#Thread on Protests:

Whether or not we believe it (or agree to it), there are rarely any Indians who don't whole-heartedly love India.

But the reason why so many protest against a democratically-elected government, comes down to a single question: does India love us all back?

2/ What does it even mean for a country to love us back?

For many, it is elementary things:
Irrespective of where and how I'm born, will I get food, clothes and shelter (roti, kapda, makaan)?
Irrespective of my birth, will I be afforded equal opportunity to succeed?

3/ But for many others, it comes down to even more basic things:

*Because of* where and how I'm born, will I not be oppressed?
Will I not be discriminated against?
Will I be given a chance to live a full live?
Will I be treated and seen as a human being?
Will I not be killed?

4/ No matter where one's ideology lies, there is no denying that both these sections of people form India's largest part. And across our independent, democratic history, governments have grappled with (sincerely at times, suggestively at others) but largely failed at loving back.

5/ India's other section - those like us, who were born, at the very least, with the privilege and 'social standing' to communicate on the internet in a cosmopolitan language (or had the opportunity to reach here) - is loved enough to be able to speak out on things we don't like.

6/ And even we, the ones with lots or some privilege, have always had 'our' basic issues that have existed across governments: as tax paying citizens, we want better roads, better infrastructure, better air, cleaner water, & the safety of our families. We still love India anyway.

7/ But the cruel truth is that it is easier to love your country if your problem is infrastructure, than if your problem is not having a roof, in a system of oppression where you'll never even be afforded that opportunity, or worse, where you'll be killed for daring to pursue it.

8/ And yet, our country has been held together because our marginalised don't stop loving it.

They have faith in our democracy; they have trust in our governments; they believe that even in its failing to love them back, India has always tried hard to, and one day it fully will.

9/ That is why they have not protested so far. If now, they protest, they may have lost their faith in the system they believed will eventually do right by them.

Instead of doubting their love for India, shouldn't we hold ourselves & our govt accountable for the loss of trust?

10/ Remember:
A country is not its land, it is its people
A country is not its resources, it is its people
A country is not its government, it is its people

Patriotism is not about loving your land, resources or government. It is about loving your people, & doing right by them!