Is patriotism essential ?

I have often wondered about this question, especially for the past three years.I am sure most of us 'feel' patriotic, but how many of us 'think' about it ? Be it at home or school, patriotism is often projected as a virtue. Its a virtue which every good and responsible person should and must have.  Does it make one a bad person if if he/she is not patriot ? Is it blasphemy and insensitive if one chooses not to participate in independence day celebrations of the country of his/her birth ?

To begin with, I identify myself as a cosmopolite, which means my concerns about issues like poverty, lack of education, morality does not stop at the border of the country I was born in. I find the idea of patriotism and nationalism a bit archaic, kind of misfit in this modern society. Of course, there has been countless instances where I have argued with a Pakistani friend that Kashmir belongs to India . I am definitely not proud of if now. I find it appalling that these two nations have been warring against each other and in the process countless innocent lives have been lost. It is even more appalling that , both these nations spend enormous amount of money and force everyday on a useless piece of glacier, the Siachen glacier, where the value of human life means nothing compared to the abstract honor these army men bring to their respective countries.

Is this what fervent patriotism and nationalism leads to ? I think so and it is such mindless nationalism that lead to world war I.  Am I obligated to defend and unconditionally love the country I was born in, over which I had no control ? Am I obligated to say, ''India is the best'' ? Without even thinking , on what criteria ?

I find the concept of country itself very abstract and the whole idea of patriotism is built on it. I do not believe in geopolitical borders, the imaginary lines drawn between two countries, which very unfortunately has become a reality. Should I care less about a person, just because he happens to be on the other side of this imaginary line or just because he was not born in the same country as I was ?

Throughout the history, many great minds have supported the idea of universality and anti-patriotism. A 2000 year old ancient Tamil saying goes like this - ''Yaadhum Oore, Yaavarum Kelir'' - This means, the whole world, every piece of land is yours and everyone is your kith and kin. Socrates once said : “I am not Athenian; I am a citizen of the world.”

Coming back to the question I asked, so does it make a person bad if he is not patriotic and does not love the land he/she was born in ? I don't follow it and I don't think so. It is not that I do not love the land I was born in and its people , It is just that I love every piece of land on this planet  and everyone equally. My concerns and love does not stop at the border. I do not agree India is the best nation or any other nation is the best. Patriotism induces unwanted competition between the nations which is detrimental to world peace.

In short, I am more worried about issues like global warming and hunger rather than who gets to keep a piece of land that supposedly will bring the country honor and pride in the process of killing innocent lives, which according to me should stop immediately. 

Finally, in the words of Socrates -  “I am not Indian; I am a citizen of the world.” Think of yourself as a citizen of the world and the world will be a much more beautiful and peaceful place to live in.