Acharya Prashant explains that a nation is not inherently lovable or respectable simply by existing; its worth is determined by the values it represents. He notes that while many nations are founded on hatred, shared ethnicity, or language, the Indian nation is unique because it is built upon a Vedantic foundation. He argues that most people today focus on diversity because it is easy, yet they fail to understand the underlying oneness or the sacred values that constitute India. For a person to truly love the nation, India must be more than just a political entity or a boundary on a map; it must be recognized for its spiritual essence. Acharya Prashant points out that the younger generation often has a shallow relationship with the country because they are unfamiliar with its core Vedantic values. Instead of connecting with the sublime and sacred roots of the nation, they associate India with superficial imagery like food, festivals, or street scenes. He warns that when people are starved of this spiritual essence, they become ashamed of their identity and seek to adopt different personas. He emphasizes that the root of the Indian nation is essentially spiritual, and without this connection, people remain Indian only by name or passport. He concludes that while external security can be maintained through technology and the military, the inner security of the nation depends on the youth staying in touch with Vedant. He advocates for a nationalism that is not based on the shallow or destructive ideologies that led to world wars, but rather one that is founded on the expansive and uplifting values enshrined in Indian scriptures. According to him, the nation will decay inwardly if it loses touch with these foundational spiritual principles.
