Sandhyaa Bombay
How loyal are we to our country—and to one another?
We proudly proclaim that we do not target Pakistani civilian populations, air bases, or the regular army. Yet it is our own civilians who continue to bleed at the hands of terrorists. And even worse, some among us, lured by money or ideology, betray their fellow Indians—handing over sensitive information to our enemies and aiding in the loss of innocent lives. How do we respond to such betrayal?
Many of us have been schooled in moral values, even taught the Bhagavad Gita. But have we internalized its wisdom? The Gita does not belong to one religion or community. Its teachings are universal, emphasizing dharma—duty, loyalty, and responsibility. When citizens betray their country, they trample upon the very essence of this dharma. They insult the sacrifice of our armed forces who defend us relentlessly, often at the cost of their own lives.
Why do some people turn against their nation? Is it the absence of patriotism? A vacuum of moral grounding? Why hasn’t a deep, instinctive love for India been cultivated in every citizen? We must not only condemn such acts—we must resist them at every turn. This is not merely a matter of security; it is a matter of national survival.
Our military is among the best-trained and equipped in the world. But there is another kind of war being fought—by enemies within. These are not soldiers. They are people who sell information from the comfort of their living rooms, trading the safety of fellow Indians for personal profit. We show restraint towards Pakistani civilians. But the deeper tragedy lies in this internal rot: Indian citizens enabling violence against their people. This is not just unacceptable. It is unforgivable.
We must cultivate a sense of duty in every Indian—an unshakable moral compass that places national interest above individual gain. External enemies may try to defame us, but when the betrayal comes from within, our foundations are truly shaken. We must root out the ideologies and influences that distort patriotism, that confuse treachery for dissent, and that enable apathy toward national unity.
This cycle of betrayal must end. Those who profit from endangering their fellow citizens must be held fully accountable—not just legally, but morally, socially, and politically. Our leaders must stop enabling environments where disloyalty thrives, and citizens must stop tolerating it. Unity is not a slogan; it is a survival strategy.
Only when we cleanse our society of internal betrayal can we stand firm against external threats. Only then can we realize India’s destiny—not as a fractured, wounded nation, but as a powerful, united civilization.
The lesson of history is this: nations that decay from within collapse under pressure. But India, forged in struggle, rich in heritage, and alive with spirit, will rise again—stronger, prouder, and unbreakable. (A response to recent punchy editorials in this e-paper.)
