The idea of a nation

First of all Happy Republic Day to you all out there... may we prosper together and build a strong and peaceful India. (a little belated)

Was reading this book in India, Chanakya Neeti, pretty boring and outdated I felt. Actually, didn't like the book starting from the first page. While talking with my friend's father it came up that in ancient India, Chanakya was the first to come with an idea of a Raashtra (Nation)... Raashtra Kootah.... Before the Maurya dynasty united the most of what is India today, in those days, the country was divided in to many small kingdoms bitterly fighting with each other. He, it is believed, was instrumental in uniting (with lots of bloodshed) the whole of Bharatha Raashtra.

So, what is the point in discussing the idea of a Nation. This very idea of a nation had caused a lot of tragedy and it still continues to do so... our loyalties that lie with a nation make us so possessive that we care less for a person's life who doesn't share this loyalty with us... with in our country there are lots of divisions... can we ever come out of this mind set and work towards universal harmony? Is it plausible???

Was watching this John Stewart show on youtube and don't know who it is but there was one guy who gave a good example why people hate big and powerful countries. Imagine someone in your office (your boss) comes in and tells everyday that he is the most intelligent, greatest, powerful person and everyone else is a scumbag. According to him, after sometime, somebody in the office would simply kill this person because they can't take it anymore. Preaching what you think right is easy :(

This topic also reminds me one of Vemana's poems:
Anuvu gaani chota Nadhikulamanaraadu
Kochmayina nadiyu kodava gaadu
konda addamandu knochamai undada
Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema

Translation: When it is not your place or time, do not try to dominate. Hill looks like small in a mirror, but its much bigger.

-Adios