What it Means to be an Indian

For some, the thoughts come easily, dripping with patriotism or pure venom. For others, it needs hours of conversation for the words and feelings, usually buried deep or hardly ever considered, to surface. INDIA TODAY presents frank, unguarded thoughts of some of the best known -- and some totally unknown -- people across the nation who make up the fabric of India. After 50 years of Independence, this is the voice of India, a reflection of who we are. It shows how far we have come. And how far we need to go.

Interview by KALLI PURIE
Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH

SAM MANECKSHAW, Field Marshal, 1971 hero, soldier's soldier
Indiraji once asked me after the 1971 victory, "Sam, are you planning to take over the country?" And I told her, "Indiraji, my nose may be longer than yours, but I don't poke it into other people's business." The armed forces should be away from politics.
The fault in India is the Hindu religion. You have to have gods. You made Akbar a god. Later, you got the white Mughals.Then you made a god out of Gandhiji, Nehru, Indiraji, Rajivji. We put up their statues, pay homage every year. What for?
It's complete bloody nonsense that people join the Army to serve the country -- like the politicians do it only for the sake of the country. We do it for our damn bread and butter. I am not saying the Indian soldier is not loyal, but he is loyal to his regiment and officers, because he knows he is being looked after. I don't think he has the education and the information to think in terms of the country.

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