I have heard and read a lot of criticism and ridicule about RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat ji’s comment about Hindus and Muslims sharing same DNA. It is, as if this is all he talked about and asked Muslims to join the mainstream. Does DNA define unity? No, it does not. Is it ridiculous to talk about DNA to invoke the spirit of unity, not again?

The Sarsanghchalak’s lecture lasted 35 minutes. It was on a platform of a Muslim organisation to release a book that wished to start a dialogue between Muslims and Hindus where many eminent Muslims leaders including ex-Vice Chief of Indian Army Lt Gen Zameeruddin Shah were present on stage. It was a stage for some kind of reconciliation between two largest communities in Bharat. As Dr Bhagwat pointed out in his opening remarks, he could make a fiery statement for instant popularity or he could try to find some common ground.

That we have common DNA cannot be wished away. This point is for those Muslims who wish to escape their ghettos created for them by their orthodox leadership. If self-hating Muslim extremists wish to disown this history it is their choice. The recent PEW research clearly points out the minorities of India have retained the core of civilisational values like respect and tolerance for the other point of view and beliefs like rebirth and karma, etc. It is this rooted population that RSS is trying to address. More than half of Hindus and Muslims do not believe in the concept of ‘heaven’ in the afterlife. Even brothers have common parents (DNA) but they fight. Whether the fight becomes irreconcilable or can be calmed by reminding them of their parentage — is an option that RSS has tried. It is upto the other side to accept it or try to break away and join some unknown Arabic backyard that doesn’t recognise them as its own.

As the Sarsanghchalak pointed out, he may use different words, but similar feelings were expressed by Shri Guruji, the most quoted and respected or past Sarsanghchalaks. While talking to an Iranian veteran journalist, Jeelani, he said, “When we talk of Indianisation, we don’t mean reconversion of Muslims and other minorities, it means they need to own up this land as motherland, own up their Bharatiya heritage and its great sons and daughters.” But, one must note that he encouraged ‘Ghar Wapsi’ and Vishwa Hindu Parishad and many other Hindu organisations have been doing it, even now under the present head of RSS. He did some plain-speaking about RSS phobia being fanned by most orthodox Muslim leadership. He did not dump the idea of Hindu Rashtra but added that it would not destroy their identity or religion. Way of worship can be different. He reminded them about loyalty to this land, common ancestry and history.

 

There have been varied reactions – from appreciation to alarm, to dismay, to ridicule to condescending conceited criticism by neo-Hindutva warriors and hateful outpourings of ‘secular’ groups that include for the purpose of this commentary, proponents of Islamism, Jihadism and liberalism who could be called Hinduphobic groups.

The ‘secular group’ is alarmed that if RSS’s olive branch is accepted even by a small section of Muslim population that is tired of sustained hateful outpourings of their self-styled guardians who wish to keep them in 6th Century where they can have no opinion and Maulanas can enjoy the fruits of monopoly of votes by keeping their flock in perennial fear of ‘Kafirs’, squeezing out their liberty and destroying their self-worth. That is why any Muslim or ‘Kafir’ daring to question the authenticity of Hadis and Sharia as the Prophet or Allah given edicts can be termed an ‘apostate’ with strict punishment. A person wishing to leave their oppressive control is fit to be killed with ‘sar tan se juda’ call.

The Sarsanghchalak’s sentence about ‘lynching’ is quoted repeatedly, forgetting that more Hindus have been lynched protecting cows than those smuggling and killing cows cruelly. More Hindus have been killed for daring to organise Hindus than any PFI of SIMI activist. Therefore, I would have been happy if violence against Gau Rakshaks and deliberate disrespect to Hindus for their love for cow had also pointed out to the Muslims listening to RSS chief when he talked about lynching. Lynching must be condemned in every form irrespective of the perpetrator and the victim. RSS chief has the moral authority to make people listen. But, his statement doesn’t detract from the invitation he has given to Muslims society to join the mainstream.

Many Sangh supporters are disappointed as most feel that it is a wasteful exercise that will not bear any fruit; that there was no need to offer of an olive branch when the other side is hell bent upon fulfilling its objective of Nizam-e-Mustafa and Dar-ul-Islam. They are not ready to keep the door ajar for the small group of Muslims who wish to break free. We forget that the person who has offered this hand of friendship, and thousands of his colleagues since 96 years have dedicated their lives are aware of this reality. One can be sure that they have not lowered their guards. It is not Prithviraj syndrome but Shivaji syndrome that inspired this speech was made.

