Undeniable though it is that many Indian Muslims misguidedly

“Undeniable though it is that many Indian Muslims misguidedly consider Pakistan their haven, the immeasurably greater number who take intense pride in being Indian and who connect deeply with the country are hurt and angered at our patriotism being under scrutiny.” Thus spoke Naseeruddin Shah, a man of art and conscience, with words both tender and fierce. His lament is the lament of countless souls who love their land with honesty and devotion, yet find their loyalty questioned. In this utterance lies not only sorrow but also a call for justice—that patriotism must not be measured by suspicion, nor belonging weighed by prejudice.

The heart of this saying is both ancient and eternal. It speaks of the wound caused when one’s loyalty to homeland is doubted, when one’s blood and sweat for the soil are not enough, and when the love of country is overshadowed by mistrust. True patriotism is not bound to religion, language, or origin. It is rooted in the soil where one’s ancestors labored, in the rivers that quenched one’s thirst, in the sky beneath which one dreams. To deny this bond is to deny the very humanity of those who live and breathe for their nation.

Think of the soldiers of the Indian Army who bore the tricolor into battle. Among them were Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians—all brothers in arms, all patriots in deed. At Kargil, Captain Haneefuddin, a young Muslim officer, gave his life in the defense of India. His blood stained the mountain slopes as testimony that his patriotism was beyond doubt, for it was written in sacrifice. Can any authority, can any prejudice, deny his love for his country? Yet Shah’s words remind us that suspicion still lingers like a shadow, wounding those who deserve only honor.

History is filled with such paradoxes. In every age, minorities have often been doubted, their loyalty questioned even when their actions proved otherwise. In Rome, loyal provincials from distant lands fought and died for the empire, yet their Roman-ness was doubted. In America, Japanese-Americans served bravely in World War II, even while their families languished in internment camps. So it is with Indian Muslims: their songs, their labors, their sacrifices are woven into the nation’s fabric, yet too often their patriotism is placed on trial.

The wisdom to be drawn is clear: the greatness of a nation lies not in suspicion, but in trust; not in division, but in unity. When a people begin to tear apart their own, questioning who belongs and who does not, they weaken themselves far more than any external enemy could. For an enemy outside can be met with strength, but an enemy within, born of mistrust and division, corrodes the soul of the nation itself.

The lesson to future generations is this: never allow prejudice to blind your eyes to the true measure of loyalty. Honor all who contribute to the welfare of the land. Judge your fellow citizens not by their names or faiths, but by their deeds, their sacrifices, and their love for the soil. Do not add to the burden of those who already give much, by making them prove again and again that which is evident in their very lives.

Practically, this means choosing respect in your speech, fairness in your judgment, and inclusiveness in your vision of the nation. Celebrate together in times of triumph, mourn together in times of tragedy, and labor together in times of need. Teach your children that patriotism is not a garment to be torn by suspicion, but a bond to be strengthened by trust and shared purpose.

So remember the words of Shah: those who love their country deeply are wounded when their patriotism is doubted. Let not such wounds fester in silence. Heal them with recognition, honor, and unity. For only when all citizens are embraced as patriots can the nation truly stand tall, its strength unbroken, its spirit unshaken.