“Embracing swadeshi is a matter of national pride”
PM Narendra Modi
“Indianness” refers to the multifaceted cultural, social, and spiritual identity of being Indian, encompassing shared traditions, values, and a sense of belonging that connects people across diverse backgrounds, both within India and in the diaspora. It is characterized by adaptability, community-centric thinking, resilience, and a blend of traditional values with modern aspiration. India as a nation state is very unique, in the sense that every 200 miles the food habits may be different, dressing sense changes and we have close to 30 official languages and many more dialects. It is like a melting pot of so many different things.
Our armed forces are a true representative of Indianness. You have a Sikh officer commanding Tamilian troop and a Keralite commanding a Sikh Paltan. During training in NDA or IMA/OTA you have representation from East, West, South or North. Army, Navy and Airforce it’s a big one family. One has never ever felt different. All in one and one in all. This is a great feeling. Pride is a ‘feeling’- it is a strong emotion.
National pride in India is high, often cantered on the country’s rapid economic growth and its rising influence on the global stage.
Yet, as a nation we need more cohesiveness, more clarity of being one and a feeling beyond patriotism- somewhere bordering on nationalism. We unite as one people if there is a war waged against us and that is a very big plus. If there is any national calamity, we stand united. We are emotional, we care for elders and we have a strong value system- passed over generations. Somehow all this is waning because of ‘modernism’ western influence, media, technology and branding/marketing. There are several indicators- the most visible is ‘individualism’- the entire society is individual centric- ‘I, me myself’ and the right to assert for one’s own interest. While it is good to fight for your rights, one must not lose sight of ‘collective good’; or ‘in the larger interest’.
We got our freedom to govern ourselves just eight decades ago and since then not only the external factors but our own mistakes, deliberate or otherwise let us up a wrong direction.
There was ‘no’ conscious effort to make each Indian feel that he was a proud Indian. Proud of our thousand’s years old traditions and Sanskriti. We did sing patriotic songs- more than others probably – but may be that ‘feel’ was missing- it looked orchestrated and to an extent synthetic. No leader walked the talk. It was a lip service and was visible to everyone.
Remember patriotism is not from the head but from the heart. A flag is a coloured piece of cloth which one gives his/her life for. We need to get the entire act at an emotional level- across the length and breadth to the entire 1.5 billion people. This is a tall order. We took more than seven decades to have a flag in every home!
Have we lost it?
The answer is yes- to a large extent. Yet all is not lost, we still have a lot preserved deep down within our hearts and soul which needs to be recultivated or resurrected. It is time for renaissance. That too with vengeance.
The reason is that we were ruled by invaders for close to ten centuries- which is almost half the English calendar- AD. In a modern context, a millennium covers roughly 30 to 33 generations. If you were looking backward from today to the year 1026, you would likely find about 33 grandmothers/grandfathers in a direct line.
But we still sing ‘phir be dill hai Hindustani’ and we mean it to a large extent. You go to Europe for a holiday; you love continental food but after a few weeks you need ‘daal roti’.
Looking from civilizational clock, the interval is around a century- “Rise and Fall” perspective. For example, the true progress of a democracy or a legal system is measured by its ability to survive a century of internal and external shocks.
Be that as it may, we have come a long way through the woods of shackles. Need to walk carefully, cautiously and consciously from now on. National pride has to be drilled into us, and only we can do it. We need to be ourselves. And take pride in it.
Today parents speak to their children at home in English! They switch over to English when they see a janitor or their driver- to do what? Impress? Who are we fooling? We still say ‘good morning’ and not namaste. For “safe travels” in French is “Bon voyage” and we love it. We will copy the Japanese too. Sayonara is a Japanese phrase meaning “goodbye” or “farewell.
Japanese speak their language and so do the French and Italians.
They refuse to converse in any other language.
Palki Sharma a journalist and a popular TV anchor, in an interview said that many don’t know that when she is very happy or very annoyed, she switches to ‘Marwari’ – just a reflex action. Yet she speaks perfect English as her job demands that. English is a foreign language and should be treated as such.
