International Relations And Civic Sense

A group of Indian tourists interrupted a street performer in Paris by shouting regional and political slogans (e.g., “Jai Maharashtra”, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai”, and mentions of Eknath Shinde, etc.).

Pattern of Similar Behaviour Abroad

• Not an Isolated Incident: Such episodes are recurring and collectively harm India’s soft power and the image of the Indian diaspora abroad.
• London (UK): Complaints arose over river pollution and excessive noise during Ganesh Visarjan, prompting objections from local residents and scrutiny by civic authorities.
• New Zealand: Concerns about public order and traffic disruption during a Nagar Kirtan (Sikh religious procession) have led to mixed responses from the host community.
• Broader Implications: In societies already witnessing a rise in right-wing and anti-immigration sentiments, such incidents risk reinforcing xenophobic and racist stereotypes against Indians, undermining social cohesion and diaspora goodwill.

Reasons for Such Behaviour

• Beyond Civic Sense: The behaviour cannot be explained merely as a lack of civic sense and has deeper psychological roots.
• Ethnocentrism: The belief that one’s own culture is supreme, often used to overcompensate for insecurities in a foreign environment.
• Jingoism vs. Patriotism: Shouting slogans while disturbing others is jingoism; true civic sense is real patriotism.
• Global Image: Tourists act as unofficial ambassadors; aggressive behaviour or breaking public rules fuels racism and harms India’s soft power.

Philosophical Anchor

• G. V. Karandikar (Jnanpith Awardee): His idea states that when the walls of blood collapse, humanity is one clan. This thought directly challenges narrow nationalism and rigid identity politics.
• Nida Fazli (Urdu Poet): His line asks who recognises silence in a marketplace full of noise. The lesson is that spirituality lies in awareness and silence, not in loud expression.
• Sant Dnyaneshwar: His statement was “He Vishvachi Majhe Ghar” (The whole universe is my home). The ethical inference is that if the world is one’s home, people must respect places and communities instead of creating disturbance.

Way Forward

• Soft Power Approach (Joseph Nye): India’s global strength lies in yoga, music, dignity, and culture rather than aggressive identity assertion.
• Civic Sense as Patriotism: Following traffic rules and foreign laws should be considered true deshbhakti.
• Constitutional Duty under Article 51A: Citizens have a fundamental duty to promote brotherhood and scientific temper.
• Role of Empathy: Pride in regional identity and respect for host societies can coexist.

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Conclusion

Spirituality and culture should not be imposed on others; inner awareness and respecting local rules are more important than aggressive displays.

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