Introduction: patriotism is one of the most sterling qualities of human life. Patriotism rouses in him a feeling of pride and glory.
“Home, home, sweet home; there is no place like home.”
The utility of patriotism: the utility of patriotism is too much to be described. Islam says “Patriotism is a part of religion”. Motherland actually stands next to one’s mother. A country cannot achieve her desired development without the patriotic zeal and sincere participation of her people. Patriotism inspires a man to shed even the last drop of his blood to defend the freedom and honour of his country. People can neither defend their freedom nor resist foreign aggression or free their country from foreign domination without being inspired by patriotic feelings. They must remain ever watchful and prepared to fight out all sorts of upcoming harms and conspiracies against the motherland. They must raise themselves and go forward at a double pace to take their rightful place in the world. This can never be done without cherishing the sweet feelings of patriotism in the heart. This is why Jefferson rightly says,
“Etnal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
The fate of a patriot: the fate of a patriot is ever glowing. A patriot is held in great honour and respect in society. He is a great asset to the country. A patriot looks upon his motherland as next to his mother. There is a saying, “my country right or wrong, my mother drunk or sober.” He always keeps the interests of his motherland above ass his personal interests. He thinks day and night for the well-being of his country and countrymen. A true patriot cherishes a sharp feeling in his heart for his country even while staying abroad. When he returns to his motherland, he cannot hold back his feelings and shouts out in joy, “this is my own, my native land” he dies a royal and August death. He is remembered both at the “going down of the sun and in the morning” the great regard. He can depart leaving behind him a lot of footprints on the sands of time. There also goes a wise saying.
“Man lives in deeds, not in years.” A true patriot never hesitates to go through the sacrifices made by our heroic sons during the language movement of 1952 and the liberation war of 1971 bears out the fact wall. They have left behind them an abiding glory of dedication lives for the cause of mother tongue and motherland. All the people of the world were struck with wonder at their undaunted spirit, bravery, and boldness. Though they are no more in our midst. We feel proud of them. Let me quote the words of the poet.
“There is music in the midst of desolation,And a glory that shines upon our tears.”
It needs no telling that they will remain to the end. To the end like the glittering stars studded in the sky.
The fate of an unpatriotic: most hatred is the fate of an unpatriotic. A man without patriotism cannot be called a man in the truest sense of the term. He is worse than a beast. He is said to be a man with a dead soul. Sir Walter Scott says,
“Breathes there the man with soul so dead,Who has never to himself hath said this is my own, my native land.”
He is looked down upon by one and all in the society. He lives a miserable life and dies and ignoble death. He dies unwept, un-honoured and unsung. Let me quote the poet,
“Living shall forfeit fair renown,And doubly dying shall go down.”
The world history of the unpatriotic persons bears out the fact well. Sirajuddowla, the last independent nabob of the bangle, had to meet with a tragic defeat and death in the battle of Plessey due to the conspiracy of the traitors like Mirjafar, Umichand, and others. But history did not escape them. They were outright thrown into the dustbins of history. We cannot but hate them.
Examples of true patriots: world history is full of glowing examples of true patriots. Garibaldi, ho-chi-min, Sihanouk, Rana Pratap, Chand Sultana, Mahatma Gandhi, Sir Salimullah, Mohammad Ali, Moulana Bhashani, our rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Nelson Mandela, Yasir Arafat, Sheik Mujibur Rahman, major Ziawor Rahman all the outstanding names on the rolls of the patriots of the world. They have left behind them Footprints on the sands of time as the true patriots.
World’s patriots. They have left behind them Footprints on the sands of time as the true patriots.
Narrow patriotism: patriotism is undoubtedly an excellent virtue. We must love our mother and motherland through thick and thin and in weal and woe, but we should bear in mind that narrow patriotism is a great devil. It spoils the peace and breeds hatred among people and leads to war in the end. A man like Hitler of Germany had such narrow feelings for his country. The result was that it did a world of harms and suffering to mankind. This is why “live and let others live” should be our motto. We should all act upon the wise saying.
“Friendship to ass, malice to none; to love all the people under the sun.”
Conclusion: we must have a cosmopolitan view and feel about loving our motherland. We pledge to our beloved motherland our love and toil for the years to come.
“Land of our birth we pledge to thee,Our love and toil in the years to be.”