SWABHIMAN (SELF-PRIDE)

There was a story about one Mr. Azim Mayadas in one of the national dailies ( Hindustan Times, English) in India on the

15^th May, 2013. This gentleman, a mining engineer by qualification, settled in USA many years back. He is a great music lover. Mr. Mayadas has set up 52 western classical music schools in 32 states of the United States of America. Great dedication indeed!

The news paper reported that once someone from USA asked Mr. Mayadas if it was a cultural shock for him and his wife when they settled in USA. Upon this Mr. Mayadas said, “What culture? There is no culture in your country.”

Mr. Mayadas’s reply compelled me to think about self-pride.

I am an Indian and I am proud of my rich cultural heritage and the depth of ancient Indian philosophy. But I could have never said what Mr. Mayadas said.

Our learned Rishis have upheld the concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” [The entire world is a family].

Moreover, does self-pride mean being arrogant?

No. Self-pride is associated with a sense of responsibility. If I am proud of my country’s rich cultural and philosophical background, then I must act according to what my culture and the philosophy of my country expects from me.

I should also feel responsible for any defects therein and must act to remove any deficiencies existing in our culture and philosophical outlook. If I hold myself responsible, accountable and answerable to what my country has given to the world, I can nurture a self-pride for my background, otherwise not.

Mahatma Gandhi has said that self-pride is an internal matter and arrogance is external. Self-pride can not be attacked from outside, whereas arrogance can be attacked from outside.

We should think thousand times before commenting on someone else’s religion, culture and philosophical outlook. If we speak casually about others, their faiths and their thoughts, our act will not be consistent with spiritual process.

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