Secrets of RSS

Response to Amulya Ganguli's myth making in DNA dated 1-2-2012

2012-02-03T20:23:00.000-08:00

With all due respect to a senior journalist like Amulya Ganguli, I wish to submit that his understanding of History and Culture seems to be limited to what British taught us. He refuses to go beyond what he understood eons back as unabashed fan of Nehru and western view of history. He starts with the premise that India was born in 1947 and it had no traditions or heritage before this. He gives credit to Nehru and Gandhi for inculcating 'secular' values into Indian citizens thus saving India from disintegration. I think, after 6 decades of independence, we need to come out of shadows of Nehru and Gandhi and appraise them dispassionately. India has more than 5000 years of history and culture and it has never been a theocratic state, nor were there kingdoms that persecuted people from other faiths. There would have been debates and even skirmishes (as secular crowd is wont to declaim) but never persecution or holocaust against any community. Syrian Christians, Jews, Parsis and even minority sects within Islam have taken refuge under full protection of the kings of those times. They survived and thrived in India. Even a senior (so far certified secular) journalist M J Akbar says that India is secular because of Hindus.The extremist thought that you are either a believer or a 'kafir' or non-believer who must be converted banished, is a offspring of Abrahamic or semetic religions. Thus, the credit goes to ancient Indian (if you are afraid of using the word 'Hindu') for secular ethos of India and not to Nehru and Gandhi. Though, I have huge respect for Gandhi, I cannot overlook the fact that Gandhi who fasted at the drop of a topi (as Amulya has noted), failed to go on fast to oppose partition of India, though he had said 'partition will happen over my dead body'. Thus, he failed Indians at the most critical juncture. Secularism that Nehru bequeathed India was an irreligious political tool that has been exploited by his inheritors to become a policy of splitting the Indian society into endless religious/caste/clan parts. If his secularism were the reason for saving India, you would have seen happy scenario in Kashmir and North East. Bitter truth is that whichever part of India is dominated of non-India based faiths, separates from India or tries to separate from India. Secular policies of inheritors of Nehru legacy have not been able to save Kashmiri Hindus or Manipuris who face endless blockades. Central government simply turns a blind eye to such issues. Let us stop myth making and own up our home made legacy.

Indigenious historians of Bharat

2011-10-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

It is generally suggested that Indians do not have a sense of history and its documentation. The history taught to us is written generally by British or adopted from them and regurgitated by Indian historians in different forms depending upon their political inclinations. Very few historians have gone back to cross check this history from indigenous sources available in India. History as reflected by Puranas, Mahabharat, Ramayan is treated as total myth. Inspite of growing body of evidence from different sources and new scientific proofs, our so called historians with leftist leaning have kept their heads buried in sands of ignorance or limited knowledge and refused to consider such evidence. I am not sure, if our historians have ever referred to indigenous historians who have been keeping documentary evidence of normal individuals and kings.

I am talking of Bhatts, Yagniks and others of this ilk, who have been documenting lives and times of Indians from times immemorial. You would have seen them or visited them when you went to pilgrim centres like Haridwar, Martand (in Kashmir), Trimbakeshwar etc. You would have been thrilled to go through their past ‘bahis’ (hand written registers) to note that your great grand father, or grand mother had visited that place, seen their signatures and also noted the family tree that is available within those pages with mention of various brothers, sisters, uncles and grand uncles etc. Though, it would not generally occur to you or to any of us that this custom of unique Indian way of recording history could be a treasure trove of Indian history. Thus, to say that there has been no tradition of written history in India is only partially true. Yes, this history was documented from the eyes of individuals, families and kings etc. by historians appointed by society through tradition and it was not supported or sponsored by institutions as was the case in West which is a young civilization as compared to India.

For those amongst us, who were too impatient to visit his family ‘pandaa’ or ‘purohit’ and waste his/her time, I would suggest that you must visit them and see these records. The immaculate indexing and painstaking details of the families of their ‘yajmaans’ or hosts would surprise you and may take you through an emotional journey. They contain history of your family and other Indian individuals over hundreds, nay thousands of years, in a traditional manner. These ‘bahis’ are goldmines of information about families and thus the society that can easily be used to document history of any period or cross check dates and events as noted by widely accepted historians through their books and research notes. However, this idea has never hit the modern day west oriented historians.

These are the historians who have brought us a wealth of information about dates and events as appearing in Puranas, Mahabharat and Ramayan etc. These holy books mention complete family trees from earliest times to that person’s mention in these books. These dates can be corroborated through their own hand written books that track family trees through ages.

It is interesting that the social scientists of our ancient societies created a separate group of documentation experts who would chronicle the events and pilgrimages etc. of different families, and keep scientifically indexed records. When performing ‘yagnas’ was a common practice, the priests performing these ‘yajnas’, called ‘yagniks’ would also document the history of each family. Thus, ‘yagna’ were made mandatory for all families and different ‘yagniks’ were appointed for different group of families. Some of these ‘yagniks’ were later also called ‘jaage’ or in case of those documenting a king’s history were called ‘chaarans’. Others in this profession were variously named ‘Bharhmabhatt, Rao, Badwa, Rawal etc. Groups that did similar work at different pilgrim centres were, and are still, ‘teerth purohits’ or ‘pandaas’( a shorter form of ‘pandit’). In Gujarat they are called ‘gor’.

Many readers will recall that when they go to a pilgrim centre like Haridwar, they are asked about their ‘native place’ or ‘gaon’ in Hindi. Based on your region and native place, you are directed to a particular ‘pandaa’. Interestingly these ‘purohits’ are assigned to villages or regions and division is not based on caste, as one might presume. These ‘purohits’ or ‘pandaas’ also act as hosts to their ‘yajmaans’ when they visit a pilgrimage centre. The tradition of ‘chattis’, resting places on way to tough pilgrimages like Badrinath, Kedarnath were also sponsored by these people.

Ex- Governor of M.P., Shri Mahmood Ali Khan, himself, traced his ancestry to some hoary ancestors and also how he got converted to Muslim religion some 25 generations back when his forefather married into a Muslim family. Records also show that forefathers of Nepal and Shivaji came from Mewar. Historians of Sisodia clan have documentary proofs of this. Mr. Raghuvir Singh (ex-King of Sirohi) notes that during a dispute over a temple priest, the priests produced 5000 year old records!

These ancient records with these indigenous historians also show the ancestry of other Muslims and in which generation they became Muslims. E.g. records show that Mewat Muslims are branch of Meena people. In some places these books carry writings in Arabic, apart from Devnagari script. Thus, many Indian Muslims trace back their lineage with pride to their Hindu ancestors. Thus, these indigenous historians can go a long way in smoothening the relations between Hindus and Muslims by providing them documentary proof about their common ancestry and heritage. It is heartening to note that Moulana Wahiduddin has reaffirmed that ancestors of 95% of Indian Muslims are indeed Hindus, during his speech in a recent national level conference of Muslims who believe in Sufi Islamic traditions rooted in India.

There are different systems of maintaining family trees. In Rajasthan, these indigenous historians are now localized in a few villages. Because of paucity of space, I cannot get into more details. Those interested in this subject, can get in touch with an organization called ‘Vanshavali Sanrakshan evam Samvardhan Sansthaan’ (email:vsssjaipur@gmail.com) for more information about this history documentation system rooted in Indian tradition.

It is tragic that historians peddling second hand knowledge about history imparted by Western historians, particularly by British who had their own partisan agenda, are leading a comfortable life ensconced in big universities and institutions patronized by government of India. But, the historians who have preserved and nurtured genuine documented Indian history are a neglected lot leading a life of penury if not abject poverty. These indigenous historians are not peddling any myths or voodoo traditions. They are carrying rich Indian legacy with them. Government needs to encourage and support them or else it won’t be long when their off-springs will give up this profession and trudge to urban centres to eke out a better living.

Saving India from Anna and saving Anna from RSS

2011-10-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

The Secular Samurai Digvijay Singh would have surely won the black belt of order of ‘Saviours of Secularism in India’, if there ever were such a championship. I don’t think, any right thinking secular citizen of India or the liberal intellectuals would have any doubts about his relentless fight to save this country from communal forces. Now, Diggy Raja has enormous responsibility that would stump any lesser mortal.

How to save the Nation from an anarchist like Anna Hazare, and more importantly, save this confused Anna Hazare from RSS? This is the problem that Diggy Raja seems to be grappling with.

Anna has roused young citizens of this nation as none could for decades, after Jai Prakash Narayan’s movement that led to clamp down democracy by Congress party. If Congress could, he would have advised it to impose Emergency, bulldoze the followers of Anna, arrest them, beat them (though, one must appreciate that they did try this) and somehow save India from Anna. But unfortunately, 2011 is not 1975. Janata Party government that came to power post 1975-77 foreclosed the option of a quasi police-state like emergency with constitutional amendment.

