15 August, among those who are Indians, stirs special emotions. Chivalrous thoughts like “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”, surge up. Flag-hoisting and saluting ceremonies celebrate the patriotism and nationalism in us. All of these definitely have a meaning, but lesser, if they did not become means of measuring our bonding with our nation. They remind us of our identity and role as nationals today. In the growing global climate of neo-nationalism (causing cross-border tensions) and sloganism (arousing fascist terror), we are called to draw critically closer to the national mainstream. This may apostolically require us to check the national currents and choose to go with or against, wisely and boldly; rather discerningly.

In a climate of minority marginalisation manifested in the lynching or intimidations, our pressing call is to grow in critical awareness of contemporary socio-political dynamics. This task is mostly relegated to those in Intellectual or Social Action ministries. When minorities begin trembling with the fear of feeling “foreigners”- aliens in their own land, who can afford the naivety of not recognising how everything seems to be inching towards a sectarian Rashtra? As the saffron gets darker and deeper, we as Jesuits are called to apply our discerning intelligence to our relationship with the nation and our national self-understanding. Does not our ecclesial identity become the major constituent of our whole identity and the national often take the back seat? Spanish Missionary Fr. Moneny of happy memories was often found praying from the Times of India in the community chapel. What is the kind of gatekeeping expected of us in a democracy?

Our most influential apostolic sector is education. We once shaped the mainstream bureaucracy and policy makers but are now losing our grip on them. Member of the Indian Constituent Assembly, Fr. Jerome D’Souza, Padmashree Fr. Tom Kunnukal and the proud likes of them showed us the pathway to the mainstream planning and policy-making. We have gotten as close as to producing educators rather than educationists. Some of the oppressive mindsets are our own products. Why and how? Some soul-searching is required.

As communicators, we have mostly chosen the safety of our own media ghettos or cocoons. As social activists we definitely have shown some bold fronteering, whether in challenging models of developments or protesting oppressive ideologies. In Formation, perhaps, we have not yet struck the much needed balance between the context and the content. Pastoral is happily evolving towards a new identity with the integral approach to evangelization. The fears are, how close can we get to the political boundaries? The then Jesuit Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio had the clarity, of course for his own context: “We are political animals with a capital P. We are called to constructive political activity among our people. The preaching of human and religious values has a political consequence. Whether we like it or not, it is there.” (‘On Heaven and Earth’, conversations with Rabi Abraham Skorka) Gandhi also said, “Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is.” Spirit of apostolic audacity is called for in braving the national, partyless political currents.

Indian Independence Day is inviting all South Asians (no majoritarianism intended) to likewise come out of the margins and critically examine our relationship with our own national mainstream.

“Freedom lies in being bold”, so said Robert Frost!

Vinayak Jadav, SJ