You can call me Anti-National, I will call myself Humanitarian

Shubhanshu Shukla remarked that Earth looks beautiful from the International Space Station. He highlighted that we don’t see national or state boundaries from space, we are one as humans.

With the rise of Trump, nationalist interests have only grown. That is fine until every statement that questions national responses is criticized as anti-national. Diplomacy in some states seems to have completely disassociated itself from humanistic values. It has become a selfish approach. Every conversation on the international stage is driven by vested nationalist interests. It often favours the powerful.

We Indians object to the H-1B visa policy of the United States, which has undergone stricter scrutiny under Trump-era reforms. Indian professionals face tighter review as newer rules prioritize high-wage applicants. At the same time, we express concern over the migration responses of France and Italy. We seek global condemnation of the Pahalgam attack. That is fair.

But why don’t we condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? India has consistently abstained from United Nations votes on the matter, choosing strategic neutrality. While India urges peace, it has avoided directly naming Russia as the aggressor.

We support Palestinian issues, something India historically has. Since recognizing Palestine in 1988, India has co-sponsored UN resolutions and continues to advocate for a two-state solution. But in recent years, the clarity of this support is silenced over strategies response.

We want big powers to allow Indian citizens to work freely or accept immigrants. Then why don’t we accept Bangladeshi immigrants ? There is no formal pathway or inclusive immigration framework from India for these neighbours, despite demanding openness from the West.

If we are truly democratic, then why don’t we let the people of Jammu and Kashmir decide their fate? The least we can do is not take away their powers to govern themselves. We have provided asylum to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan refugees. If we aren’t fine with China occupying Tibet then shouldn’t the people of Kashmir be allowed to express their distress with India?

This attitude isn’t limited to nationalism or globalisation alone. It has effects within Indian states too. Take the example of Karnataka, reserving seats for its residents even in the corporate sector. Could that have far-reaching effects on the IT city’s effectiveness and economy? It might impact India’s GDP for the sake of regional interests.

Or consider the political leadership in Maharashtra, which has openly shown disrespect towards residents from other states. I happened to face resentment from local leaders while executing my project. They asked me Why don’t you do social work in Uttar Pradesh? My reply was simple, I am working for people of India.

The point is to look inward before we judge people and policies outside. Global diplomacy today runs on selective memory and strategic alliances. Be it India’s silence on Russia, the West’s visa hypocrisy, or internal discrimination across Indian states. The pattern is clear, regional interest trumps human values.

We need a humanistic approach, an open market across the world. A true global village where people can choose to work anywhere without man-made barriers. Then the sense of togetherness and resilience would be revived to fight global issues.