There are ways to silence and push into a corner an opponent. You can vilify, frame, abuse or discredit him or her. You can try and delegitimise or caricature someone to reflect your antipathy or sheer opposition to him or her.
If the opponent is an organisation with irrefutable and unassailable standing, then go after its boss. This is how Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat has been targeted.
In the brilliant movie ‘The Taj Story’ directed by Tushar Amrish Goel,Paresh Rawal who plays the lead role of Vishnu Das talks about ‘intellectual terrorism’ of obnoxious variety that distorts Bharat’s history, ethos and teachings.
While trying to frame RSS and Bhagwat, perhaps this strategy was operationalised big time in the Western landscape of US, Canada and United Kingdom by usual ‘intellectual terrorists.’
Such characters who claim to be intellectuals were branded as ‘dimagi naxals’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 80-th Independence Day address from ramparts of Red Fort. Though, Modi spoke of those with Naxal or Left extreme mindset with conviction to annihilate opponents in Indian context, such elements have been active and extreme even in Western theatre.
When RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat touches down in New York today, the noise seeking ban on RSS is bound to hit the stratosphere.
A handful of Left extremists and radical Islamists have been on rampaging spree across social media with their ‘intolerance’ and demand to prevent RSS Sarsanghchalak from participating as keynote speaker at an inter-faith conference of over 6000 US residents in Madison Square Garden on this Saturday.
Over 200 organisations have come together to hold this ‘Universal Oneness’ conference to send out a message of interconnectedness under aegis of Ahead (American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue) Forum.
This civilizational dialogue in US will feature multi-faith leaders to promote spirituality, peace, engagement at societal level in the backdrop of conflicts and wars waging in West Asia and Eastern Europe.
Scores of civic leaders, representatives of public institutions, community and interfaith organizations representatives apart from huge Hindu community in United States is expected to converge at ‘universal oneness’ conference.
Such gatherings are scheduled to happen in both Toronto and London during next fortnight as RSS Sarsanghchalak criss-crosses Canada and United Kingdom to spread the message of community service, environment friendly lifestyles, civic engagement, family systems, sustainable development alternatives and above all ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ that denotes entire world as one big happy family.
One is reminded of the historic Parliament of Religions held in Chicago, Illinois on September 11, 1893 where Swami Vivekananda had taken stage with the message of universal oneness and introduced Hindutva or Hinduness as a way of life seeped in tolerance, inclusiveness and universal acceptance.
Harmony amongst people pursuing different faiths was the core of Swami Vivekananda’s message then. And, today its no different. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat goes there with message of ‘universal oneness’ for peace and prosperity of global communities. Rooted in respect and harmony, this dialogue of faith leaders is expected to open a big dialogue on global stage.
In recent years, His holiness Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King Jr to Pope Francis have pushed for ‘global togetherness’ for communities around the world to prosper against backdrop of conflicts, disease, backwardness, illiteracy, limited access to resources or excessive consumerism having destabilizing effect on humanity.
Amidst the good, bad and the ugly campaigns happening around the world, RSS Sarsanghchalak would take positive message of peace from Bharat, present the RSS related facts, selfless service done in 100-years and clear misconceptions on Hindutva and Bharat. A forward looking statement on what next going forward is again a big possibility.
While diaspora engagement, meetings with business persons and prominent Indian origin people are scheduled in New York, Bhagwat would meet top Sikh community leaders in Toronto and London.
Canada leg of Dr Bhagwat’s trip in particular is significant given calls by Khalistani extremists mounting an aggressive anti-Hindu campaign.
While most Sikh leaders, businessmen, community and public representatives have dissociated from Khalistani narratives against Bhagwat and RSS, Islamist radicals (not many Muslims) propelled by Pakistan’s dirty tricks department seems to have supported the campaign.
In both London and Toronto apart from New York, Hindu diaspora dialogue, different stakeholders’ meetings would mark RSS Sarsanghchalak’s visit to Western world. Dr Bhagwat’s visit would be in continuation of the civilizational dialogue that RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale initiated earlier this year as part of the centennial thrust.
Creating a market place for goods, services with production and consumption at the core has been central to Western concept of globalisation.
With the message of universal oneness, spiritual oneness and sanatan dharmic values, Dr Bhagwat would pursue his own view of globalization once initiated by the Hindu faith leaders like Swami Vivekananda. Taking global interconnectedness beyond technology and economic spread is something central to RSS Sarsanghchalak’s visit to three top western countries.
Let’s hear him out!
