?By Debasis Tripathy
?The confusion regarding the identity of our nationality is the most crucial one we have been facing for a long time. It led to destruction of patriotism, national values and above all the sense of sovereignty. The only solution to this problem is the awakening of integrated nationalism,? said Shri Suresh Soni, Sahsarkaryavah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He was speaking at a function organised by Rastradeep in Cuttack. Shri Soni said prior to 1857, there was no such confusion regarding the identity of India'snationalism. But after that it gradually became very acute. It was the aftermath of the first war of Independence in 1857 that made the British think to destroy Hindu-Muslim unity. They used three policies?denationalisation, desocialisation and de-Hinduisation of Hindus. To provide a finishing touch to their ?divide-and-rule? policy, the Britishers chalked out an evil plan to divide Banga Pradesh, in order to keep Muslims away from the patriotic Hindus of West Bengal. But the awakening of India'spatriotic nationalism through Vande Matram, foiled their attempts. The conference was presided over by Shri Jagabandhu Mishra, editor, Rastradeep. Among dignitaries, Shri Harihar Nanda, former editor, Shri Ajit Mohapatra, Prant Pracharak, Shri Shameer Dey, State Higher Education Minister, Smt. Nivedita Pradhan, Mayor of Cuttack, were present.
