Patriotism is a feeling that grows as you become conscious of

The singer and poet of modern India, Jubin Nautiyal, once spoke with simplicity yet depth: “Patriotism is a feeling that grows as you become conscious of your surroundings.” These words remind us that patriotism is not something inherited blindly, nor is it a hollow ritual of slogans and banners. It is a seed that grows within, watered by awareness, nurtured by connection, and strengthened by understanding. Only when a man opens his eyes to the land, the people, the struggles, and the beauty around him does he truly learn what it means to love his country.

The origin of this wisdom rests in Nautiyal’s reflections as an artist whose voice carried across borders, yet whose roots remained deeply tied to his homeland. In saying these words, he revealed that patriotism is not forced, nor imposed, but awakened—arising naturally when one sees the sacrifices of ordinary citizens, the beauty of the soil, the struggles of the poor, and the heritage that breathes through one’s surroundings. It is born of consciousness, of looking deeply, rather than of blind obedience.

History offers us powerful examples of this truth. Think of Mahatma Gandhi, who as a young barrister in South Africa had little thought of leading a nation. But when he became conscious of the injustices around him—the humiliation of his people, the indignities of discrimination—patriotism began to grow within him. His awareness of the suffering of his fellow Indians turned his heart into a flame, and that flame spread until it became the light of independence. His love of country was not abstract, but born of what he saw and felt among his people.

Consider also the life of Nelson Mandela. His love for South Africa was not nurtured in comfort, but in the sharp awareness of oppression, of poverty, of injustice. As he walked among his people, sharing their burdens and witnessing their pain, patriotism grew within him like an oak. It was this awareness that gave him the courage to endure decades of imprisonment, for he knew his struggle was not for himself, but for the land and the people he had come to know with intimacy. His patriotism was not blind—it was forged in the fires of lived reality.

The deeper meaning of Nautiyal’s words is this: to love one’s country is not to chant its name without thought, but to see its truth with open eyes. Consciousness is the soil in which patriotism grows—awareness of its beauty and its flaws, its triumphs and its failings. True love of nation does not hide from its wounds, but tends to them. The one who closes his eyes cannot love; only he who looks with honesty and compassion can claim true patriotism.

The lesson for us is clear: awaken your eyes, your heart, your spirit to the world around you. Notice the farmer bent in toil, the soldier standing guard, the teacher shaping young minds, the mother feeding her children with scarce resources. See in them the living soul of your nation, and let your love grow from that awareness. Patriotism is not about distance—it is about proximity. It is born when you choose to look, to care, and to act.

Practically, this means seeking connection to your surroundings. Learn the history of your land. Walk its soil, breathe its air, and listen to the stories of its people. Do not isolate yourself in indifference, for indifference kills love. Instead, become aware, and let that awareness stir you to gratitude, responsibility, and service. Serve your community, protect your environment, stand by your fellow citizens. In doing so, patriotism will cease to be an empty word, and become a living force in your heart.

So remember, children of tomorrow: patriotism is a feeling that grows as you become conscious of your surroundings. Open your eyes, awaken your soul, and let your love for your country be born not from command, but from connection. For it is in awareness that loyalty deepens, in consciousness that love strengthens, and in action that patriotism proves itself eternal.