PW invited parents of Bengaluru to share their insights on how they give their children early lessons in patriotism

“We believe patriotism begins with small lessons at home. Our daughter Aadya (LKG) has learnt to respect the National Flag, National Anthem, and those who serve our country. We encourage her to participate in Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations, sing patriotic songs, and learn about freedom fighters and national heroes. We also emphasise keeping her surroundings clean, respect nature, follow rules, and help others. At her young age, we believe loving our country means becoming a responsible, caring, and respectful citizen. We remind Aadya that every positive action contributes to a better India. Through everyday conversations and activities, we hope to nurture a sense of pride, responsibility, respect, and love for the nation in her” — Pratima Purohit, software engineer, Accenture

“I believe patriotism begins through small values and habits we practise at home. One of the earliest lessons in patriotism I taught my daughter Shourya (class II) is to never waste food as I believe our waste is national waste. I explain to her how food reaches our plates after a long journey involving farmers, water, soil, energy and countless people. Wasting food therefore means wasting precious resources and efforts. I encourage my child to take only what is needed, finish what is served and value every grain. Loving and respecting India is not limited to celebrating national festivals or holding the national flag; it also means contributing to building a cleaner, kinder and more responsible society” — Sneha Joshi, teacher, Kanasu School

“In today’s world where boundaries are increasingly blurred and connections stronger than ever, we believe it’s important to nurture children with a strong sense of cultural identity, values, and love for their country. We have introduced our son Srithik (class UKG) to India’s rich heritage through stories of the freedom struggle, national heroes, and mythological traditions. We encourage him to participate in Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations, sing the National Anthem with pride, and stand respectfully when the Tricolour is hoisted. Stories of soldiers guarding our borders help him understand their courage and sacrifice, while books on freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh and Rani Lakshmibai have sparked his interest in history” — Pooja Roy Chatterjee, senior manager, HDFC Bank

“Patriotism begins with helping our son Nishant (class VI) understand and appreciate the India in which he is growing up. We encourage him to learn about the country’s history, freedom struggle, and the contributions of those who shaped our nation. We celebrate national festivals meaningfully, explaining their significance rather than treating them merely as holidays. We also introduce him to India’s remarkable diversity of languages, cultures, traditions, cuisine, and heritage. Travelling across the country has helped him appreciate that despite differences, we share a common identity. At home, we emphasise that loving one’s country also means being a responsible citizen—respecting public spaces, following rules, conserving resources, helping others, and treating everyone with dignity” — Jacquline Ram, Manager, Aprecomm Pvt. Ltd