believed that true patriotism meant respecting the nation’s diversity and upholding its democratic values, not simply following the government’s policies without question. When governments use nationalism to silence dissent and promote their own narrow views, it can harm the nation’s unity and weaken its democracy.
Lessons from Indian History: Resistance Against Injustice
Indian history shows us that true patriotism often involves resisting government actions that go against the nation’s values. One important example is the Emergency of 1975-77 when the government suspended civil rights and suppressed opposition. During this time, many Indians protested against the government’s actions because they violated the principles of the Constitution. In the elections that followed, the people voted the government out of power, showing that they valued democracy and justice more than any particular government.
More recently, protests like those against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the farmers’ protests have shown that citizens are willing to stand up for the Constitution’s values. These movements were not against the nation; they were motivated by a desire to protect equality and justice. When the government tried to label these protests as “anti-national,” many citizens rejected this idea, understanding that true patriotism involves defending the Constitution’s principles, even if it means opposing government policies.
The Constitution: A Shield for the People
The Constitution not only guides the government but also protects the people from unjust actions by the government. For example, Article 32 of the Constitution allows citizens to go to the Supreme Court if their fundamental rights are violated. This is important because it shows that the Constitution places the people above the government. It empowers citizens to hold the government accountable and ensures that no government can take away their rights.
One of the most important principles of the Constitution is the separation of powers. This means that the government is divided into three branches—the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary—to make sure that no one branch has too much power. The judiciary, or the courts, plays a critical role in protecting the rights of citizens. In important cases like Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973), the Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot change the basic principles of the Constitution. This decision helps ensure that the government cannot ignore the values that define the nation.
Protecting the Nation from Majoritarianism
A major threat to India’s democracy is the rise of majoritarianism, where the majority imposes its will on minorities. This kind of thinking can harm the nation’s unity by excluding or marginalizing groups that are different. Majoritarianism is dangerous because it tries to erase the diversity that makes India strong. The Constitution protects minorities and promotes inclusiveness, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has equal rights.
True patriots understand that the nation is not just made up of the majority. It is a collection of all its people, including those from different religions, languages, and cultures. Governments may sometimes promote majoritarian views to gain political power, but this goes against the values of the Constitution. True patriotism involves resisting such efforts and protecting the nation’s diversity.
Balancing Love for Government and Love for the Nation
Hannah Arendt, a well-known thinker about politics, stressed the importance of thinking carefully and being active citizens to keep democracy strong and healthy. In her famous books, The Human Condition (1958) and The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), she explained how governments can either help protect democracy or slowly destroy it. Arendt believed that careful thinking is a key part of political life. She said that people should not just accept ideas without questioning them but instead should think deeply about political decisions and what happens in society. She also talked about the importance of judgment, which helps us understand other people’s views and creates a kinder and more inclusive society. Arendt also believed that being an active citizen is very important. She said that humans are naturally political and should be involved in their communities, not just by voting but also by doing things like speaking out, protesting, or helping to solve problems. Her ideas are still important today. Problems like leaders wanting too much power, people not thinking critically, and fewer people getting involved in public life are still big challenges for democracy. The core of Arendt’s argument is the importance of critical thinking and active citizenship in maintaining a healthy democracy. Sunil Khilnani, in The Idea of India (1997) and Nivedita Menon, in “Citizenship and Passive Revolution: Interpreting Gandhi’s Critique of the State” (Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 34, no. 22, 1999, pp. 1325–1333) too explore the importance of critical thinking and active citizenship in India, resonating with Arendt’s ideas about the necessity of public engagement for a healthy democracy.
In India, this balance is vital—citizens must love their nation while retaining the right to critique their government when necessary. Blind loyalty to the government can have dangerous consequences, as it undermines democratic values. It’s important to remember that patriotism means balancing respect for the government with love for the nation. Governments are temporary, and their job is to serve the people by upholding the values of the Constitution. However, they are not the same as the nation. Loving your nation means working to make sure it remains true to its ideals of justice, liberty, and equality. This sometimes means questioning the government, speaking out against injustice, and participating in democratic processes like voting. Blind loyalty to the government is not patriotism. True patriots are those who actively engage with the values of the nation and ensure that the government serves the people, not the other way around. This is a lesson that India’s freedom struggle teaches us, and it is still relevant today.
Conclusion: The Role of the Constitution in True Patriotism
As India moves forward, it is important to keep the distinction between the government and the nation clear. The Constitution provides the framework for this understanding. It empowers citizens to challenge the government when necessary and to uphold the ideals of the nation. True patriotism is about more than loyalty to a government—it is about commitment to the values that define the nation. As Dr. B.R. Ambedkar once said, “Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated.” This means that we must constantly work to protect and nurture the values of the Constitution. By doing so, we ensure that India remains a vibrant and inclusive democracy where all citizens can thrive. In the end, the Constitution helps “We, the People”, understand the true meaning of patriotism, guiding us to love and protect our nation, not just its government.