So, what should Secular Samurai do? Create FUD, and split the enemy ranks. FUD in our information technology world is acronym for Fear Uncertainty Doubt. In a more coarse language it could also be termed divide and rule. Create fear about his anarchic ways in the minds of populace, create uncertainty about his principles, his thoughts, his followers and the outcome of this agitation, create doubt about integrity and thinking of his team members. Throw mud at them. The samurai has done all this. Unfortunately, some weak links exposed the secular Trojan Agnivesh and he was thrown out. He has gone to the extent of advising him to stay away from harmful elements as if Anna was a confused innocent boy among wolves like Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi etc. Digvijay Singh has tried all these in different measures, but Anna has refused to bite his baits. His party has used other arms of law to browbeat the leaders of the movement but so far that trick has also not worked. Now, Secular Samurai is a worried person. Even his party members are not very supportive. So, how to save India from possible anarchy of Anna? No solution is in sight so far.

Before, he could put Anna in place, he has got the wind of RSS ‘conspiracy’ of supporting Anna’s movement. Now, this is too sinister! What right does a ‘communal’ organization has, to take part in a mainstream social movement? It was branded by Nehru and his comrades as untouchables sixty years back. RSS never understood the Congress game and went on extending olive branch of brotherhood to Congress leaders and keep working for social good silently. It even took part in Republic Day parade of 1963 on invitation from the same Mr. Nehru. It never forcefully countered falsehood perpetrated by secular comrades.

How does it matter that RSS has been at the forefront of national defence and security since the nation’s inception? How does it matter that hundreds of its volunteers lost their lives, limbs, business, and families while trying to protect refugees from newly formed Pakistan and saving Kashmir from first attack of Pakistani intruders in 1948? How does it matter that its volunteers are the first ones to reach any site where a calamity has stuck, risking their lives and limbs in the process? How does it matter that all the commissions of enquiry exonerated RSS of conspiracy to murder Mahatma Gandhi? How does it matter that RSS has not been named in a single case of communal riots in its existence by any commission of enquiry? How does it matter that beneficiaries of thousands of social service projects run by RSS and its associates benefit all sections of the society inclusively, including Muslims and Christians? The game is the same that was played by Goebbels - Keep repeating untruth and it will start sounding the truth. So, even if a Sanjay Joshi sends a mail supporting Anna Hazare, Anna becomes a culprit by association!

Today’s newspaper reports now suggest that Anna Hazare seems to have fallen prey to negative propaganda against RSS. So, he keeps repeating that he has nothing to do with RSS. This is fine because he has actually nothing to do with RSS. But, he doesn’t have moral courage to add that he doesn’t see anything wrong if RSS volunteers support and strengthen his movement.

The same Anna had no problems in removing images of Bharatmata from stage when accused of using RSS image of Bharatmata. I don’t understand how RSS can claim patent over image of Bharatmata that was invoked by immortal song of independence struggle ‘Vande Mataram’? That even Vande Mataram is an anathema to the Secular Samurai as it hurts his Mullah supporters, is another matter. Anna can invite Trojans like Agnivesh, or Leftists of all hues to his stage, but he cannot talk to RSS people! He can remove images of Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries from stage. He can let ‘out-of-topics-for-agitation’ Medha Patkar hog the stage though she was never a part of anti-corruption agitation for months when it began. But, he must stay scrupulously away from RSS and its associates! Unwittingly, he has played into the hands of the Secular Samurai for once. So, it seems secular lobby has saved Anna from RSS atleast for the present. This kind of negative response will alienate a large number of natural supporters of Anti-corruption movement.

I suggest that Anna take a leaf out of Late Shri Jai Prakash Narain, who had the courage of conviction and openly accepted that he had misunderstood RSS earlier. He worked with RSS and leaders like Nanaji Deshmukh in 1975 that saw uprooting of dictatorship imposed by Congress.

Unfortunately for Anna, RSS and its volunteers are not in national movement of reconstruction of India for name or fame. They have worked silently and relentlessly without any publicity or credit hogging for decades. So, if they support Anna, they are doing it for nation’s good and not to receive any award or recognition from Anna or his team. Participation of selfless citizens – RSS or non-RSS types assures the success of anti-corruption movement. Now it has taken its own momentum. More Congress leaders of Digvijay Singh’s ilk try to discredit the movement, more they expose themselves. If Anna really wishes to stop Digvijay Singh’s hit and run games, he should simply say openly that all good meaning citizens of India are welcome to support the anti-corruption movement, and stop responding to his daily pin-pricks.

Thus, question of RSS and Anna’s relationship will become irrelevant and Nation can be saved by Anna from the looters of different hues that control levers of power today.

Ratan Sharda

Beyond Dussera images - the Spirit of Unity

2011-10-09T23:16:00.000-07:00

·I was watching almost all the TV Channels broadcasting images of burning of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanaad on the evening of Dussera, as Vijayaadashami is popularly known. There were also vignettes of puja and farewell of Goddess Durga in different parts of India.

The TV presenters make routine cliché comments like victory of goodness over evil etc. etc. They also showcase the festival of Durga puja as a separate festival of Bengalese, Navratri garba of Gujaratis, rush of pilgrimage to Goddess Vaishnodevi and other temples of her different forms all over India; and other manifestation of Goddess that represents power of the nature, elevation of woman power to the highest spiritual levels.

It is not possible that no commentator has the intelligence to see through different manifestations of the common thread of unified spirit of Hindus across length and breadth of India i.e. Bharat running through these various forms of celebrations. Possibly, they shy away from bringing it out for the fear of being labeled a Hindutva fellow travelers or a ‘communal’ person. Many of us may also be overlooking this spirit of unity in the colourful diversity of Hinduness of this nation. So, I thought of bringing out the thread of unity of this great nation even as people with divisive agenda are trying to break it apart in the guise of secularism and modernism.

Vijayaadashami is not just the day of burning effigy of Ravana. Yes, it does remind us that howsoever powerful and scholarly a person may be, he loses all his virtues if he follows the path of evil and is fit to be slayed. It reminds us that a person associated with such evil forces is equally damned, like Kumbhakarna and Meghanaad are. Dussera, as we all know, is a distorted word of ‘Dashhara’ – i.e. defeat of the ten headed, i.e. Ravana. This lesson is perennial, and as relevant today as it was thousands years’ back.

Vijayaadashami is also the day that is celebrated with worship of weapons, tools of livelihood by millions of citizens of India in all corners of India. It is celebration of valour. Mysore Dussera is famous all over the world. In Maharashtra there is a custom of ‘seemolanghan - transgressing one’s borders’. Again, a custom that fosters and celebrates valour with people from one village crossing the borders of neighbouring village and having friendly fights. There is another custom that celebrates love, brotherhood and respect. People exchange a leaf named ‘sona’ i.e. gold that is shaped like a heart with their friends and elders.

It is interesting is that this day is the culmination of nine days of spiritual practices and religious rituals in the period of preceding pious nine days, called Navaratri. The common thread is celebration of power of almighty Mother Nature – mother of all creation who nurtures her children well, symbolized as Mother Durga who slays evil forces and blesses her children. She has fearsome powers but she also showers unconditional love on her offsprings. Though, celebrated in different styles based on local customs, message and submission to Mother Goddess is of the same nature. People fast in entire North during these nine days. People in Gujarat celebrate with devotional music and dance. People in Bengal celebrate it in most warm way and it the biggest festival of Bengalese, wherever they may stay in the world. Ramlila i.e. the heavenly play of God Ram is played in North showcased as a play based on Ramayan and Ram Charitmaanas. In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka people celebrate these nine days as ‘Golu’, wherein women dress of Goddess in fancy attires and visit each others’ homes and foster brotherhood.

There are possibly more ways these pious nine days or Navraatri culminating in Vijayaadashami are celebrated around India. I would welcome my friends to share them with other readers. Let us celebrate the spirit of Unity of India i.e. Bharat. Let us rise above petty politics and petty thoughts. Only then can we destroy the evils that bedevil this great nation.

After intoxicating euphoria over Anna – the hang over?

2011-08-22T02:43:00.001-07:00

Current mass agitation reminds one of fight against emergency and subsequent election that saw mass upsurge on an unimaginable scale. Time has changed and so have tools of mobilization, human beings remain same. What are the lessons that we can draw from the second war of independence (for democracy in 1975-77) to see that this third war of independence spearheaded by Anna doesn’t peter out?

After intoxicating euphoria over Anna – the hang over?

I have not written for some days now. The fascinating historical moment, and inspiring moments around us, along with inexplicable idiotic behaviour of ruling party, perhaps born out of arrogance of natural party of governance was so spell binding that writing on such a fluid scenario seemed too presumptuous.

Then, a friend asked me today, after Anna begins his fast in Ramlila Maidan? What will happen once these 15 days of protests? I mumbled something as a great optimist for Bharat’s future. Honestly, this question has rankled me. Today, my wife asked me the same question. So, here I am, trying to look for an answer.

To begin with, let me put this current movement in the right perspective so that we can learn something from our past mistakes. This is the third war of independence and not second as the copy writers of Anti-corruption struggle have called it.

