Nation as an Idea..

In the movie Gladiator, the Emperor of Rome puts a very straight-forward question to the main protagonist, What is Rome and eventually proceds to answer himself saying " Rome is an idea". I believe, that is a profound statement, which holds true not only for Rome as an Nation for all nations in the world. What else is a nation, a geographical formation, farms, forests, city and rivers? No, I do not think it is, and that is why it can not be defined in physical structures. If it were so, how come Rajputana or Maratha or Magadh, which were nation within there own rights, ruled by different sovereigns, run under different laws, till right upto Mughal empire and even later for some time off and on, are now a part of larger nation, which we call India. It is simply becuase an idea called india, expanded and found friendly vibes in heart of people populating hitherto disparate nations and grew to eventually, take all of it in its fold. It is an idea, thought out by leaders of the country (not talking of poloticians) long time back, cherished like their offsprings and nourished which ensured that we today stand up and take pride for everything from Gods Own Country, to Bangalore (nee Bagaluru, name given by politicians not leaders, who had important things to worry aboutn than the name of the city, politicians changed the thing needing least effort, changing standard of living wouldhave taken more effort and intelligence), to Financial power house of Mumbai, to the seventh wonder of Taj, as a nation of Billion plus people, instead of ending up as a incoherent set of around one hundred Nepals or Myanmars. The politicians, while reap benefit of the idea for which leaders paid with blood, scheme against the same idea, Dravid Vs. Aryan of Karunanidhi, Dhartiputra of Thackrey, Anti-Bihari of ULFA and so on, but they are first to stake claim of a cricket win. Announcing prizes, not from the party funds but from the Taxpayers money, and jostling for space on the stage set for the winners, forgetting that the players who gave them this opportunity came from the idea which keeps us together as a nation, why Uddhav Thackrey wants to share the benefit of win of a team led by Dhoni, people from whose state are so unwelcome to his party, or why DMK goes gaga on a win in which so many Aryans (if there is any such thing left at all, down the centuries) participated. And worse still, while I am tempted to condone the politicians, since acting otherwise would go against their basic nature, who as is said, when not kissing your babies, will be stealing their lollipops, what is pathetic, we as a nation, while go in the frenzy of T20 win, no doubt a matter of pride, forget to pause a moment to spare a thought to one of the prime thinker of the Idea which is India, it was Birth Centenary of Bhagat Singh, the same day, and not a word from media (albeit a small note on fourth or fifth page, where you can find it with difficulty) or even the Prime Minister, who was busy congratulating the Cricket team. Let us give a moment to the man who gave his life for the cause at the age, when the GenX at that age is busy figuring the ooomph value of the new cell phone. Let us not forget that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.