Rss 360° Page 12
Petty violence by a fringe group, criticised even by RSS leadership in unequivocal terms, becomes the face of Hindutva to defame RSS and Hindu society but when Muslim turns out to be a terrorist, it is an aberration not representing true Islam. Rightly so, but why are there different yard sticks? There has been a lot of breast beating about attack on MF Hussain’s painting by Hindu groups as being against liberal values and artistic freedom. Interestingly Hussain’s same artistic freedom becomes coy when depicting Mother Teresa, his mother or other Muslim women. The stark contrast in his artistic impressions can be seen through various presentations of Hindu gods and goddesses. You can see these images floating around on the net. Many of them are so obscene and hurt our sensibilities so deeply that I won’t describe them. Same liberals are in the forefront for banning Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen. They keep quiet when extremists force Taslima out of India. They are quiet when a Muslim lecturer is terrorised and stopped from taking lecture without burqa in West Bengal, when a Christian teacher’s hands are chopped off by Muslim bigots in Kerala, both supposedly a bastions of secularism of the Marxist variety. They wish to pass over ruthless burning of unarmed pilgrims in Godhra but are not tired of breast beating about the post-Godhra riots. They are stung into silence when their stories of rape of nuns in Jhabua turns out to be a case of rape by followers of Church or when their arch secularist like Teesta Setalvad turns out to be a master in tutoring witnesses to implicate some people. As I go through the manuscript, I read the news of another 71 year old nun’s rapist, a Bangladeshi being convicted, but till this happened entire Left lobby went into overdrive about ‘intolerant’ Sanghis for the horrible act. Inspite of all this, RSS is the sole claimant to the title of being fascist, courtesy our honourable liberals.
RSS has always tried to use opinion building, a valid tool of democratic way of life to put forward its points. It has launched mass agitations on various issues of national importance. It has not retaliated with violence even under worst of provocations; on the contrary it has been a target of persecution by the government and Communists at different time. It has not burnt offices of press or killed leaders or intellectuals who have insulted its leaders, or degraded Hinduism.
The Leftist-secular lobby has been repeatedly quoting two paragraphs of Guruji’s views on minorities for last 60-70 years from a book which was published in 1938-39 before he held any important position in RSS. This book was discontinued after 1947 and disowned by the RSS and Guruji many years back. After this, the opponents have not been able to find a single other quote from Guruji that could support their claim of Guruji being a fascist. Imagine, these ‘verbal terrorists’ and secular fundamentalists could not find anything even remotely fascist in the speeches of the head of an all India organisation for 33 years inspite of tracking and pouring over his each and every public interaction and writings.
Worst charge that they could put even based on his quote of 1938-39 is that he advocated that no group should have any special privileges (which the leftists translate as the minorities being given a status of second class citizen). Even if this view is taken at its full face value, it is not in anyway, different from the stated Islamic rule (evident in all Muslim majority states) that gives status of second class citizen to ‘non-believers’, claiming it to be as per The Book. If this proposition is true, then are they accepting that Islamic rule is fundamentally a fascist rule?
Even when these invectives are thrown at the RSS and its associated organisations in general, we must remember that both the Hindu Mahasabha (born in 1906) and the RSS (born in 1925) came into existence before any one in India knew of Hitler. Savarkar’s Hindutva (1923) was published three years before Hitler’s Mein Kampf. Savarkar was inspired by the sacrifice of Chaphekar brothers who were hanged in 1899. His views about modern nationalism were moulded by Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Mazzini. Savarkar’s Hindutva was inspired by Shivaji; activism for social equality; and, fight against casteism was moulded by thoughts of Sant Tukaram and Samarth Ramdas. Clearly, the inspiration to organise and defend Hinduism at the political level does not stem from Hitler or Mussolini, and this philosophy did not need any outside impulse.