The second war of independence was fought in 1975-77 when grandmother of the current yuvraj imposed draconian Emergency that had stifled our democracy to the extent that it would have died but for intrepid struggle put up by our generation at that time. It was a tougher struggle as there was no social media network, no electronic media; and print media was all but bludgeoned to submission. Thus, fight was highly one sided. Nearly one lac people were put behind bars. The movement was supported by Socialist groups, RSS, Sarvoday (founded by Gandhiji and run by Gandhians) and all the opposition parties, sans Communists. Communists had supported Emergency to the hilt. Lest we forget our lessons, Communists had supported Chinese during 1962 war and also supported British against Independence movement till Russia, their mai-baap, shifted allegiance and joined Allied forces when attacked by Hitler. They had supported creation of Pakistan too. May I remind readers that even today, there is a strong leftists ‘civil society’ group, populating NAC type organizations, that is opposing Anna led anti-corruption movement. Listen between the lines on TV shows or read Shabnam Hashmi’s recent statement.

Coming back to the original narrative, once elections were declared people started coming out slowly against the almighty Indira Gandhi and soon there was an avalanche of support for democratic movement that none of us struggling for 18 months could even imagine. The same euphoria, the same spirit, the same unimaginable ground swell! This support was not so easily discernible till the election results came as there was no social media or electronic media. Thus, second war of independence restored democracy for good. One must credit the then Janata Party government for dismantling the dreaded anti-democratic apparatus so well through constitutional amendment that it is not possible for any government to destroy it now, whatever its intentions.

Our lessons lay in what happened during the time of second struggle and after the elections were over. Permit me to summarize the major points –

1. The movement was sustained and run over a trying period of 18 months because it was backed by well organized groups and organizations.

2. Politicians were not discredited so badly that they were shooed away from this movement. Infact, they provided intellectual and strategic leadership.

3. There was Jai Prakash, as we have Anna Hazare now. When I see and listen to Anna, I feel he is more like JP rather than Gandhiji, with whom the pop lore of media and publicists are comparing him. Both are products of grass-root movement, both have proven their vision of grass-root democracy that doesn’t depend on party politics.

4. There was no Civil Society movement at that time. The term had not been coined till then. But, it was backed by various non-political organizations and voluntary organizations and youth with no ambitions for political power.

5. On the negative –

a. Political leaders of the time sidelined JP like Congress had done with Gandhi ji.

b. Petty politics of naked political ambitions, where every leader wanted to become the PM, killed the idealistic anti-corruption movement. Just to remind today’s generation, emergency was imposed to quell anti-corruption movement that JP had led through Navnirman agitation that was snow balling into a major problem for ruling clique of Indira Gandhi and her band of courtiers. The statements of today’s courtiers give me sense of déjà vu actually!

c. People who had given their all for fight against corruption either went home, believing their leaders will do the needful then onwards or joined politics (like Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad, Sushilkumar Modi et al) Samagra Kranti movement of youth, the Civil society group of that time, died down slowly. Idealism died with it.

Thus, people amongst us from that generation who suffered heavily in their careers, business etc. carry a cross of wasted efforts. Let us not fall into such a trap this time and learn from history.

The lessons to my mind are –

· Such struggle needs to be sustained to bear the fruits.

· It needs to be backed and run by a proper organization and people with long term vision and goals.

· No section of the society or no organization can be considered untouchable, including politicians. Were it not for backbone of RSS, the anti-emergency movement would have collapsed. (70000 out of the 1 lac arrested were from RSS and allied organization). Not all politicians are bad; nor are all civil society leaders bereft of personal ambitions. Holier than though attitude will not help.

· Politicians can be made a part of such movements on condition that they have proved their probity in public life and they pledge to be transparent in future in public life. After all, ultimately, the laws are to be made and operationalized by these people, not you and me who will go back to their regular lives.

· This is a struggle which is more for Bharat than urban India alone. This Bharat suffers more than us due to corruption. This is the reason, Baba Ramdev had more supporters from villages and muffosil towns than cities. So, let not media trivialize this anti-corruption move as an elitist or urban middle class phenomenon. Our roots are still in Bharat, that is why we have fallen in love with Anna Hazare, and not media savvy TV room civil activists.

· Lokpal is only a beginning and not a cure all solution. The civil society movements must provide a clear road-map to its supporters about what else needs to be done and give a long term road-map so activists have a sense of mission.

· As a part of this movement, can we resolve to stick to rules something that is in our hands (like Sarvodaya volunteers of yesteryears did), and try to avoid paying bribes or indulging in corruption (which is not always in our hands) - ‘as far as possible’?

· Rather than shun politics, join politics. See to it that you don’t change as years go by but force the political party to stick to what it started out with or change it!

It is said time and again - if we don’t learn from history, history repeats itself, first as a tragedy then as a farce. This is the reason I have underlined the facts and lessons of second freedom struggle so the third freedom struggle doesn’t go down as another one- time spring.

A Patently Communal Bill

2011-07-25T06:08:00.000-07:00

Now, that Maulana Diggy Khan, favoured durbari of Rajmata Sonia, has managed to divert the political discourse from Terrorism to Communalism, let me take advantage of this diversion and bring up the next sinister plot hatched by the kitchen cabinet of UPA2 messing up Indian polity under the garb of NAC; the official civil society backed by Madame, not to be confused the upstart civil society currently led by Anna.

It is professed to be a bill that is supposed to off-set the bias of official machinery and communal society (i.e. Hindus) against Minorities (mainly Muslims), in the words of the oracle of NAC, Mr. Harsh Mander. It is ready to be tabled in Parliament very shortly. Mr. Mander is obviously still smarting under the kick of the presiding deity of Communalism Mr. Narendra Modi and has authored a bill with the help Goddess of Secular heavily tinted rule of law, Ms. Teesta Seetalvad. This is the lady who has been exposed by her hapless victims for tutoring them and exposing them to charges of perjury. May I point out that the original draft of this outrageously communal bill was first floated in her magazine ‘Communal combat’ even before it was brought up by NAC. Thus, the intention of the bill is clear. The curse of secular jholawalas to ‘punish’ Mr. Modi for banishing them from Gujarat and exposing their ‘secular games’ in the name of fighting ‘majority communalism’ with ‘minority communalism’ in the garb of ‘secularism’. “If we couldn’t remove him democratically, we shall get him through unelected body’s (NAC) conspiracy”, seems to be the mood, all seemingly impartial arguments on TV panels notwithstanding.

A number of articles have appeared in the press, debates taken place on TV so readers are faintly aware of the contours of the bill. I will try to put the major points in a layman language. An insidious further division of the population at every level is sought in the name of ‘dominant’ groups and ‘others – minorities, dalits etc.’ who are assumed to be ‘targeted’ by ‘dominant’ group. No prize for guessing the dominant community and minority community.

With this presumption, in case of any communal disturbance or any kind, onus will be on the administration – police, state government to take action against ‘dominant group’. It is also assumed that incitement with hate speech or any other action would come from dominant group, namely, majority community of a state; ‘minority’ i.e. less than 50% of a state’s population being seen as lambs too scared to instigate any communal disturbance. In such a scenario, a police officer or DM is supposed to take action on his/her own whether the executive i.e. state government has asked him/her to take a certain line of action or not to quell such a disturbance or riots.

In its wisdom, secularists have assumed that the ‘communal’ governments (labeled so because they are opposed to Congress brand of perverse secularism) will not act promptly or mess up a communally explosive situation. In that case a ‘supra-constitutional authority’ to be nominated by this same ‘secular’ government under the new proposed law will decide whether to dismiss that state government, bypassing Article 356 that would leave some leeway if challenged in court of law by a hapless state government. The same authority can also take action against any officer and administrator.

I am appalled at the obverse logic of this group in creating such a bill that is going to tear the very fabric of communal harmony to whatever extent it has still survived rather than strengthening it. It is a bill that talks of unlimited accountability of executive, police, administration; and being brought in by a government headed by a PM, whose constant refrain is ‘I didn’t know’, or ‘meri kaun suntaa hai – after all it is a coalition, so I am helpless!’

These people have refused to see the history of communal violence since independence, or even pre-independence. Reports of all the commissions and courts of enquiries established since independence point out that 98-99% of communal disturbances have been sparked by so called ‘minority’ communities. These minorities have suffered in the later aftermath of retaliation by ‘majority’ community. Even Gujarat riots were triggered by Godhra train burning incident,that is sought to be hidden behind margins by dismissing this as ‘post-Godhra’ riots. So, this definition of ‘dominant’ and ‘targeted communities’ is not a labeling done by ignorant people but people who are witness to the recent history of India.

Going by the standards of state wise minority/majority measure, have Hindus who are in minority in states like J&K, Nagaland etc. received justice when they have been persecuted by ‘dominant’ groups there? Have they got facilities that other ‘minority’ groups have got in other states like Kerala or Maharashtra etc.? Will 2-3% difference between Hindus and Sikhs, make Sikhs ‘dominant’ group and open to abuse of law for ‘targetting’ Hindus? So, what is the great idea?

