The word Hindu is not merely ‘religious’. It denotes a ‘people’ and their highest values of life. We, therefore, in our concept of nation, emphasise a few basic things: unqualified devotion to the motherland and our cultural ideals, pride in our history which is very ancient, respect for our great forefathers, and lastly, a determination in every one of us to build up a common life of prosperity and security. All this comes under the one caption: ‘Hindu Rashtra’. We are not concerned with an individual’s mode of worship”
— Sri Guruji Golwalkar, As quoted by P Parameswaran in his book SHRI GURUJI ON ‘HINDU VIEW OF LIFE’
T he Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is generally considered as a very media-shy organisation, mainly because of the conscious strategy of the Sangh to stay away from the media glare. With the growing organisational presence, rising expectations and increasing curiosity, the Sangh decided to present itself to the larger audience in the most comprehensive fashion through a three-day lecture series of the Sarsanghachalak on the Sangh vision of future Bharat, organised by the Delhi Prant of the organisation. Though Sangh has the tradition of organising many camps, talks and even public programmes, the interaction on key national issues with eminent intellectuals, artists, armed forces personnel, bureaucrats, scientists, politicians etc. was first of its kind. Beyond the media buzz, this lecture series will go down in history for many reasons.
Since national Independence, many myths were deliberately nurtured by the communist historians and some political leaders about the Sangh. The man-making exercise for nation-building was always projected as anti-someone. The idea of society-centric national reconstruction that has been a key feature of our nationhood since ancient times juxtaposed to the state-centric one brought by the British. The ideologies and mindsets nurtured in the Euro-centric prism would always perceive and project any effort to strengthen and organise the society as parochial and conservative. This lecture series busted the myths established by the flawed narrations and re-established the need for a resurgent society lucidly to the opinion makers. Such communication will certainly bring a new kind of energy to the process of national rejuvenation with greater participation.
Using the Sangh as a weapon to create divisions and fear among various sections of society has been the political ploy for decades. The constructive side of the organisation was conveyed and communicated with the narration since inception. Whether the national flag or national anthem, about women or scheduled castes, on Muslims or conversion etc. the Sangh cleared the air while stating the original position about Hindu, Hindutva and Hindu-Rashtra succinctly and uncompromisingly. The common cultural heritage, common ancestry and patriotism are the three fundamentals on which the philosophy of Hindutva is based, and as can be seen from the quotation of Sri Guruji, this has been the consistent stand of the Sangh. Now this will get more acceptability, and no fear-mongering against the Sangh for electoral politics can work. The clarity on policies, conviction about the philosophy and confidence generated through communication will eventually strengthen the bonds of unity.
There cannot be a more democratic way of starting the address with the proposition that ‘I am not here to convince you’ and concluding by saying that ‘do not believe anybody, not even what I am saying but come and experience yourself’. It was a genuine effort to convey and communicate. The clarion call of ‘not to remain inactive hereafter’ and join the national mission was more important and touching. Whether through Sangh or without it, realising our inherent strength and guiding the world through the unique ability of our culture that teaches us to celebrate diversity while accepting the inherent unity is perhaps the most profound message for all. Exactly, after 125 years of the message given by Swami Vivekananda in Chicago, almost in the same words but with the present context, the life mission of the Hindu nation is again articulated for all the citizens, and this is the biggest takeaway of this three-day lecture series. How and when to respond to this call is up to us.
@PrafullaKetkar
