” “What are those eternal life-springs of our national life that go to make it unified, resurgent and glorious? In the first place, feeling of burning devotion to the land, which, from times immemorial, we have regarded as our sacred Matrubhoomi, -in the second place, the feeling of fellowship, of fraternity, born out of the realisation that we are the children of that one great common Mother, -in the third place, the intense awareness of a common current of national life, born out of a common culture and heritage, of common history and traditions, of common ideals and aspirations, -this trinity of values or, in a word, Hindu Nationalism, forms the bedrock of our national edifice.”
– Shri M S Golwalkar (Guruji), Bunch of Thoughts, Sahitya Sindhu Prakashana, Bangalore, Third Edition (revised and enlarged), 1996
Dr Pranab Mukherjee addressing the swayamsewaks at the Sangh Shiksha Varg”
For the people who cannot see the developments in national life beyond politics, the invitation to Dr Pranab Mukherjee to the concluding ceremony of the Third Year Sangh Shiksha Varg of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and his acceptance of the same was certainly a shock. The obvious uncordial voices led by the Communists also tried to pressurise and persuade statesman like Pranab Da. Many political connotations were derived and analysis will continue for days to come. Still, the real message of this Nagpur visit of the former President is more national than political.
Firstly, the RSS knew about the life-long political association of Dr Mukherjee and still it chose to invite him for the function and Dr Mukherjee despite all pressure tactics from political circles graciously accepted the invitation. Generally, in RSS functions, Sarsanghachalak delivers the last address; breaking the tradition, Dr Mukherjee was given a chance to say the last word. In democracy, this process of dialogue in national interest is essential and social or political untouchability of any form is not acceptable is the biggest message of Nagpur.
Besides usual cynics, though the language and styles were different, the essence of both the speeches was the same was the general reaction. Bharat has a more than 5000 years old civilisational ethos and the key to that continuity is culture of celebrating diversity, was the common message. This very unity rooted in our cultural values forms the core of nationhood. No external aggressions could break this sense of being a one nation. More importantly, we cannot understand this inherent unity in diversity with Western prism of nation-state system was the clear point of agreement. The historian hidden in Dr Mukherjee’s persona that succinctly presented the entire gamut of our eternal journey of our national life was unfolded for the first time on a public platform. Whoever approaches this thousands of years history from Bharatiya point of view finds the threads of unbroken unity, was the second key takeaway of this function.
A bit subtle but more critical level, the State and Government machinery could be instrumental but ultimately the need to awaken the society for ensuring happiness was also underscored in this event. The righteous people have to come together and should work against all forms of violence and intolerance for protecting the cultural edifice of our nationhood. This feeling of working for the Motherland should be nurtured among common masses was the common call by both the eminent speakers.
Despite all attempts to malign and suppress the Bharatiya point of view of addressing the national challenges, the torchbearer of that viewpoint that is RSS has grown in length, breadth and depth. The social acceptance of this ‘natural self’ of Bharat further gets strengthened with presence and encouragement from experienced and scholarly public figure like Dr Mukherjee. His visit to Nagpur has certainly paved the way for regenerating the ‘eternal springs of our national life’ as mentioned by Sri Guruji Golwalkar.
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