Now, let us recall just some recent incidences where ‘majority’ or ‘dominant’ community is at the receiving end from ‘targeted minority’ community. Deganga disturbances in West Bengal last year where Muslims created havoc to stop Durga puja by Hindus, where Hindus never got and the case was simply buried by media and state government. The riots were allegedly led by a Trinamul Congress MP run by the high priestess of secularism, Ms. Mamata Banerjee. A decades old temple was demolished in Chennai (capital city of Tamil Nadu) a few months back without any recourse to justice by one of the most dedicated secular government of DMK. The whole state of Manipur is suffering a blockade for months from Nagaland extremist terrorists. Central government is keeping quiet, media is keeping quiet. What about ‘minority’ Christian groups under threat of ‘love jihad’ from another ‘minority’ group? All such incidences are swept under the dirty secular carpet in the name of secularism! Who will give justice to such victims of perverse secularism under this bill? Then, there are areas within a state where a so called ‘majority’ community is in ‘minority’ as illustrated above? What happens to the ‘targeted community’ there? I could recount many such examples. Idea is not to open a litany of sob stories but to point out injustice meted out to so called ‘dominant’ groups in states where they are professedly in ‘majority’. Where is this sense of balance in this Communal bill?

This is an undemocratic bill prepared by highly poisonous and biased Congress promoted group that, in the language of Mr. Kapil Sibal and his friends is unelected, or unelectable; but carries enormous clout due to proximity of a lady who has not understood the social dynamics of this vast and varied country. Congress is playing with communal fire for political expediency, as it hopes to pander to minority vote bank either way. Unless society wakes up to this dangerous move, real communal forces masquerading as ‘secularists’ will align with terrorist groups to wreak havoc in this great country.

Problem is not a dearth of laws but their honest and firm implementation and lack of political spine.

Another series of explosions – another round of anger, sermonizing, brave statements

2011-07-20T05:01:00.000-07:00

I am reading the newspaper, seeing the news and various vacuous debates TV, reading columns and reader responses on the net with a benumbed sense of déjà vu. Everything is so predictable, it is virtually a ‘copy-paste’ job with just dates changed as these files are ‘saved’ and opened again by our media, leaders and citizens.

I have been watching for some clues that people have learned some lessons from past. But, it is sad that we haven’t.

Media has begun its game of bashing politicians across the spectrum, stringing people along. It is a clever move to tar all politicians in the same shade of black so the general anger is not directed towards the rulers, i.e. Congress in present instance – both at Centre and State. It is clear that even after uninterrupted rule of last 7 years, this government has not been able to undertaken any serious steps to counter looming danger of terrorism. (Let us not talk of 50 years of rule right now as situation is totally different since last decade.) How can media influence people in bashing ‘all’ politicians and discredit the entire democratic political system.

Pray, tell me, what are people supposed to do? Repeat nauseating statements about, ‘being united in this hour of tragedy’, ‘terrorism has no religion’ etc. etc.? What is opposition supposed to do? Wave a white flag in face of devastation resulting from ruling party’s apathetic performance and lack of governance? They must do their job or bringing errors of rulers to people’s attention.

While terrorists were busy preparing afresh after lying low after last major attacks, our rulers felt comforted with their silence. Instead of pursuing major terror cases to catch and punish the guilty, it went on witch hunting against a small band of Hindu radicals and went to town blaming ‘saffron terrorism’ for all the ills facing the country. They felt that by arresting half a dozen Hindu extremists they had brought peace to our country! They virtually stopped intelligence gathering, implementation of even minimum reforms advocated by Pradhan committee and others, happy that their vote banks are safe in their custody for the next election.

That is all they can think of – next election.

These same rulers have reduced police system to tatters, with half of these poorly clothed, fed and armed police putting more manpower and energy to protect our ‘leaders’ than securing people. Yes, here even other political leaders deserve to be criticized. But, they cannot be criticized for non-working governments at centre and state.

A police force with one hand tied at the back with oral directives not to touch ‘x’ type of people or ‘y’ type of underworld gangsters. Why would a police put his career at stake if he is going to hauled over the coals by rulers, human rights activists and subsequently the law for taking firm action against some elements?

What about us, citizens? Let me share my experience on the very day of this terror attack, I saw a ‘gentleman’ shouting loudly at a security guard of a store for daring to check his bag! When I asked him gently to let the guy do his job, he protested, “Do I look like a terrorist?” On the very next crossing, a big Xylo purposely pushed a Hondo City to the divider, damaging that car and two young educated, ‘civilized’ people came down, punched the lone member of the other car. Two policemen came and asked them to park on the kerb without following them and they simply drove away! The poor injured owner of the other car complained to police and they started questioning him, so the shaken person too drove away. When I questioned the policemen, they claimed ‘how do we know who is the culprit? If the other party ran way, what can we do?’ They clearly saw the victim’s car being pushed into corner and damaged, but couldn’t ‘judge’ who was at fault! So best way was to contrive a situation that problem melted away. It was the same traffic crossing where journalist Dey was murdered! And we talk of security, we talk of people being awakened! Are we not to blame equally for flouting laws, being totally indisciplined, leaving ‘politicians’ to take care of the society while we worry only of our own livelihood and fun? Aren’t we part of such a scenario nearly every day? If one were to count law breakers as % of population, I am sure, we educated class would outscore poor citizens easily. And we are called ‘civil society’!

What about media? It still hasn’t learnt its lessons. Still, throwing mud at others to look whiter. Still, sensationalizing, showing same shots, same interviews repeatedly, sermonizing on ‘not politicizing the tragedy’! The so called liberalism is reaching new heights with people like Barkha Dutt asking rhetorically, ‘Will hanging Kasab or Afzal Guru stop terror attacks?’ This line of argument is so sick that I don’t even feel like responding to it. Why nobody is suggesting simple workable solutions like having more dog squads patrolling crowded areas for suspect objects, taking care that CCTVs work and their data is saved, that police is given freedom to work without ‘secular’ slant or interference, that they are given proper arms and ammunition?

Please don’t talk philosophy to us from your protected homes and offices. Enough of it. Take firm action that deters mischief makers. Hindus know we can have rebirth. But, we are worried about this birth. No sage or sect told us to waste away this precious life.

Let us stop being hysterical at rulers, politicians, media – just tell them where to get off. Flood the media with protests against their sermons and meaningless debates. The same media people who cry out with horror even if hit by a slap or a stone, are telling citizens to be calm in this hour of terror. Teach politicians lesson they understand – vote against those who don’t come out in open to support us and work aggressively for our protection. Let us stop chatting in our drawing rooms and come on the streets. Not a candle vigil for a day, eternal vigilance to ‘watch’ what is happening around us. Let us go to police stations, to show our solidarity with them for working without even minimum resources, force them with love to come half way to meet citizens and take their help.

Sorry, my well meaning philosophers, this is a war. You need to be sure on whose side you are. If you wish to live your lives in comfort of ‘grey zones of philosophy’, so be it. Don’t confuse common citizens – let them be clear what is right and what is wrong. If it is politically incorrect, so be it.

Cabinet reshuffle stories – yet again!

2011-07-10T04:54:00.001-07:00

Stories of cabinet reshuffle that used to evoke keen interest earlier on have lost their charm since Congress has begun ruling under various avatars of UPA. Loudest byline born out of resignation of Dayanidhi Maran is possibility or rather urgency of cabinet reshuffle.

It reminds of me reshuffling of pack of cards in a game when right cards don’t appear on the table. But, that pack of card has 52 cards with given value to each of them. Unfortunately, MMS has got a pack of cards which has no Aces, No Kings and No Queens. Highest card in the pack is Knave (ghulam) and there are too many jokers! So, what kind of change can we expect from such an incomplete pack of cards.

There is a complete lack of quality people in the present cabinet. Nor can I see any talent outside the charmed circles of Congress and its ally by compulsion - DMK. A small number of ministers who were bandied about as star performers are also in line for sound hammering with various aspects of countless scams surfacing inspite of best efforts to busy them. Never has India seen such a lack of leadership, leaders and utter sense of chaos and despair.

MMS would be humming an old Hindi song from a Manoj Kumar film with despair that says – “Taash ke bawan patte – panje chhakke satte, sabke sab harjaai main lut gayaa ram duhai”. It means, there are 52 cards but all of them have turned out to be deceitful, I have been looted, O’ God! Tragedy in this case is that MMS himself responsible for this utterly messy national scene.

Such are the so called compulsions of coalition politics (according to MMS) or pressure from 10, Janpath that our supposedly honest PM, doesn’t even have a heart to call for resignation of corrupt ministers. They can leave at their pleasure if they wish, he doesn’t or probably doesn’t even have authority push them off!

What kind of cabinet this august country is left with? The seniormost minister, Pranab da, is bugged in his own office, presumably by his own government machinery. If it is by a private party, then there is more cause of alarm. Next in limelight, PC and Kapil Sibal, are slowly being dragged into the cesspool of scandals not on hearsay comments of some ordinary souls but by their own government’s records and agencies.

