PATRIOTISM – WHY I LOVE PAKISTAN?

Dale Carnegie has said;

“Each nation feels superior to other nations. That breeds patriotism - and wars.”

Everybody loves his country because patriotism is a natural passion. We like the earth where we are born.
We like it because it feeds our bodies, illuminates our minds and saves our souls. Here we live among our
near and dear ones who share our pains and pleasures. We feel a sense of security, closeness and
companionship. Love for our nation obliges us to make some sacrifice. It urges us to transcend ourselves
and to do something for our fellow citizens. At its most astounding, patriotism obliges us even to sacrifice
our lives.

"Not gold but only men can make,

A nation great and strong,

Men who for truth and honor‟s

sake, Stand fast and suffer long."

Patriotism is a frame of mind in which one loves one's country and is proud of it. It is a vigorous feeling of
love, loyalty and support for one's country especially in defense against its enemies. It means that one
should give more value and importance to one's country than to one's own self. It makes one bound for
certain responsibilities, and these responsibilities are ideological commitment and dedication to the
defense and prosperity of one's country.

“Mother and motherland are far more glorious than heaven.”

Patriotism teaches a man to love his own native land more than anything else does. Johnson said,

“Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”

He referred to false patriotism, which is called jingoism, – bragging of one‟s country‟s power and wealth,
meddling in the affairs of other nations, bullying the smaller and weaker powers. This is selfishness and
narrow nationalism. The teaching of such patriots is that we cannot love one country without loathing and
hating all other nations. True Patriotism never forgets the golden rule,

“Do unto others as you would be done by.”

It never forgets that other nations have interest and feelings no less than its own, and that such interests
and feelings deserve due consideration. Having a look at the pages of history, we come to know that
everyone used to be patriot. Adam loved his first dwelling i.e. paradise. When he was thrown down and he
began to live on earth, he started loving that place also. Those who love their country become immortal in
the pages of history. Patriotic people like Tipu Sultan, Sirajuduallah, Liaquat Ali Khan, Major Aziz Bhatti,
Syed Ahmed Shaheed, Quaid-e Azam and Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan are loved and admired by the people.
However, the traitors like Mir Jafar and Mir Saadiq are always looked down upon by the people. Patriotism
is a great passion that polishes man‟s inherent capabilities. It makes man brave, courageous and
sacrificing. Moreover, it makes him undergo hardships and face grave dangers with a smiling face. It
makes man sacrifice his pleasures and gains for the sake of his country.

“Patriotism is certainly a noble passion and the absence of it is

Everyone has a tinge of patriotism in one sense or the other. Islamic concept of patriotism is very vast and
wide. It is not concerned with language, nation, race or country. It maintains that every Muslim is one
nation, every Muslim country is one country and hence everyone sacrifices for a greater cause i.e. for the
uplift of Allah‟s words. Someone as rightly said,

“He, who does not love his country, can love nothing.”

Love for country is part of our creed. It is neither developed nor created. Hence, love for Pakistan is deep
rooted in our bones because it was founded after a number of sacrifices. This love is beyond any
description or claim. However, for the sake of argument, I shall put forth a few convincing and logical
arguments. Walter Scott says;

“Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own,
this is my native land.”

I love my country for its ideology. Ideology is set of ideas, beliefs and doctrines which the people of
country want to follow in life. We are Muslims. Our ideology is Islam. Islam is complete code of life. It
covers all the aspects of human conduct and behavior. In India, Islam could survive only as religion not as
a way of living. In order to enforce Islam as Deen in every field of life, we won Pakistan. To get Pakistan,
we have to offer great sacrifices. A number of people laid down their lives. They lost their relatives, friends
and property. The great personality that led the Muslims of subcontinent to a safe place and materialized
the concept of a Muslim state, was Quaid e Azam who said while explaining the ideology of Pakistan

“Pakistan came into being when the first Hindu became a Muslim.”

In the annual meeting of 1943 at Karachi Quaid e Azam said while clarifying the relation of Pakistan and
Islam,

“What is that relation which has made Muslim a single body? What is that rock on which the
structure of millat is restored? What is that base which has secured the safety of the boat of
this millat? That relation, rock and base is Holy Quran.”

Pakistan is a land of dreams, joys, emotions and bliss. This is a land of greatness and glory. It is a land of
greenery, the land of sands, the land of joys, the land of farms, the 8 land of high mountains, the land of
tall trees, the land of different kinds of flowers, the land of fleecy lambs and golden sparrows. Our
homeland shines like a jewel embedded in the centre of the earth.

“My dear, my native Soil!

From whom my warmest wish to heaven's sent,

Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil,

Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!”

Pakistan is the first Islamic country to attain nuclear power. Pakistan‟s national anthem tune ranks first in
the top three tunes of the world. Pakistan is the 6th largest nation of the world containing one of the oldest
civilizations in history. Pakistan holds four out of fourteen highest peaks in the world. K2 is the second
highest mountain in the world. Pakistan has world‟s largest irrigation system. The world‟s largest deep sea
port, Gawadar is in Pakistan. The world‟s highest paved international road, The Karakoram Highway, is in
Pakistan, which is the eighth wonder of the world. Khewra salt mine, the second largest salt mine in the
world is in Pakistan. Thar Desert, is one of the largest deserts is in Pakistan. World‟s highest Polo ground is
in Pakistan where Shundur Polo festival is being organized. One of the best-trained air force pilots in the
world are in Pakistan. The world‟s largest Volunteer Ambulance Service Providing Organization operates in
Pakistan that was founded by Abdus Sattar Edhi, a social worker of international fame. Pakistan is ranked
25th in terms of overall agricultural production with chickpeas on top, 5th in mangoes, 6th in dates, 8th in
rice, 9th in wheat and 10th in orange production in the world. As Horace says;

“It is a sweet and seemly thing to die for one‟s country.”

Pakistan is only the state founded on the basis of Islam. It is a peace loving country. Its people believe in
the supremacy of Allah Almighty, brotherhood, equality, fraternity and natural love. Pakistan is the
harbinger of peace in the area. It tries to develop amicable relationships with other countries. It is the
fortress of Islam. It offers political, moral, financial support to all the Islamic countries. Now, it is self-
sufficient in the field of defense. It possesses remarkable missile and nuclear research programme.

“Our country is that spot to which our heart is bound.”

I am true patriot. Therefore, I aspire to see my country very high and respectable in the comity of nations.
It is the land of unique and unparalleled schools, colleges and universities, where I have been educated
and trained. These institutions are educating many other of my compatriots and producing the great and
wise personalities like De- Abdul Qadeer khan and Dr. Abdus Salam. Someone has rightly said,

“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Pakistan is the fountain of my life, safety and honour. To conclude I must say that I do not love my country
if I do nothing for it. If I weaken my country in one way or the other, then I actually hate my county.
Therefore, I must make my country strong politically, technologically and economically in order to prove
my claim of love for Pakistan. I shall do my best to serve my country when I complete my education. I
know that if I do wrong to my country, I shall do wrong to myself. I shall, therefore, live for Pakistan and die
for Pakistan.

“Oh, God! It is the goodly sight to see what heaven hath done for this delicious
land.”