Modern literature about the nation-state views it as a political and territorial unit vested with legitimate power and a network of dependent institutions to manage political, economic and legal structures (Globalization, Identity, and Cultural Dynamics in a Multiethnic State: Multiculturalism in Australia – Jerzy Smolicz and Margaret Secombe). The conferral of citizenship is the ultimate acknowledgement of the individual’s membership of a state (Ibid).
A ‘nation’, usually defined in terms of culture, ethnicity, and geographic space, has the right to constitute and govern an independent and autonomous political community based on a shared history, cultural heritage and rule of law. Members of a ‘nation’ as a ‘community of culture’ are attached by ‘emotional bonds’ (National Cultures at the Grass-Root Level – Antonina Kloskowska) and share a common ideology (Tradition and Modernity – Jerzy Szacki).
Smolicz describes three models that are used for the basic criteria for membership in a nation. One is the ancestry-based model that relies on the descent as one of the basic criteria. The second criterion is the territory-based model that uses culture and language as a necessary requirement for membership of a nation and thirdly we have a ‘Migration-derived’ model that is a modification of the second type requiring a commitment to a set of shared cultural/core values.
The defining elements of national identity are: (a) Territory, the homeland, or ‘historic land’ (b) A community, or a patria, a community of laws and institutions with a single political will (c) Citizenship and associated sense of legal equality among the members (d) Common values, mass culture, civic ideology, and traditions (including common historical memories, myths, symbols, and traditions (National Identity – Anthony D Smith).
An understanding of ‘nation’ and ‘national identity’ will help grasp the concept of ‘nation-building’. Political scientists define nation-building as constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state. In a narrow sense, ‘national paraphernalia such as flags, anthems, national days, national stadiums, national airlines, national languages and national myths’ (State-Making and Nation-Building – Anthony D Smith) aid in nation-building. In the broader sense, nation-building is an evolutionary process rather than revolutionary and takes a long time for any nation- state to evolve into a state that defined the aspirations of its founding fathers.
Ideals a state should strive for
The Islamic perspective on the ideals for which a state should strive for is maslaha (welfare /public good) and adl (justice). These can be termed as the objectives / goals / purposes that are also known as maqasid al Shari’ah (the goals and objectives of the Shari’ah or Islamic Law). The notion of welfare / public good being the general purpose of the Shari’ah was first articulated by Imam Ghazali (d.1111). However, the methodology that must be deployed to achieve these goals should be through the process of shura (consultation). Thus, shura provides a process that culminates in representative power structures similar to the governance models of Western democracy.
In the context of India as a nation-state, the ideals that we covet and aspire have been inscribed in the Preamble to the Constitution of India. They are justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. Justice is to be achieved on the political, economic and social fronts. Liberty or freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship is to be guaranteed. Equality of status and opportunity should be promoted. The dignity of the individual as well as the unity and integrity of the nation must be preserved. A cursory glance at the state of affairs that we currently experience indicates that we are far removed from these standards and ideals. Our variance from these goals that the framers of our Constitution designed can be attributed to the complete abandonment of the noble and moral principles that were required to become the foundation of our nation-building exercise.
Love not hate is the formula for nation-building
Some of the important aspects of nation-building related to India are:- (a) the quest for economic prosperity (b) maturity and stability in governance via the strengthening of state institutions (c) the philosophy of unity and cohesion among the citizens of India at the social level (d) the process of establishing our education system and education curriculum (e) the relationship between various states and the centre as our nation is essentially a federation of states (f) representative democracy in which all sections and classes of society feel a sense of participation and belonging in the process of nation-building and reaping the rewards thereof.
Unfortunately, the political leadership of India tried to dislodge religion from the body politic, which resulted in the decline of ethics and morals in public life. As the entire thrust of the religion of truth is based on love, the forced exit of religious / moral values from the public domain brought its opposite value namely hate to the fore and it started dominating the stage in which policies and programmes are implemented towards nation-building.
Achieving economic prosperity for the nation is a desirable motive but since hatred towards certain religious minorities, deprived sections, oppressed classes and the marginalised was not contained by those at the helm of governance, the fruits of development and affluence were not distributed equitably. This has resulted in growing inequality, revolts, and disturbances in certain areas where exploitation and prejudice have been most blatant. Hatred against the minorities and the backward communities by the ruling elite has caused great political upheaval and exacerbated their economic and social marginalisation.
The same hate against certain communities that can be classified by their religion and caste has also permeated the education curriculum. Stereotypes are created and a process of “othering” particular communities is completed by portraying the rulers belonging to their religious denomination to be evil, unjust and responsible for the destruction of places of worship of the majority community.
The process of the political displacement of the Muslim community in India for the last ten years has been quite blatant and unprecedented. Mainstream political parties have almost abandoned them and Muslims have not only been denied political space but the leaders of these parties also are reluctant to appear in public along with Muslims with the unstated excuse that it will damage their ‘majority’ vote-bank.
This hate is now eating into the vital entrails of our polity. It is destroying our plural ethos. It is corroding our tolerance and communal harmony. Unless this hate is not replaced by love, the process of nation-building will not only be farcical and artificial, it will push us into the abyss of majoritarianism and fascism. Not the idea of India that our founding-fathers dreamt of.