I have an Indian friend who loves to respond in French! That is inferiority complex at its height.
What happened after we got independence?
We got a first chance after almost ten centuries to govern ourselves in 1947. The influence of our last ruler- the British was so strong and gripping that we were governed by Indians who were nothing more than “English clones”. Nehru and his ilk just changed their ‘vesh bhusha’-(the outfit) to look like Indians, but still ate in bone China crockery, using Sheffield cutlery, drinking scotch and savouring Continental food – roast chicken with almond soup and Sussex Pond Pudding. Chicken Korma, Panir makhani, tandoori roti and ‘kheer, rasgulla, or Phirni was a no no. one felt proud of eating with a fork and knife- even a Masala Dosa! Finger bowls was a must. No paan please- forbidden.
Anglicising the Indian- creating English brown sahibs within Indians (A first class within the third class). Lord Macaulay (Thomas Babington Macaulay) profoundly shaped Indian education by introducing the Minute on Indian Education (1835), which established English as the medium of instruction and championed Western curriculum over traditional Oriental learning. He sought to create a class of anglicized Indians to serve as intermediaries between British rulers and the Indian masses. Macaulay firmly believed that English was superior to native languages and necessary for modernizing India, leading to its adoption in education and administration. He disregarded Indian literature, science, and languages (Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian), famously asserting that a single shelf of a European library was worth the entire native literature of India and Arabia. These white jokers were on our soil for 200 years and never made effort to learn our language. They could not even pronounce ‘jaipur’- said ‘ jaypoor’ and we mimicked them and felt great.
We lapped it up. Within a century this brown sahib brigade was up and running. Unfortunately, it is still running. It has taken a more dangerous turn now as so-called intellectual Indians still look down upon Indian-ness, and at the very first opportunity boos their own culture, language, faith, food or values. They pretend to be of a higher class, liberal and free-thinking people who have their own way of doing things looking down at the rest of their clan.
The whites ruled with ‘style and awe’. They were ahead of us in science. Research, medicine, technology and industrialization and could and did impress us with their English goodies.
What’s in a name?
Was it by design or otherwise; Macaulay was replaced by several Muslim leaders who served as India’s Education Minister, primarily in the post-independence era, with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad being the first (1947–1958). Others include Humayun Kabir, M.C. Chagla, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, and Nurul Hasan. Out of the frying pan into the fire- these gentlemen took things in a different direction altogether. While one faction kept the English tempo up (the Nehrus), this staunch group ensured that Moghul rulers and the architecture never left the minds of independent India. Books, especially school books are vehicles for propaganda and were used to the hilt to praise Muslim tyrants over and over again. Akbar the great was made the saviour of India and we lapped it. Most roads in the central Delhi were named proudly ‘Humayun Road’, ‘Tughluk road’ or Aurangzeb Road. Names like Savarkar, Bose, or Bhagat Singh went down the drain and flushed down in the gutter. Major cities were- Aurangabad, Allahabad or Hyderabad and no attempt was made to change these after independence- we went dancing with the devils! And still are. We still love saint Stephens college and not sant Shankaracharya. A saint Columba not Sant Chaitanya.
Yet something still remains- names of children are Indian (thank God) boys could be Vivaan, Rudra, or Devansh and girls may be Vaidehi, Isha or Aaradhya which are rooted in tradition. Yes, there is a lot in a name.
What comes to mind? National Characteristic
When the word “German” comes to mind, it usually evokes a sense of profound engineering precision
When you say the “UAE” (United Arab Emirates), the immediate mental image is one of vertical ambition and a relentless drive to turn the impossible into reality
When you say “Japanese,” the mind usually envisions a striking harmony between hyper-modern technology and ancient, disciplined tradition. It is a culture defined by precision, aesthetics, and a unique attention to detail.
