Undeniably hundreds of NGOs (non-governmental organisations) are working with great dedication among the economically backward sections of the society motivated primarily by the vision of transforming social attitudes and quality of life of the people amongst whom they live and work. But there are hundreds of NGOs and activists whose ?peace? and human rights activism cloak political ambitions and objectives ?political ambitions aimed at shaping the character and direction of the Indian polity.
This book throws light on the beneficiaries of Nehruvian secularism and Hindu disempowerment. Seeking to document the activities of some of the better known forces and agents who thrive on Hindu powerlessness, the Vigil Forum focuses on certain NGOs who, in concert with the so-called religious minorities, are trying to influence the Hindu polity through control over public opinion in inverse proportion to Hindu incapacity to modulate, much less control the system.
Talking about the early 1900s, the book says that the Indian National Congress (INC) showed a tendency towards de-nationalising and ?secularising? the national freedom movement. It asserts, ?From the beginning of the 1930s the INC under the de-facto leadership of Nehru began the process of Muslim appeasement on terms that whetted their appetite for an ever-increasing communal leverage. This made it easy for Jinnah to radicalise the Muslim community in his quest for a separate Muslim state.? When it became apparent that Mahatma Gandhi would not be able to halt the ?secularisation? or ?Islamisation? of what began as a Hindu resistance movement to end colonial rule and ?nip the nascent Muslim desire to reimpose Islamic rule after the departure of the British, Dr K.B. Hedgewar set up the RSS as a bulwark of Hindu society.?
The Vigil Public Opinion Forum draws a tangible relationship between the anti-India and the anti-Hindu for ?there is simply no Indian nationalism that is contrary to or separate from Hindu nationalism?. Concerned that the de-Hinduising of the polity could be an attempt to de-nationalise Hindu consciousness and more importantly, to ensure the political disempowerment of the Hindus, the book warns the Hindus that de-nationalising of the Hindu consciousness is aimed at desensitising their minds to the critical importance of territory for survival as a people. Hence it points out that genocide and terrorising Hindus in Kashmir Valley is being completed by Pakistani terrorist outfits while intrusion of ?US government into India'sinternal affairs to protect Church and Christian interests? in the north-east is aimed at weakening and attacking the Hindus. These groups are using ?history and social ?science? to indoctrinate young and impressionable minds with the agenda to de-root the Hindu community from its cultural-geographical nationalism.?
Here the book has openly named the NIC (National Integration Council) which was given a new lease of life by the UPA government and packed with ?secularists? and ?minorities? (including the Archbishop of Delhi) and CABE (Central Advisory Board of Education) where no Hindu is a member while Muslims, Christians, Marxists and Nehruvian secularists dominate the boards of these organisations. What is strange is the US State Department Annual Report of 2003 on International Religious Freedom laments that the NDA was ?rewriting? history textbooks without the counsel of CABE and the UPA government, immediately on taking power, vociferously declared that India was always a ?pluralist? country.
The book takes a close look at how Indian Marxists not only acknowledged the role played by American and the Western countries in promoting the NGO industry but also begun to promote NGOs of their own owing allegiance to Marxism. Further the NGOs and activists use three principal devices to implant their de-Hinduising and de-nationalising mission to facilitate penetration and infiltration of ?secularists? (Muslims, Christians and Maoists) into important political parties, de-legitimising as ?communal? all issues that affect Hindu sensitivities, and raising the pitch on human rights wherever a state is compelled to deal sternly with the two most vocal and influential ?minority? communities.
Decrying the role of NGO activism in ?peace?, education and healthcare as a fa?ade to facilitate transfer of large amounts of money from abroad either to support funds for their ?charity? and social causes or institute peace and human right awards and then subsequently use them for fulfilling political objectives. Subsequently they repeat Western slogans of violations of human rights, religious freedom and pluralism when voices are raised against Muslims or Christians and politics of minorityism, like softening of the Indian perception of Islam and Islamic terrorism; ignoring Pakistan'srole in spreading terrorism; preventing the government from dealing firmly with infiltration from border districts of Bangladesh and the alarming rise in the Muslim population in India; and Christian aggression and conversion in the north-east.
The book sends the alarm signal on the dangers posed by the political and anti-national agenda of some well-known NGOs and activists, particularly the NIC and CABE who are backed by foreign donations and funds. It is a wake-up call to all national Hindus regarding the absence of public accountability of these NGOS while advocating the need for developing a mechanism to counter the treacherous agenda of these leading NGOS and activists.
The book has been brought out by Vigil that believes in strengthening of India'ssocial and political institutions and in informing the people of important national issues which impact upon their collective thinking and action. This forum was inspired by Shivram Joglekar'sexhortations and it was he who was responsible for founding the Vigil in Chennai in 1982.
(Vigil Public Opinion Forum, H-12/3 Pari Street, Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar, Chennai-600 090.)
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