It is not that keen analysts cannot read the signals. They all see a drift in this government that is just hanging on with no idea where it is going. While a normal tourist may not mind such a situation but investors surely do mind. The results of various surveys and industries that India is now one of the least preferred destination among large countries to receive FDI. Infact, FDI is being withdrawn. A disaster awaits Indian success story. But, nobody is bothered. In this cacophony of allegations and media noise, people have lost focus on key problems facing India.

This is a country now ruled by unelected or unelectable people. They form the charmed circle of uncrowned leader of India i.e. Bharat. They are favoured few of so called Civil society that have found favour with Madame Sonia. They devise crucial policies and bills on food security, universal education, cash subsidy transfer through ATM, communal violence without any accountability. They, with their pet theories with no proven track record of successful policies of good governance are super kitchen cabinet that makes this incomplete cabinet redundant anyways.

Ofcourse, there is another Civil society that is favoured by media these days, led by Anna Hazare. A group of people who unwittingly created a untouchability creed in social and political life by bad mouthing all shades of politicians in an effort to sound pure, thus creating a void to be exploited by clever Congress people. There is a third kind of civil society of unheard ordinary citizens who seem ‘oh so uncivil’ to our beautiful civil societies favoured by media and rulers, that they can be beaten black and blue or thrown out of the beautiful capital city of brown sahibs. They are trying to find voice through people like Baba Ramdev. Selfless voluntary organizations working silently in remote corners of India don’t figure at all in this political structure.

So, who is ruling India in a real sense? Is it Ms. Sonia, is it her super cabinet of jholawalas, is it MMS (who keeps saying he didn’t know, or he couldn’t do anything) or is it his cabinet members with their own agendas and no common vision for a country that is aspiring to be a leading nation with billion dreams and innovative minds? Will this government let this momentum of carry forward or will it manage to smother it with its directionless meandering ways? So, let us stop speculating about cabinet reshuffles, they don’t really matter.

Ratan Sharda

08-07-2011

My recent pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar

2011-07-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,
I recently had the fortune of visiting Kailash and Mansarovar. The holiest of the holy, the ultimate experience. Camera cant really capture it, nor do justice to it. It is a larger than life experience.

Please click on links below to enjoy a short virtual yatra -

https://picasaweb.google.com/rnsharda/Kailash02?authkey=Gv1sRgCOP65eSil6TawQE

https://picasaweb.google.com/rnsharda/Kailash03?authkey=Gv1sRgCM_X9c2N4LvsSg

https://picasaweb.google.com/rnsharda/Kailash04?authkey=Gv1sRgCIDYxsKug8mdKA

https://picasaweb.google.com/rnsharda/Kailash05?authkey=Gv1sRgCJnm87v2uZKACw

https://picasaweb.google.com/rnsharda/Kailash06?authkey=Gv1sRgCO-w75fyvaTgBQ

The tale of two sanyasins and a social worker

2011-06-15T04:58:00.000-07:00

Two socially conscious citizens ruled the airwaves for many days. One is a Sanyasin, a Yoga teacher and other is a committed social worker. Former has a large following all over India, mainly from middle and lower strata while latter has a good media backing and backing from upper crust of society and primarily youth, though not as large as the Yoga teacher.

Yesterday, another socially active Sanyasin burst upon our media and our consciousness. Unfortunately, it was his death that brought him onto the centre stage and not his fast for environmental cause, albeit with religious underpinning. That he was lying in coma, unheard, without any overt public or media support while media was going crazy over the yoga guru, more to run him down than anything else, adds a sad twist to this irony.

Who is to blame for this lopsided coverage of social issues? What is the yardstick for good/bad, extensive/cursory coverage by media?

Are we, the people, responsible for promoting this kind of reporting? Or is it force feeding by media to us? As purveyors of news, it was duty of media to inform people about Swami Nigamananda’s exemplary non-violent protest to save Ganga and environment. It failed in its duty. As a responsible government, purportedly more sensitive to people than Congress, it was duty of BJP government to persuade Swamiji to give up fast or atleast take his good care. It failed. Same Congress that berates religious people for taking up public cause rather than being confined to their ashrams, pokes fun at them, is now all sympathy for the late sadhu and criticizing BJP: but it failed too to make this Sadhu's voice heard in corridors of power.

This same Congress government which formed a committee for Lokpal to keep Anna, the social worker satisfied, is now insulting him with choicest abuse. It is out to discredit Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare and believes that people will lap it up and let Congress go scot-free for leading one of the most corrupt government in free India’s history. It’s arrogance only matches its pre-emergency arrogance. I am afraid, Congress may be in for a severe surprise, similar to what happened in elections held post emergency. It is open secret that DMK distributed vast sums of money in state elections, but still failed miserably. Indian people have voted with surprising results, shocking the political parties. It may happen again. So, let not media and Congress government take people for granted.

Hussain's pain - English translation

2011-06-13T01:55:00.000-07:00

Dear friends, I have been receiving requests for providing the translation of a satire about Mr. Hussain that I had written some months back for Hindi Vivek monthly. So, here you are!

Mr. Hussain’s Pain

Our complements to Mr. Hussain on regaining freedom in Qatar. Mr. Hussain will be able to lead rest of his life in peace serving arts, away from Hindu terror. Well, something good has been achieved through this ongoing episode. While persecuted people from around the world used to come to India seeking asylum to protect their cultures, today a Muslim country has offered asylum to a persecuted Muslim from our country. It is a different matter altogether that you cannot follow or celebrate your religion openly in Islamic countries and you can invite death penalty in case you are suspected of propagating your religion. But, it is ok, this is, but an effort by these countries to protect the integrity of Muslim culture. Hindu culture does not need such support and protection, it is eternal, it is without beginning or end!

Let us first try to understand Mr. Hussain’s pain, and understand how deeply is he hurt! An artist can think of Hindu gods, goddesses and Mother India only in the nude; and he can envision respected personalities of other religions only fully clad. How can he be blamed for such split personality? Blame, if at all, should lay in the outdated orthodox thinking of uncivilized Hindus who cannot understand the situation of an artist suffering from such mental agony.

A few fortunate people among us have been fortunate to look at the paintings of Hindu gods-goddesses drawn by Mr. Hussain. If I were to describe all those paintings I may be charged with criminal intent of inflaming religious passions. So, I will talk only of two such creations – Naked Mother Parvati perched atop Shivlingam; naked Mother Sita astride on the tail of naked Hanuman who is fighting Ravana running amok in the nude! Ofcourse, Mother Teresa is seen fully clad in white sari, Hussain’s respected mother is seen in proper purdah, and so is the case also of other members of his family and that of the Prophet. So and and so forth. We should respect this kind of skewed art, we should also respect freedom of expression. Thus, our ‘liberal’ Indians are truly upset for a right cause.

Problem with our liberal philosopher friends is that they see the world through ‘one eye’ only. (As we say in Hindi ‘ek aankh se dekhna, i.e. see everything impartially) – they keep their other eye firmly shut! If Taslima Nasreen is suffering, because she dared to bring out the atrocities on Muslim and Hindu women, then it is her problem. If blood of orthodox Mullahs, solid backed by Communists and Congress people, have their blood boiling with rage, it is but a natural reaction. This anger of an insecure society led by insecure leaders is fully justified. Thus, the other eye of our day dreaming liberal friends remains firmly shut! If Taslima is attacked, she doesn’t get protection from our government, it is that ‘idiotic’ lady’s problem. She is made to run from pillar to post, and is put virtually under house arrest. It is not the duty of our secular friends to protect a lady. She deserve this fate that has befallen her. She deserves to be punished. On the top of it, even Karnataka state government, professing to be a ‘pro-Hindu’ government, files a case against her and the newspaper who reported her statements, but not on those who ran riot under the pretext of protesting against her remarks. Friends, it is the right way. Afterall, these are our ‘sensitive’ brethren, these are our ‘insecure’ people, It is duty of each of us to provide them security - whether it is a ‘secular’ government, or a ‘pseudo-secular’ government.

We can ban books of people like Salman Rushdie to protect religious amity. Their death penalty will stay even if they pray for pardon. But, why should Mr. Hussain seek pardon? Hindus have no religious feelings. This religious feeling doesn’t cross the doors of their homes or the sanctum sanctorum of their temples. For him/her religion is his/her personal subject, so its sanctity and dignity cannot be disturbed or attacked at all. So, what pardon are we talking of? Even if there are scores of court cases, even if a few paintings are torn apart, so be it.? These ‘Bajrang Dal’ types are creating unnecessary mess. Let all of us congratulate Mr. Hussain that he has reached the right place. Let us hope his imagination takes wings again and he is inspired to paint his host royalty and other respectable members of that society in all their natural splendour! This will then finally satisfy our secular friends.

Let us also complement our secular intellectuals who keep reminding us that it is the sole responsibility of Hindus to respect all religions by following the creed of ‘sarva dharma samabhaav’, it is their tradition and their culture alone.