When you say “Saudi Arabia,” the mind often experiences a powerful shift from ancient, timeless desert landscapes to some of the most ambitious, futuristic construction projects on the planet.
When you say “French,” the mind usually goes straight to a blend of sensory experiences, high art, and a very specific philosophy of living
When you say “England,” the mind often jumps to a unique blend of centuries-old tradition and a very modern, slightly eccentric cultural influence.
Somehow, we love pulling ourselves down. We don’t mind being called ‘tardy’ or never punctual, always late for office or a meeting,not reliable, not responsive, not quality conscious, ‘saab chalta hai’ attitude etc.
No doubt we have done well as a nation in the last decade plus, economy and innovation as well as technology.
We have yet to create a LABEL OF HONOR, BADGE OF HONOR for ourselves. We are good but still need a nod of approval from others especially the west.
There is no central hub, though there are spokes like ‘Indian Cuisine’, Yoga and Ayurveda, Intricate Embroidery, now Single Malt Whiskies.
People across the world dances on our music, rap or Punjabi- we need to push it consciously.
We need to start feeling that we are good and not good enough.
Getting Indianness back to Indians is not a project of looking backward, but a project of looking inward. It is about stripping away the layers of insecurity that make us seek external approval. It is found in the pride of a scientist who uses ancient logic to solve a modern coding problem, in the farmer who uses traditional seeds to ensure food security, and in the youth who wears their heritage not as a costume, but as a conviction.
An Indian who has found their “Indianness” is one who works with the intensity of a warrior but maintains the equanimity of a philosopher.
When Indians stop trying to be a “better version of the West” and start trying to be a “fuller version of themselves,” the true spirit of India—vibrant, resilient, and infinitely wise—will naturally return.
I am so happy that now so many anchors wear pride on their sleeve and several you tube channels promote national pride and there are ‘yuk’ ones too who pull us down.
What do we need to do?
To elevate India’s global standing and command international respect, the focus must shift from “potential” to “perfection” across several strategic domains.
1. Transition from Frugal Innovation to Global Quality Standards
While India is celebrated for its ability to do “more with less,” the next step is to ensure that Indian-made products are synonymous with world-class reliability. Moving beyond temporary fixes to precision engineering and high-end manufacturing will change the narrative from “cheap” to “superior.” Investing in R&D that competes with German or Japanese quality standards will make Indian brands indispensable globally. Be frugal yet efficient and competitive.
2. Leverage Soft Power through rich Culture
To gain respect, India must institutionalize its heritage—much like South Korea has done.
This involves:
Standardizing and scientifically backing Ayurveda and Yoga on global platforms.
Exporting cinema and literature that transcends the diaspora and appeals to universal audiences.
Promoting culinary diplomacy that highlights the diversity of regional cuisines beyond the standard “curry” trope.
3. Lead the Global Sustainability & Climate Agenda
By pioneering affordable green hydrogen, solar infrastructure, and circular water management systems, India can provide the “blueprint” for developing nations to grow without destroying the planet.
4. Radical Improvement in Urban Infrastructure and Civic Sense
Image makeover by prioritizing cleanliness, efficient public transport, and the systematic reduction of urban pollution is vital. When Indian cities become benchmarks for smart, liveable urban design, it changes the perception of every visitor and investor.
5. Strengthening Digital and Intellectual Property (IP)
India is already a “back-office” powerhouse, but the transition to a ‘product-first economy’ is essential.
Creating game changing software and not only sticking to IT services. Defending and filing patents,
6. fostering startups in a big way.
7. Switching back to your values and being proud of your own rich language.
8. Putting more meaning and respect into your flag
9. Be proud of your heritage and adopt your own language.
10. look for more positives than negatives in your country.
11. we need to set our history right- it was distorted to a large extent for political reason.
12 As Sadguru rightly said ‘For the first time India is being ruled by an Indian’. We are now firmly in the saddle of ‘renaissance’. Let this not slip out of our hands.
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. — Abraham Lincoln
