Coming soon after the "9-11" catastrophe, the announcement of this year's Nobel Prize for Literature triggered another kind of controversy. Not surprising, considering this year's winner was V.S. Naipaul. Amidst the speculation on the political motives of the award, and the debate on Naipaul's dalliances with the media, arose the criticism of the Naipaul view of India.

Naipaul is not a man for political correctness. He is the kind to call a spade "a lowly metal implement or tool for shovelling dirt." His description of India, it has been said, follows an unforgiving, sometimes acerbic vision. There have been endless debates around this point - is Naipaul malicious, does he really hate India, is he an anglophile? But one point here seems to be overlooked.

Why must one always write with favour towards one's country?

I, for one, think the quality of patriotism is largely overrated. It may be a good thing to be a patriot. But that does not make non-patriots traitors. My country, right or wrong, is not a tenet I can agree with. In the same way that religious fanatics cause damage, overzealous patriots can cause carnage, at least in today's world. Some years back there was a furore about a Pakistani award given to an Indian (and Muslim) film actor. People were clamouring that the actor hand the award back as a demonstration of his patriotism. Every individual has a right to his stance, be it on religion or nationalism. So long as he does nothing to harm others' lives with his stance, I see nothing wrong in his voicing it. Or in accepting an award that he deserves.

After all, we so adore the people who leave their countries to live, work and achieve fame in India. We don't stop to think if they are patriots to their countries or not. Why can't we judge our heroes by the same token?

At the end, I believe that more important than the country, religion and society is the self and the family. So long as we remain true to ourselves, lead enriching lives and achieve our goals without harming others, we are good people. No one can thrust charity, faith or patriotism down our throats as the only garbs of goodness.