My Idea Of Nationalism

We want freedom for our country, but not at the expense or exploitation of others, not so as to degrade other countries. For my own part, I do not want the freedom of India if it means the extinction of England or the disappearance of Englishmen. I want the freedom of my country so that other countries may learn something from my free country, so that the resources of my country might be utilized for the benefit of mankind. Just as the cult of patriotism teaches us today that the individual has to die for the family, the family has to die for the village, the village for the district, the district for the province, and the province for the country, even so a country has to be free in order that it may die, if necessary, for the benefit of the world. My love, therefore, of nationalism or my idea of nationalism is that my country may become free, that, if need be, the whole of the country may die, so that the human races may live. There is no room for race hatred there. Let that be our nationalism. ¹

- Young India: Sept. 10, 1925

I would like to see India free and strong so that she may offer herself as a willing and pure sacrifice for the betterment of the world. The individual, being pure, sacrifices himself for the family, the latter for the village, the village for the district, the district for the province, the province for the nation, the nation for all.

Young India: Sept. 17, 1925

1 Indian nationalism is not exclusive, nor aggressive nor destructive. It is health-giving, religious and, therefore, humanitarian.”

- Young India: Oct. 13, 1921