We have neo-Hindutva proponents who are riding on the Hindutva wave created with a meditative effort of nearly a 96 years by RSS that understands the psyche of Hindu society with years of work on the ground much better than the new hard core ‘militants’. There is no doubt that this aggressive approach too has a place, and it has always been there. They can try to create a militarized Hindus society as Savarkar ji tried. However, the current lot, unlike Veer Savarkar have not, as yet, faced violence on the field and stood firm, like RSS has. RSS has channelised this aggression into assertive Hindutva and created an atmosphere for Hinduness that pervades Bharat today; except in the air conditioned sealed confines of intellectual elite or wokes. Ultra-Hindutva proponents must dissect and present counterviews but they need to imbibe Hindu tradition of logical, calm discussion and debate and not insult or ridicule others with similar thinking but a slightly different world view.

People make us believe that RSS has turned Gandhian. There is a difference between Gandhian olive branch and what Mohan ji Bhagwat has said. Gandhi ji never confronted aggressive violent Islamists.It was political surrender from the word go as soon as he became the unchallengeable leader of Congress in 1920. He chose to use highly violent ‘Islam first’ Khilafat agitation to launch his first major movement of ‘non-cooperation’. He condoned every violence and abuse by Jihadi elements though they never hid their intent. This is not the place to quote what Gandhi ji and Nehru ji did and said during those turbulent times. But, one can say that physical idea of Pakistan took shape in these fateful years.

RSS from its birth, stood firm and responded to goons trying to harass Hindus and push their jihadi agenda in later years in kind where required, even at a huge cost. Not many people know how Dr Hedgewar responded with just 100 RSS swayamsevaks in uniform with tactical use of its sparse resources in such a way in 1927 that Nagpur never saw a riot to this day. RSS braves sacrificed their lives, their livelihood, got separated from their families to save lakhs of Hindus and Sikhs in 1947. RSS swayamsevaks paid with their lives to keep off Pakistan in 1947-48. Its supporters fought against separatist politicians and stood against Islamist separatists for decades to get Jammu and Kashmir integrated India and won the prolonged war. That is why the hue and cry of ban on RSS rose from the Muslim League and newspaper backing it, prior to Pakistan formation. The first one to welcome ban on RSS in 1948 was Muslim League in Pakistan.

RSS workers paid with their lives to stop relentless run of Church-backed separatists in north east. They have borne the brunt of Jihadism and Church inspired separatism in various parts of Bharat in so-called ‘sensitive’ areas. (By the way, has anybody ever questioned why dominant areas of minority become sensitive but never the Hindu dominant areas?)

This is the reason that Islamists are afraid of RSS. They know that jihad will have to face the iron will of RSS. However, we can’t deny that there is a growing section of Muslims wishing to break away from this stranglehold of ‘secular groups’. This olive branch is for those sections. This offer of welcoming the saner elements is from a position of strength, and full understanding of the aggressive and violent nature of Islamists. It doesn’t arise of appeasement. The ‘secular groups’ crying foul about RSS extending a friendly hand know that RSS will not compromise when it comes to national interest and Hindu interest. This fear of a strong organised Hindu society is good sign.

We all know that India will remain secular only till Hindus dominate the polity and social life. It is a self-evident truth. One has to just look around the neighbourhood, or in current scenario the situation in UK and Europe; and efforts of Islamists in Canada to occupy streets for no reason at all, except showing the middle finger to the country that gave them shelter and livelihood. RSS has not forgotten lessons of history. Nor is it going to lose sleep if Muslims don’t respond to this call for a better life together. It is for saner elements in Muslims community to accept this offer, move out of victimhood syndrome and enjoy life in India in peace.

Some people do not wish to judge RSS on its history but wish to see the lecture in isolation. Fact remains, history defines the present and the future. You cannot slice out one small part of an organically grown organisation and judge it. It is an initiative that might fail. Should the fear of failure stop a highly conscious and uncompromising organisation from trying? I think not.