Vande Mataram is a symptom of our times. Our leaders, before and after Independence, ignorantly mixed personal salvation with universal enlightenment. What is good for the practising moralist must be good for everyone, they thought. And therein lies the confusion that India has not resolved yet. Meanwhile, this imposition has neither led to personal growth nor the nation’s.

Let me try to be more specific here. M.K. Gandhi was a moralist. He sincerely tried to practice his self-imposed yamas and niyamas. But then, in his satvik pride he thought, what is good for me is good for everyone else too. Thus, his unique mix of moralisms from various religions and thinkers became the guiding light for the nation.

I am going to eat garlic. Thus, everyone should eat garlic.

I will practice ahimsa. That means everyone else must do it too.

I will get colonics daily. Thus, you should be doing it too (sorry,........

© News18