Regionalism Versus Nationalism : MVI Debate
- MVI Desk
- Jul 16
- 7 min read
Editor's Note:
A timely and relevant NDTV YouTube Video and article on link below by Shiv Aroor on the prevailing state of affairs in the country that highlights the behaviour of our politicians who evidently do not value the role and sacrifices of soldiers for protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the nation but instead focus on regionalism and votes for elections to gain and retain power . When this piece was posted on the MVI platform it sparked a fierce debate . The article was further complemented by a TOI news story (on given link below) about a Supreme Court judgement that highlights regionalism promoted by politicians for gaining votes.
The few select responses from the MVI veterans apparently display the collective views ,perceptions and feelings of the majority of veterans and serving fraternity too . Readers may kindly go through these and form their own opinions on this subject and linked issues
Editor ,MVI
Responses From Veterans
Gp Capt TP Srivastava:
Absolutely rubbish!
We soldiers fight for nation and flag, not for politicians or any other group of individuals.
Col Vijay Bhate:
He forgot to add what is being done in UP in the name of KAVAD yatra, but otherwise, it is a timely reminder to our ' LEADERS'.
Col Shivaji Ranjan Ghosh:
USSR was a republic made up of a union of states.
India is a republic made up of a union of states.
USSR disintegrated.
Our Netas are leading us on the same path.
Gp Capt TP Srivastava:
How many of us are genuinely in touch with real India, which lives in villages and tier 2,3 towns? How many of us visit lower courts, tehsils, panchayat, speak to local village pradhan, sarpanch, visit village primary schools and speak not teach them about space,military, nation etc. Living in metros the majority of us aren't in touch with the ground reality at lower village and panchayat levels. Indians are far too strong to allow any or all these politicians put together to break India.
Lt Gen Harminder Sachdev:
And what may I say is a nation?
Territory defined by physical boundaries?
A piece of land?
That's it?
Here is what Nation means -
A nation is a large group of people united by shared characteristics like language, history, ethnicity, culture, and territory, who often share a sense of collective identity and belonging.
A relevant & timely article in TOI today / 16 Jul 2025
Col Shivaji Ranjan Ghosh:
Ref Gen H Sachdev response.
It is absolutely correct, but let's examine where we stand in India:
"A nation is a large group of people"- yes, we are a large (too large!!) group of people.
"united by shared characteristics like language, history, ethnicity, culture, and territory"- Are we really. These very characteristics are what are being used by vested interests to divide, not unite us.
"share a sense of collective identity and belonging"- Again, do we really? We did, for many years, until the vested interests mentioned earlier got into the act.
So, are we a nation?
Cmde Brijesh:
Unfortunately, I have to agree with Shiv Aroor.
Until we became independent, we were a collection of motley 567 states largely ruled by the princes and the British India ruled by the Queen/King of England. If we go back further in history, it was pretty much the same except that the number of rulers waxed and waned.
it was the independence movement and the genius of one man, MK Gandhi, who stirred the imagination of the vast populace and mobilised them to rise against Great Britain. As with all successful men, fate also supported him by weakening Great Britain by the two World Wars. Leaving aside the details, it was his efforts, channelised through the INC that independence was achieved and the Indian nation was born. Sardar Patel, ably assisted by VP Menon and his cabinet colleagues that we became one nation by the integration of 567 princely states. Quite obviously, Nehru and Patel, and their cabinet colleagues realised that they had a battle on hand to make this land one nation. In this, they largely succeeded, handling the reorganisation of the country in various states and deft handling of the agitation and riots against the imposition of Hindi.
What we see today, is the urge to address the baser human instincts and we have the results in front of us-kanwars behaving as if they own the land, politicians of the ruling party backing them thus participating in the breakdown of the laws and law enforcement agencies etc.
So, I go back to the thesis of Aroor-Our current crop of politicians have failed not only the soldier but also the country.
Gp Capt TP Srivastava:
Further to my earlier cryptic response. The author has asked, "Are you worth fighting for?"
Is he trying to ignite and foment disobedience among military personnel? Our loyalty is to the nation and nation only.
Who is at the centre is immaterial.