If we look at the way Doctor Hedgewar developed RSS and its philosophy, we can surmise that Doctor Hedgewar’s methodology was more close to and influenced by Lokmanya Tilak’s use of Hinduism and its symbolism to channelise and organise the Hindu society, than by Savarkar’s Hindutva.
Koenrad Elst in his book ‘Saffron Swastika’ asks, “Have they sided with Hitler? Have they (Savarkar, RSS) even called on its followers to follow Subhash Bose and join the Axis war effort against the British? But of course, since the Hindutva people are at the receiving end of all the blame, their non-support to Hitler is being turned against them. The Communists opposed the British in 1940 (under Stalin’s pact with Hitler) and supported them after 1941, yet after independence they have not been branded as collaborators with either fascism or colonialism. They can get away with it, while the Hindu parties are covered with abuse regardless of the stand they take. The RSS has not glorified Hitler. When he was successful in any larger measure than most Indians at that time (the facts of the extermination camps were not known until 1945, and for the rest most Indians, were skeptical about the British propaganda.”
I was too young to understand Guruji’s lectures when he was living. But, I had the opportunity to translate a summarised version of Guruji’s complete works of nearly 320 pages, called ‘Guruji – His Vision and Mission’. My detailed study of this book, and the speeches and other writings of Guruji does not in any way hint at fascist leanings. So, this bogey of fascism needs to be buried alongwith all the invectives thrown at RSS. The conduct of Marxist parivaar and the secular lobby vis. a vis. conduct of RSS during all these years is much better testimony of this organization’s faith in democracy than the certificates issued by these self-appointed guardians of democratic traditions.
A Christian Priest’s Views on RSS
To Father Kundukulam goes the credit for being the first Christian priest to do a doctoral thesis on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, that too in a foreign university. He is also the first clergyman to author a book on RSS titled ‘RSS: Enthu? Engott?’ (What is RSS and Where is it headed for). In fact, a former clergyman, Anthony Elenjimittam, had published a book titled RSS: Bharathiya Samskruthiyude Kavalsena (RSS: Watchdog of Indian Culture) way back in 1951, but he had ceased to be a priest and had taken to social service when the book was published.
The phenomenal growth of RSS in post-Independent India, firmly rooted in all walks of life, all nooks and corners of the country kindled Father Kundukulam curiosity. In Madhya Pradesh, he came across a European who had been doing a doctoral thesis on ‘Hindu nationalism’ in the Sorbonne University. In an interview in Pontifical Seminary, Father Kundukulam confesses that when he broached the idea of writing a book on his research findings on RSS, some of his co-religionists cautioned him that the RSS men would beat him up if he wrote something against them. He submits that he has tried to remain as objective as possible in his assessment of the RSS. He was pleased that it was well-received in the church and RSS circles.
In his view, RSS is a multi-faceted organisation which is political, cultural, religious and voluntary in nature and approach. Different facets gain an upper-hand at different times depending on social and political exigencies.
At the same time, Father. Kundukulam argues against branding of RSS ideology as fascism, Nazism, fundamentalism and communalism. He said the terms fascism, Nazism, and fundamentalism are much abused terms in India. They have a distinct connotation in the European context that can hardly apply to the Indian milieu. The term fundamentalism was first coined in the context of the emergence of the Protestant movement in the Churches of America. According to him, the ideology of RSS and the way in which it is interpreted by the Sangh leaders borrowing modern terminology have no comparison to the sense in which the term fundamentalism was used in America. So also,
fascism and Nazism do have distinct meanings in the socio-political contexts that prevailed in Italy and Germany which have no bearing in the Indian context.
Father Kundukulam feels that BJP – the political arm of RSS, during its rule at the Centre had not committed any acts that could truly be described as fundamentalist, fascist, or communal. He notes that one of the first acts of A B Vajpayee after taking over as Prime Minister was to call on Mother Teresa and the Delhi Archbishop.