M F Hussain's pain

2011-06-10T03:53:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

A world renowned artist has passed away. It is not the right time to be sarcastic. But, the way media is berating Hindu groups who opposed M F Hussain's over liberal intepretation of Hindu gods and goddesses and breast beating since yesterday; forces me to publish an article of mine that appeared in Hindi Vivek weekly in April 2010. I am not getting into any debate, but presenting it as it is as an answer to one sided rabidly false sense of secular liberalism and criticism of Hindus.

April 2010 (विवेक साप्ताहिक में प्रकाशित)

हुसैन की पीड़ा

हुसैन जी को कतार की आज़ादी मुबारक हो। वर्षों से हिन्दू ‘आतंक’ से परेशान हुसैन अब शांति से अपनी बाकी ज़िंदगी कला की सेवा करते हुए गुज़ार सकेंगे। चलो कुछ अच्छा ही हुआ इस प्रकरण से। जहां सदियों से अपनी संस्कृति की रक्षा के लिए प्रताड़ित व्यक्ति भारत आकर शरण लेते थे, आज एक मुस्लिम देश ने एक पीड़ित मुस्लिम को शरण दी है। यह बात और है की इन सभी मुस्लिम देशों में आप अपने धर्म का पालन खुले रूप से नहीं कर सकते, आप धर्म परिवर्तन करने के प्रयत्न मात्र से फांसी के फंदे के हकदार हो जाते हैं। पर कोई बात नहीं। यह तो मुस्लिम संस्कृति को अक्षुण्ण रखने का प्रयास है, हिन्दू संस्कृति को ऐसी सहायता की आवश्यकता नहीं, वह तो चिरंतन है, अनादि-अनंत है!

हुसैन जी की पीड़ा और दर्द को समझें पहले। पीड़ा भी कितनी गहरी! एक बेचारा कलाकार हिन्दू देवी देवताओं और भारतमता को नग्न रूप में ही देख पता है और अन्य धर्मीय आदरणीय व्यक्तियों को ढके हुए ही दर्शन कर पाता है, इसमे उसका क्या दोष? दोष तो उन जाहिल हिंदुओं का है जो इस मानसिक रूप से त्रस्त कलाकार की भावनाओं को नहीं समझ सकते। हम में कुछ सौभाग्यशाली हैं जिन्होने हुसैन जी द्वारा रचित हिन्दू देवी देवताओं के चित्र देखे हैं। मैं सारे चित्रों का वर्णन करूँ तो शायद मुझ पर धार्मिक भावनाएं भड़काने का आरोप जाये सो केवल एक या दो ‘कलाकृतियों’ की बात करूंगा -

नग्न पार्वती मैया, शिवलिंग पर विराजमान हैं, नग्न सीता माता नग्न हनुमान की पूंछ पर सवार हैं और नग्न रावण हनुमान में लड़ाई चल रही है। हाँ पवित्र माता टेरेसा पूर्ण रूपेण धवल सादे में लिपटी हुई नज़र आएंगी! हुसैन जी की माता भी पूर्ण घूँघट के साथ इत्यादि इत्यादि। हमें उनके इस संभ्रम और कला की आज़ादी का सम्मान तो करना ही चाहिए। वैचारिक अभिव्यक्ति का सम्मान करना चाहिए। हम उम्मीद करते हैं की कतार की आज़ाद फिज़ाओं में हुसैन जी को कतार के सुल्तान और कई सम्मानित लोगों के चित्र बनाने का अवसर मिलेगा और वे ऐसे ही विचारों की उड़ान भर पाएंगे और उन्हे प्राकृतिक रूप में चित्रित कर पाएंगे। तभी हमारे उदारवादी भारतीय मित्रों की आत्मा को शांति मिलेगी।

हमारे छायावादी मित्रों की समस्या है की वह सब कुछ एक नज़र से देखते हैं – दूसरी नज़र बंद रहती है उनकी। तसलीमा नसरीन यदि पीड़ित है, क्योंकि उसने हिन्दू और मुस्लिम महिलाओं पर हो रहे अत्याचार को दर्शित किया है तो वह उसकी समस्या है। रूढ़िवादी मुल्ला नेता - जिनको कम्मुनिस्टो से लेकर कांग्रेस तक सरपरस्ती मिली हुई है – उनका खून खौल उठाना स्वाभाविक है। एक असुरक्षित समाज के असुरक्षित नेता हैं, उनका क्रोध उचित है। सो हमारे कई सपनों में डूबे ‘लिबरल’ मित्रों की दूसरी आँख बंद रहती है। तसलीमा पर हमला होता है तो उसको सुरक्षा नहीं मिलती, उस ‘नामाकूल’ को भगाया जाता है यहाँ से वहाँ, घर में लगभग कैद कर दिया जाता है। ऐसी नारी की सुरक्षा करना हमारे सेकुलर दोस्तों का काम नहीं। वह तो दंड देने के लायक ही है। इतना ही नहीं, हमारे ‘हिंदुत्ववादी’ कहलनेवाले कर्नाटक के नेता भी तुरंत दावा ठोक देते हैं तसलीमा पर और समाचार पत्र पर , उनपर नहीं जिन्होंने कानून अपने हाथों में लेकर दंगे कर दिये। भई सही है, ‘सेनसिटिव’ लोग हैं, असुरक्षति लोग हैं! उनका संरक्षण करना सभी का काम है, चाहे वे हिन्दू सेकुलर हों या ‘pseudo secular’ हों। हम सलमान रश्दी और ऐसे कई साहित्यिकों की पुस्तकें ‘ban’ कर सकते हैं, धार्मिक सद्भावना के सम्मान के लिए, चाहे वह माफी भी मांग लें। पर उनपर मौत की सज़ा कायम है। परंतु हुसैन जी माफी क्यों मांगें? हिंदुओं की धार्मिक भावना तो होती ही नहीं। वह मंदिर के गर्भ गृह और अपने घर के बाहर आती ही नहीं, और विद्वानों की मानें तो आनी भी नहीं चाहिये। धर्म उसके लिए व्यक्तिगत विषय है, सो उसकी स्वछता और गरिमा पर आघात तो हो ही नहीं सकता। सो किस बात की माफी? चाहे कोर्ट में केस हो जाएँ, चाहे एक दो पेंटिंग फट जाएँ। व्यर्थ ही यह बजरंगी टाइप लोग बवाल मचाते रहते हैं।

सो, आइये हम अपने हम सबके हुसैन जी को बधाई दें की वे सही जगह पहुँच गए हैं, और ध्यानयवाद दें हमारे सेकुलर बुद्धिवादियों का जो हमें बार बार याद करवाते हैं की सर्व धर्म समभाव की ज़िम्मेदारी केवल हिंदुओं की ही है, उन्ही के संस्कार हैं और संस्कृति है जो यह ज़िम्मेदारी ले सकती है।

Are you qualified to fight for legitimate grievances?

2011-06-08T00:41:00.000-07:00

Recent statements of Congress leaders and also a few media intellectuals have sown doubts in my mind about who can or who cannot raise legitimate issues that affect us, the citizens of this country.

You should belong to Congress or belong to certified Leftist- secular groups or else you have no locus standi. All else can be criticized as RSS/BJP masks or stooges and condemned to eternal life of isolation in public life.

Even NGOs with leftist leaning have limited say. If they cross the invisible Laxman Rekha (oops, a Hindu word, let me call it, invisible threshold drawn by loyalists of Rajmata Sonia) then they shall be condemned as RSS stooges.

You should be a politician, but from ruling clique. If BJP raises issues of corruption or black money, it is politicizing the issues. But, then what is exactly the job of opposition? Only walk out of parliament if its point of view is not heard and take delegation to an eternally silent President of India?

Common refrain from wise courtiers of Congress gharana is to stick to your profession – say a Yoga teacher must remain a Yoga teacher only, an actor must remain an actor (barring the time when called to dance in front of crowds for vote gathering in elections), farmers like Anna Hazare should stay put in their villages etc. etc.

But, by that count, Late Rajiv Gandhi was a pilot and should have remained a pilot. Sorry, wrong example. Nehru/Gandhi descendents are born with a right to rule. Infact, to correct myself further, they take birth for liberating wretched poor of this country, whatever their worldly qualifications.

Sonia ji should have stuck to her profession in she had taken up in Cambridge town. I am not sure exactly what it was but there is enough evidence that it was not politics.

Our own ‘honest’ and obedient PM Manmohan Singh should have stuck to teaching, or at the most be a manager in IMF. However, one must admit, that he has remained true to his profession, like a true blue bureaucrat he is still a ‘yes, madame’ person. Not for him independence of decision making or brave heart politics, but must toe the line of the boss unquestioningly.

Then, there are hoards of Congressmen of all shades who have vast business empires. They should have stuck to their business rather than making politics their business and then mixing the two merrily into a great concoction of wealth and fun. We all know about them.

There are exemptions like Kapil Sibal, who like a true lawyer can take brief from anybody and speak -with free tongue as per brief given to him; change stance at the quiver of a brow - no qualms, no conscience. Minister’s job if it comes, is only a perk of a loyal lawyer who is also a politician only to do justice to his brief.

