NEW DELHI: Western media anchoring baseless and irrational assertions about the socio-political and cultural ecosystem of India is not a new phenomenon. The so-called elite media from the west relentlessly espouse targeted attacks on the social or cultural fabric of the country, without logical conclusions or solid evidence. The latest in this selective assault is the attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) and its selfless service to the civilisational cause of Bharat. The article titled, “From the Shadows to Power: How the Hindu Right Reshaped India” was published in the New York Times on December 26.
This article reflected the agenda of deliberately attacking the RSS to defame the organisation and mislead the world. The essence of the article was drifted away from the core principles of the Sangh, which is articulating selfless service for the country and its ancient civilisation. The article in the New York Times is intentionally etched with stereotypical terminologies, which is apparently contradicting to the work, service and ethics of the RSS. This article is authored by Mujib Mashal and Hari Kumar in the New York Times.
The article describes the RSS as a narrow, shadowy, secret organisation. It quotes the Sangh as a far-right secret society in line with the Nazis of Germany or the Fascist regime. It illogically exclaims that the RSS has infiltrated into the institutions of India, thus destroying the secular fabric of the country. However, the New York Times doesn’t articulate any evidence for these exclamations. The article clearly is a testament to selective forgetting and overlooking of the facts, as journalism of the western media is embedded with prejudice and selective appeasement of certain sections, rather than the journalism embedded with facts, transparency, credibility and research. The article sincerely attempts to fuel a left-liberal narrative in India and destroy the cultural or nationalist ethos.
The New York Times article deems the Hindu organisations as a criminal ecosystem with the hidden agenda and illicit motives. But, in reality, the organisation is working towards the revival of civilisation, rich cultural heritage and upliftment of livelihood for the masses in India, irrespective of caste, creed, race and religion. The article labels the RSS as a “far-right Hindu nationalist group”. But the fact is that the Western concept of far-right doesn’t exist in the Indian context. Another vital factor is that the RSS is not a political party or doesn’t affiliated to any political institutions. It is a voluntary service-based organisation striving for the well-being of the nation and its people. It is the people who have learnt, trained and inspired from the RSS, have established political institutions.
The article further quotes RSS as a “shadowy cabal” which has drawn inspiration from nationalist formula of the Fascist Parties in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. It also uses terms such as “secret society”, “paramilitary discipline”, “supremacy”, “infiltration of institutions” etc. referring to the Sangh. The deliberate usage of these terminologies in the New York Times article reflects a deep agenda. It aims to brand the RSS in a negative connotation, thereby seeking validation for the western hegemonic left-liberal ambitions.
RSS in reality, is neither fascist, nor a secret society, nor an infiltration attempt that is aiming to fulfill the hegemonic deeds. It is purely a voluntary and service-based organisation rooted in civilisational principles, which is devoid of any political campaigning or agenda. It is infact the largest volunateer movement of the country. For example, if a leader trained under the Sangh, ventures into politics he doesn’t operate as a secret agent of a secret organisation. Every Karyakartha proudly presents himself as the person associated, with the Sangh and renders public speeches. The personality, leadership quality, ethical values and the orientation of selfless service of an individual gets groomed in the Sangh.
The individuals associated with the Sangh don’t work as hidden agents. The conclaves, speeches and other activities of the Shakhas operate under public scanner in the public places. The work, principles and deeds of the RSS are outrightly spoken in public spaces and the awareness is created among the masses. Thus, terming RSS as a secret society, shadowy cabal, infiltration is totally a misplaced or inappropriate usage, when every work is undertaken under public scrutiny. Henceforth, the Sangh is a vibrant, living and growing service organisation even after a century of its establishments. In fact, many western organisations fail to live, work and validate themselves among the masses within a few years of establishment. But, the RSS is a household acronym for service and nationalism in the country as it observes a century of selfless service to the country and as it marches on with great zeal to serve and contribute more to the society and the country.
If an organisation is a “secret society”, as mentioned in the New York Times, it doesn’t operate the way the RSS works. The leaders don’t openly claim their association with that organisation. The members do not participate in its activities in public places. The RSS is instead a large, decentralised, structurally sound organisation. From grassroots to the national capital, the RSS and its work is most transparent, collective with the ultimate goal of serving the nation and its people.
The claim that RSS has infiltrated into institutions such as media, judiciary, business houses etc. is also a failed logic and assertion. Mere alignment or similarity towards the teachings of the Sangh or if there is an overlap in the thought process, that doesn’t translate to ideological infiltration. Ultimately, every stakeholder is striving for nationalistic cause and that doesn’t mean the infiltration of the RSS. Further, the New York Times is not able to provide any solid evidence for their vague assertions.
Meanwhile, the authors in the New York Times article further repeat the age-old dramatic claim that the RSS was behind the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. This kind of writing shows that the authors or the editorial team fails to look into the facts and judicial outcomes. The court decades ago, has debunked the association of the RSS with the assassination of Gandhi as a false claim, with no proper evidence. Infact, the RSS adopts and follows Gandhian principles such as Swadeshi, Satya, Swaraj etc.
The article also criticizes the humanitarian work conducted by the RSS as a tool of ideological control. Such assertions are utterly illogical and only reflect the fear, anxiety and helplessness of the western liberals as they are unable to surround India with their iron fist and fulfill their hegemonic ambitions. The humanitarian deeds done by the USAID or any other western non-governmental organisations is considered as charity, service and upliftment of the masses. However, if the same work is championed by the RSS then it is deemed as ideological infliction. Such acts are a clear testament to hypocrisy.
The selfless work of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its mission towards civilisational revival, cultural conservation, aspiration to carve a better society for the people of India, doesn’t need western approval or accreditation. The RSS has successfully withstood decades of backlash, crackdown, criticism. But no amount of external pressure or illicit influence has been able to derail its energy or momentum in serving the society or nation at large. The volunteers are the pillars of the Sangh. The goal of serving the motherland is the strength and spirit of the Sangh, that fuels the organisation to stand firmly and serve relentlessly. Instead, it does not rely on foreign funding or external validation who merely aspire to fulfill hegemony by manipulating the facts and funneling the myths.