One admirable aspect of RSS, Father Kundukulam says, is its flexibility to move with the times and to adopt the best from other socio-cultural-religious movements. It learnt the rudiments of social work from the missionary organisations of the church and mass mobilisation techniques from the Communists. He admires RSS for the dedication and discipline of its cadres, the simple life style of its prachaaraks, the moral teaching it imparts to the younger generation in its daily shakhas, and the voluntary labour put in by its cadres at critical times such as natural calamities.
The Indian society, Father Kundukulam feels, is in a ‘vicious circle’ with the majority Hindu community suffering from a ‘psychological inferiority complex’ on account of its failure to have a proportionate say in the governance of the country in spite of its numerical superiority and the minorities being always suspicious of the majority community. The growth of minority fundamentalism would only strengthen RSS, he observes. “India can prosper only by strengthening the forces of democracy and secularism and ensuring economic justice to the people,” he concludes. Currently he is working on the second edition of his book.
Need to Organise Hindus
After going through the preceding two chapters, one would come to a conclusion that the RSS has filled in a vacuum in the thought process in this country at political and social level. When the whole establishment, under the influence of Nehru’s Fabian thoughts and impractical political ideas tilted towards an alien leftist ideology and wrongly interpreted secularism, RSS survived and grew as an organisation rooted in Bharatiya thoughts and traditions. It was the period of internationalism promoted by Nehru on one side and Communists under their flagship Communist International or ‘Comintern’ on the other; providing cover to the Communist designs of international hegemony by which they tried to spread Communism in various nations by force or political means. At such a time when nationalism was criticized and abused as a violent concept of Nation State of Germany and Italy, RSS kept the flame of Indian philosophy of cultural nationalism, alive with its indigenous roots. It was much different from the western concept but is, even today, mixed up with it. If RSS had a better word in English for it, it would have used it. However, Indian concept of “Nationalism”, quite different from the western definition of “Nation State”, is older than “Nation State”. RSS differentiates between the State and the Nation. While State is governing apparatus, Nation is a cultural concept.
RSS gave a sound underpinning to the feeling of patriotism which was based on positive pride for the motherland, founded on its heritage and knowledge and not on airy ideas. It gave muscle to the nationalist ideology in politics which Nehru had once threatened to crush in January 1948 in a public meeting in Amritsar. We shall look at the other aspects of its organisational methodology, systems of building a good human being and the manifestation of its ideology in various social dimensions later in the book.
V
Daily RSS Prayer and its Meaning
The prayer that an RSS volunteer recites daily in the shakha is the essence of the RSS mission and a daily reaffirmation of how a swayamsevak should act in personal and public life. Its daily invocation strengthens the resolve of the volunteer at spiritual level.
Below is the complete prayer in the original form that is originally written in Sanskrit, and its simple English translation.
Namaste sadaa vatsale maatrubhoome
Twayaa Hindu bhoomey sukham vardhitoham
Mahaamangaley punyabhoome twadarthey
Patatwesh kaayo namaste namaste ||1||
Prabho shaktiman Hindurashtraang bhootaa
Imey saadaran twaam namaamo vayam
Twadeeyaaya kaaryaaya baddhaa kateeyam
Shubhaamaashisham dehi tatpoortaye
Ajayyaancha vishwasya deheesh shaktim
Susheelam jagadeyna namram bhavet
Shrutam chaiva yatkantakaakeerna maargam
Swayam sweektritam nah sugam kaarayet ||2||
Samutkrash sanishreyasasyaaikamugram
Param saadhanam naama veeravratam
Tadantah sphuratvakshyayaa dhyeyanishthaa
Hridyantah prajaagartu teevraanisham
Vijetree cha naha samhataa kaaryashaktir
Vidhaayaasya dharmasya samrakshanam
Param vaibhavam netumetata swarashtram
Samarthaa bhawatvaashishaa te bhrisham ||3||
|| Bhaaratmaataa kee jay ||
English translation
I forever bow to thee, O loving Motherland!