Then, there are people like Raja Digvijay Singh, also in the right profession of being courtiers in Rajmata Sonia’s courts. They are of the types of Rajputs who destroyed the hard work of brave kings like Prithiviraj, Rana Pratap and Shivaji. He talks what pleases the dynasty, even if it is utter falsehood. He utters statements to a plan and is a wily ‘durbari’, a quality he could have inherited well.

Then, there are media intellectuals who can always pontificate on any subject under the sun as they have a divine right granted through the media baron. They can gloat over poor protestors being beaten up, they can criticize Anna for being obdurate, they can sigh over rights violation of terrorists etc. etc. But, God forbid, they too must not cross the unspoken threshold or they may be thrown out overnight and newspaper taken over by trusted lieutenants of Congress ‘high command’.

In short, the dictat is if you are not with US, you are AGAINST us! Behave or else…

Thus, for all common people like you and me, it is our duty to labour hard to eke out our living. Not for us the right to protest, to fight against injustice; just stick to your profession.

Who is afraid of RSS? Or – Or Why is Congress is upset with RSS support to Anti-corruption movement?

2011-06-07T05:58:00.000-07:00

Arguments pushed by Congress spokespersons and ministers bring in a sudden sense of déjà vu for me. People who were young enough during 1975 would recall that Indira Gandhi and her cohorts used exactly the same language – path to anarchy, anti-democratic, call to lawlessness etc. etc. Even the arguments about communal forces (read RSS) being behind anti-corruption movements sound eerily similar. Midnight raid and use of brute force itself reminds one of midnight declaration of emergency and putting all top leaders of opposition behind bars. All this shows that Congress has not learnt from history. It has stuck in a siege mentality that Mrs. Indira Gandhi was afflicted with during those days. While on one side Congress feels cornered, it is acting belligerent and acting in a dictatorial manner.

The party and government honchos forget that today while they have a pitiable 170 odd seats while Indira Gandhi had brute two third majority. If she couldn’t ride rough shod over people’s unease and sense of frustration with system at that time, how can Congress of today – much weaker and decimated hope to trample over people’s genuine grievances? Whether protestors are certified communal or secular, whatever colours they carry – it doesn’t change the complexity of the problem of blatant, brazen corruption that has become the hallmark of this Congress government propped by even more brazenly shameless corrupt politicians. The arrogance of Sibals and Tiwaris and Diggy babu on show through media is even more telling than the earlier avatars of these people in the shape of Gokhales, Barooahs, ND Tiwaris, Arjun Singhs et all. All this indicates that Congress is hurtling toward disastrous climactic tipping point in history.

One of the reason for the panic Congress is showing is that RSS seems to be backing anti-corruption crusade of Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare. It has got the goat of chronic pseudo-secularists like Digvijay and his ilk. They would be getting nightmares recalling that it was same RSS that provided spine to ‘Total Revolution’ agitation of Jai Prakash Narayan. No amount of persecution and atrocities could break the morale of RSS volunteers during those dark months of emergency and they numbered nearly 80% of the people put behind jail by this same Congress party. While they could hope to stretch and tire the media supported civil society groups in present scenario, they know that RSS people are made of sterner stuff and they can work, strive and thrive without oxygen of media publicity. Hence, one sees angry outbursts about ‘communal forces’ being behind this current social movement.

Now, let me ask what is communal about RSS? Who is more communal – Congress groups of various shades or RSS? I will, for the purpose of this essay, not even talk about more than 1.50 lac social service projects run by RSS, it is irrelevant for present discussion. I will only talk about nationalist and patriotic role played by RSS in public life specially during partition and post partition that gave us a free India, an emaciated, truncated India gifted by British to a tired old generation of Congress leaders wishing to rule Indian masses before they hung their boots.

It is now a historical fact established by many historians that it was Congress leadership’s attitude that converted a secular modernist leader of Congress, Jinnah into a rabid communal Muslim League leader who headed a violent and successful campaign to partition this ancient land.

It was same Congress that agreed to partition, unable to face the heat nor protect Hindus from ‘Direct Action’ of armed Muslim goons who butchered thousands of Hindus. It is like surrendering your house and jewellery to robbers because you cannot fight back. Remember Congress had the backing of huge majority of Indians at that time, but it abdicated its responsibility.

Now, the same Congress is sharing her bed with same Muslim League for years in Kerala, has partnership with many such blatantly open communal parties (labelled Secular by secular certification authorities of India headed by benign leftists, secularists). This is the same Congress which tried to justify riots, pillage, conversions and rapes by Moplahs of Kerala post failure of Khilafat agitation. These same territory of Moplahs is the biggest breeding ground of ‘secular Muslim League now’ and terrorists. I have just given one instance, there are hundreds of such instances. So, who is should be certified communal dear Diggy Raja? How would your action be accounted, like visiting families of terrorists in Azamgarh, nearly certifying Batla House encounter between police and terrorists as fake encounter, calling Osama'ji' and Baba Ramdev 'thug' - secular or communal?

The secular Congress leaders had fled Sindh and Punjab, virtually begging for RSS support for safe passage to other side i.e emergent India; while RSS chief at that time, Shri Guruji, was touring these regions even a week before the 15^th August, 1947, boosting morale of Hindus and RSS volunteers so they could come to India safely if situation deteriorated further. Not only that, a whole team of volunteers was left behind in Sindh on his instructions to see that the last of Sindhis who wished to return were brought back safely.

Same ‘communal’ RSS ran most organized relief camps for Hindu refugees during those trying times. Volunteers of same ‘communal’ RSS laid down their lives to repair Shrinagar airport and bring ammunitions to the border at that delicate moment when so called ‘tribals’ were about to overrun Kashmir. While Shri Guruji had gone to meet the Maharaja to persuade him to merge J&K with India, Nehru was stuck up with his ego and took charge of Kashmir issues as if he was de-facto ruler of Kashmir, scuttled the merger offer of Maharaja of Kashmir (to avenge the insult of being turned back without valid papers, required at that time ), till situation nearly went out of hand.

Volunteers of same RSS, risked their lives, entered Masjids as Muslims and informed Sardar Patel of the conspiracy to blow up Parliament by Muslim League supporters. This conspiracy was nipped in the bud with large scale arrests of conspirators.

Congress became so frightened of RSS popularity at that time that it had made up its mind to “crush RSS” in words of Nehru, nearly a week before Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. It is interesting that Congress since that time has appropriated for itself the sole monopoly of ruling India and doesn’t brook any opposition. So, labelling of RSS as ‘communal’ began at that time and Gandhi’s murder was the perfect excuse to tar RSS permanently even though there was not a shred of evidence, as there was no involvement as all subsequent enquiries revealed.

Not only in these times, but RSS volunteers worked fearlessly on borders, in bordering towns during all attacks on India by China and Pakistan. Nehru mellowed by brutal shock given by his ‘Chineee bhais’, and realizing sterling services of RSS in 1962 war, realized his mistake and invited RSS to January 1963 Republic Day parade.

Same ‘communal’ RSS has worked fearlessly in North East to create an atmosphere that would bring people of that region into Indian mainstream and wean them away from separatism. Its affiliates are running thousands of school and have done many wonderful projects to help them integrate with rest of Indian society.

Congress has tried hard to indict RSS in Hindu-Muslim riots but not in a single instance has RSS been indicted by various independent judicial commissions appointed by it, neither as perpetrator or as an instigator. Either RSS volunteers are so smart that they never get caught or they are such bullies that even judges and police are afraid to name them!

This is the RSS that Congress is afraid of.

Can such a patriotic organization not take part in a social movement that wishes to break the back of corruption, if not eliminate it altogether? Does the colour of protest change the colour of money that is stashed away by cronies of the ruling clique? Let us stick to the main fight – fight against corruption that doesn’t allow common man to work to best of his/her abilities, that is eating away the vitals of this country and doesn’t let it rise to its full potential.

Let us not get diverted by these useless labelling games of wily politicians like Diggy babu, Sibal and others of their ilk. Whatever the shade the crusaders against corruption and brazen loot are wearing – saffron, white or green, the objective is one; to free this nation from robbers.

Civil and Uncivil Societies

2011-06-06T03:24:00.000-07:00

I have been rather intrigued by the term 'Civil Society'. I had a long argument with a dear friend of mine, a leading light in this 'Civil Society' movement. By calling citizen activists (the right word, perhaps), as civil society, aren't we keeping out a large part of the society which is not 'civil' or rather which is 'uncivil' - probably with low education, low income, average life style, unaware of civilized society's obsession with brands etc. etc. My friend explained to me, it is not so but this is the universally accepted nomenclature for citizen activists. But, contrast between the media coverage and deep sighs of 'beautiful people' at a Baba running amok brought out the difference between perceived 'civil society' and our majority 'uncivil' society of 'average boring village and town and suburban dwellers.