The author does not have the guts to suggest the remedial measures, viz:doing away with reservation, mandatory military service for at least two years, and many more. Not a word about HAL, DRDO incompetence. Should the military decline to fight Pakistan, China just because one doesn't like the PM, RM, or any other minister in the centre or a CM of a state? That lot of our politicians are rotten, criminals and illiterate is not even worth mentioning. The author is scared to say that.
Rozi Roti ka sawal hai.
Lt Col Jolly Chacko:
We are in the midst of language/s issue.
May I recall that Nehru was totally against forming states on linguistic basis, but many in the congress( Congress was a major political party in India then, by stating Congress it represents Indians in gen) had a different view. Had we obeyed Nehru, then the present rigmarole could have been avoided.
- “India after Gandhi and from many such literatures on the subject.”
Col Vijay Bhate:
Lt Col Jolly Chacko is right. Book by R C GUHA
'India after Gandhi' is good reading for generation, which needs to learn what efforts Nation builders put in from 1947 onwords to lay down firm foundation for Nation which is being negated by present generation of leadership!
Lt Gen Harminder Sachdev:
Shiv has written a beautiful piece on how politicians are in the business of creating newer fault lines. If hindu-muslim divide is not working, then bring in castes, if that is not enough, then North-South or now language !! It's a plea to Not to create cracks in the wall where there should be none ! Not declaring something in finality or breaking up of Nation ! It's about creating weaknesses and not gaining strength, which is so important for growth and prosperity.
Gp Capt Johnson Chacko:
Culture is the most dominant factor for cohesion. Culturally like-minded people with a clear geographical focus is the definition of a nation. All other attributes are subsumed in the culture. Language is the expression of culture, so India is divided on a linguistic basis for stability as people with the same culture form a cohesive group and easier for administration. This is the most logical thing to do. India is a union of such states. We do have a military culture. Trainees adapt to the military culture in a hurry. We can not say that we have an Indian culture. Indianness is artificial woven in with slogans likec ' Unity in Diversity' , etc. With a strong Central Govt, we hold together as a country. If we give more powers to states the tendency will be to pull away. Compulsory military training is the best way to enhance Indian culture, at least making NCC a mandatory part for any employment, especially government employment.
Lt Col Jolly Chacko:
We from the Indian Defence Forces took an Oath to salute one National Flag and remain loyal to it. Members of Indian Forces be they be from Kanyakumari or Indira point in the North, should remain united. But alas, there are deep fissures being created dividing us on multiple reasons.
Stay United, that’s the sincere plea!
Brig Pradeep Sharma:
I need to remind the respected Gp Captain that most of us (especially Infantry) are connected with our roots and well grounded. And the use of words rubbish may kindly be avoided. It only spoils the group environment without strengthening your argument!
Shiv Aroor has been most clear. The Armed Forces are today being exploited for political interests and at the same time getting their nose rubbed in mud by the politicians.
Lt Gen Harminder Sachdev:
Cracks in the Wall: A Plea for Unity
*In today's political landscape, division has become a calculated tool. When the old Hindu-Muslim fault line loses its effectiveness, caste is brought back into focus. When that begins to fade, regional rifts—North versus South, or debates over language—are stirred up. It's a dangerous game, one that’s not about open declarations of disintegration, but about the slow and silent weakening of a nation's core.
This is not the pursuit of strength, but the manufacturing of vulnerability. It is a deliberate chipping away at the foundation of unity that is essential for growth, progress, and prosperity. And at the helm of this fragmentation are politicians—those entrusted with leading—who, for their own narrow gains, manipulate identity to create newer and deeper divides.
Contrast this with the soldier. In the line of duty, a soldier is blind to religion, caste, language, or region. He sees only one identity: Indian. Every citizen is worth protecting, regardless of where they come from or how they speak. This unflinching commitment to unity, despite emerging from the same society that is being torn apart, is a testament to the values instilled by the Armed Forces.
The soldier’s world is one of discipline, integrity, and shared purpose—where the mission is above all else, and where divisions are not just absent, but unthinkable. It is this mindset we must aspire to adopt as a nation. Because while the soldier guards our borders, it is up to each of us to guard the spirit of our country.
Shiv's poignant piece is a wakeup call for the politicians. Let us not create cracks in the wall where there should be none. True strength lies in cohesion, in shared identity, and in resisting those who seek to profit from our divisions.
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