O, motherland of us Hindus, thou hast brought me up in happiness.
May my life, O great and blessed Holy land, be laid down to thy cause.
I bow to thee, again and again ||1||
We, the children of this Hindu nation, bow to thee in reverence, O almighty God.
We have committed ourselves resolutely to carry on Thy work.
Give us Thy holy blessing for the fulfillment of this purpose.
O Lord, grant us such might that no power on earth can ever challenge,
Such purity of character as would command the respect of the world,
And such knowledge that would make easy the thorny path
That we have voluntarily chosen ||2||
May we be inspired with the spirit of stern heroism,
which is the sole and ultimate means of attaining the highest spiritual bliss,
with greatest temporal prosperity.
May intense and everlasting devotion to our ideal ever inspire our hearts.
May our victorious organised power of action, by Thy grace,
fully protect our Dharma and
lead this nation to the highest pinnacle of prosperity and glory II3II
|| Salutations to Bhaaratmaataa ||
The prayer is inspiring, humbling and arouses the most noble and selfless thoughts to serve the motherland and dharma. It is not against any one, and doesn’t have a single line or word that ignites hatred or any negative feeling. It is a positive prayer.
But, to me, the most important line which is embedded in the heart of RSS worker’s and influences his day to day thinking and style of working is – “I have taken up this task voluntarily and I know that it is full of thorns (not easy).” Therefore, no volunteer can claim or assume that he is doing anybody any favour by working for the society and the nation. In the first para a swayamsevak commits one’s life to the nation. This reaffirmation every day persuades him to take everybody along without fear or favour, be open to others and work together with people, regardless of difference of opinion, for a supreme goal – that of making his motherland prosperous and strong. It is his bounden duty which he has accepted. This is the spirit of selfless service. He repeats this prayer every day until his death.
In every training camp, special sessions are earmarked for explaining the prayer in depth and detail. These are the sessions, a RSS volunteer does not forget easily.
In his last moments as Guruji’s soul was to leave his mortal remains, he recited this prayer. Sangh volunteers feel that this is the ideal way of walking into the sunset of one’s life.
PART II
THE FORM
Secret of RSS Work
“There are only two secrets of our work – first is that there is no secret. And, second is, kabaddi. This programme, even today, has the same character. Motherland beneath, God created skies above, and Hindu society all around us – based on these elements, kabaddi has been successful. So much power was generated by this kabaddi; power that saved lives, honour and wealth of las of people during partition
of Punjab.” From where did we get this power? Did we have manifestos at that time? Did we have rosy pictures of the future? Or did we organise conference or publicised our views? We only played kabaddi. This is absolutely true. The foundation of our unified soul in that kabaddi came to signify ‘organisation’. We need to understand this well.”
Shri Guruji Golwalkar, Biography – Ranga Hari
VI
Shakha
Shaakhaa (shakha or local branch) of RSS is the public face of RSS. It is the powerhouse that energises and powers ordinary people to successfully carry out extraordinary feats and nurture pan-India organisations.
People often wonder how a small group of 10 to 20 people who come together for an hour and while away their time in playing games, doing some physical drills, singing patriotic songs or discussing some social issues and praying together, can build an organisation with 56,000 shakhas all over India with a daily collective attendance of more than half a million. If you consider approximately 100 members per shakha who don’t attend it every day this figure would come to nearly 5.6 million regular members. This network is spread upto district level all over India and in most of the places to Tehsil level. You can find village level shakhas in many states. Incidentally, Kerala has the highest density of shakhas in Bharat, more than 5000 in this small state. Then, there are a large number of people who are not directly involved in Sangh shakha but are active in its other social organisations motivated by RSS ideals, these figures run into multi-millions. For example, today there are around 170 hundred thousand (1.70 lakh) social service organisations inspired by RSS, working in different parts of India; and there are associate or sister organisations that do not figure in this count. Of these some are mass non-political organizations like Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram with very large membership.