Contrast the crowds that thronged media elevated Anna Hazare fest. Don't get me wrong. With all due respect to the veteran crusader, the crowds were not as big as what Baba Ramdev brought in across Bharat. But, media was so taken in by presence of English speaking 'beautiful people' in their designer clothes and with it attitude, just right for good news sound bites, that it helped create 'Brand Anna' as next only to Gandhi ji. I am not even suggesting that 'civil society' (as I read this tag) should not be on road. By all means, they must come out roads, they can provide the requisite leadership and come out with good ideas.

I know of wonderful work done by Anna and I respect him a lot. But, the point I am driving home is not about personalities of Anna or Baba. But, rather the way they are presented to us by news coverage because of the crowds they attract. The followers of Baba who came from all over Bharat were a study in contrast. Rustic villagers, small town residents, or coming from distant suburbs of Delhi or Mumbai etc. They are the worst sufferers from tyranny of bureaucracy at lower level in their daily dealings and have no where with alls to pay their way through their chicanery. They came on faith that Baba will fight the mighty corrupt and they came to support this. So, there is hardly any coverage of the participants of this agitation. They can't speak English, they dont come pretty on camera, so just keep camera on Baba - he makes colourful copy! Witness the way Baba Ramdev is harangued by media and the kid glove treatment Anna Hazare gets.
Now, you will understand why I am against the word 'civil society'.

Was this contrast in two societies of India i.e. Bharat that flummoxed media and powers that be? When Congress flexed its police muscles, it calculated that these ordinary folks will not get sympathy and colourful coverage from media and will go home tails between legs. It forgot that this is the common 'uncivil society' that votes with its feet and not the beautiful 'civil society'. Now, that shit has hit the fan, let us see this 'police state' mentality haunt them in coming months.
What I have noted above, does not at all take away the credit from media for standing up against corruption, giving live coverage to attack on innocent citizens in the dead of night. I am just pointing out the difference in approach to the two agitations. And making readers aware of this phenomenon of common man fight against corruption and civil society's fight against corruption. The gap between Bharat and India as cliche goes, and our elite society's perceptions.

Ashamed of What?

2011-05-21T04:12:00.000-07:00

Heir apparent , yuvraj of India, Rahul Gandhi, proclaimed that he was ashamed of being an Indian. He may have said so in disgust with what he witnessed in UP. But, his proclamation indicate that his heart may be in the right place but mind is not. If at all he should be ashamed of something, it should be of being a Congressman that has brought our country to this sorry state with its almost uninterrupted rein of power since six decades. The politics of casteism, communalism and commercialization has been nurtured and made dominant tendency by Congress. To say that Congress epitomises the ultimate in nepotism with unbridled run on the ruling party as a family would be cliche.

I am proud of being an Indian, but I am embarrassed and ashamed that I as a citizen could not stop this blatantly corrupt party from every possible aspect (political, economical, social) from doing all this as a conscious citizen. I am ashamed that we have an alliance at the centre between parties whose senior members have criminal cases against them, who are in jail. And yet the alliance continues. What message does it convey to the world?

I am ashamed that my home minister owing allegiance to the yuvraj brushes aside huge embarrassment of seeing his agencies releasing most wanted lists without talking within departments, whose officers go overseas with expired warrants to capture a criminal. A government that makes its fight against terrorism a butt of jokes has no right to rule. And our Yuvraj is ashamed of being Indian. Yes, if these are the reasons, he is right. But, he has the solution. Kick out corrupt allies, kick out inefficient corrupt ministers and go for fresh election with fresh faces, promising people that they will not be ashamed of his Congress.

Signs of times to come

2011-05-15T04:25:00.000-07:00

To me, the most interesting aspect of this election is Congress's ability to win with support of minority vote banks in one place (Kerala) and with majority vote bank in another (Assam) - in the same election! This is not my 'communal' view but analysis by learned supposedly secular national press.

Second news that gives us hope is Mamata Bannerji's single handed relentless successful struggle to dethrone Communists inspite of their well entrenched support system and network for their card holders and well wishers for last three decades. Her whole persona is anti-thesis of today's 5-star political leaders who sport well laundered spotless whites (that are most expensive to maintain) in the day and disco hopping casuals in the nights floating around in Pajeros and Land Rovers with kingly gait. It is refreshing change and gives us hope that such leaders are still around and people can still support such leaders. Even today, sheer dedication and willingness to toil for masses can succeed. I only hope her maverick political show'womanship' nature doesnt come to the fore again. It would be a failure that could bring back Communists for good in Bengal. Those who are busy writing obituaries to Communists are living in fool's paradise. It is a committed party with clear ideology. It is will remain a relevant force.

That shameless distribution of cash couldnt work for DMK tell us yet again that masses are not as shortsighted as we assume. A time comes when nothing works for heartless or brazen rulers. Whether it is post emergency India, or post Lalu Bihar or DMK.

All this apart, at the risk of sounding alarmist, to me the ominious sign of times to come is increasingly influential way in which minorities will direct India's electoral process. A 30% population of Muslims in Kerala can make Indian Union Muslim League (successor to the Muslim League that got India partitioned) third biggest party in Kerala. It can help it win nearly all seats in areas where they are in higher numbers. It can bring in sizeable Christian seats to another faction of Congress party but with clearly declared Christian interest groups. All this under the benign partnership of Secular Congress party. Congress, a party working on clearly communal politics in this country is supposedly the torch bearer of this move.

In the same vein a party championing Muslim rights (AIUDF), erstwhile partner of Congress garners nearly all seats in areas dominated by Muslims. It has become second biggest party in Assam. As a reaction to this development, Hindus have turned to Congress for security - not to BJP! Remember Muslim population in this state is hardly 20% yet. In an aside, people also taught a lesson to AGP that came up to fight against infiltrators but went weak in the knees for various reasons when they got a chance to take action.

This is the precursor of elections the way they will be fought and won in future. This trend was never more pronounced than this election. Unless there is an overriding national issue, minorities will vote as vote blocs and Hindus will vote on caste and sub-castes. Thus, a genuine communal party like Congress would have more chances of winning coming elections than branded communal parties like BJP. Smaller parties will turn more to divisive vote bank politics because it will become more and more rewarding.

What an irony that our country managed by a 'secular' and modern political party like Congress in nearly all these post independence six decades is turning more and more communal and casteist inspite of dominant role played in its discourse by leftists and seculars through various policies that are supposed to cast modern mind, be it education, media or other arenas of social interaction. By the next 5-10 years, the path that this country will take will be decided by a decisive 20-25% population and not by the dominant majority.

Anna Hazare vs. Baba Ramdev

2011-05-12T04:40:00.000-07:00

True inheritors of Firangi rulers, Congress party, has been trying hard to draw a wedge between people fighting for corruption against well entrenched interests nurtured over six decades by these very same leaders. Thus, the current supposed Chanakya of Congress, Diggy babu has certified Anna Hazare as more credible than Baba Ramdev! On what grounds? Perhaps, the main reason is that Baba Ramdev wears Saffron, a colour abhored by our Secularists.

Such is their noiselevel in media that Anna Hazare had to put Bharatmata's portrait displayed behind his stage to quiet sleep as secularist cabal didnt like Bharatmata's image created by RSS. Thus, Bharatmata is no more worthy of worship if her portrait has been created by RSS. Anna, a follower of revolutionaries like Azad and Bhagat Singh (whose portraits adorned his stage), has been made into a Gandhian by media. So, Gandhi replaced Hard core revolutionaries. Not that I have anything against Gandhiji. That the show began with Bhagat Singh and Azad and was transformed by a few to Gandhi show, indicates something different.

This same group has been able to split so called 'civil society' movement in the name of social justice by pitting one against the other. Remember Congress has a long history of dirty tricks departments. So, digging dirt or creating dirt is not something difficult for them. Tragedy is that these groups fell for it, such mature people could never see games behind this charade. If Anna has to survive these self styled image makers and supporters, he will need to be a little more 'street smart' and find people around him who can help him create an organization that will not fizzle out with fizzling out of media interest in him and the anti-corruption movement.

Strange response from Indian opinion makers to Osama Killing

2011-05-10T02:21:00.000-07:00

I am rather embarrassed to see members of our government gloating over killing of Osama. Similarly, I find it strange the media is going overboard in analysing what India can do or should have done about terrorism or terrorists holed up in Pakistan. Sympathisers of India all around the world would be feeling embarrassed at this show of immaturity while its detractors would be laughing at this strange media circus and ministers blabbering about 26/11. We also forget that 26/11 was the latest but not the only brazen attack on India internally. One cannot forget hundreds of innocent citizens blows away in serial blasts in local trains of Mumbai and many other such incidents.

A government that doesnt know what to do with terrorists condemned to death by its own highest courts has no right to ask for other criminals and terrorists holed up outside India. A government that is wishy washy about freely roaming extremists and terrorists in various garbs looks foolish asking other countries to hand over other wanted extremists. Separatists roam free, terrorists roam in badlands of UP and Azamgarh (pilgrim centre of our Diggy raja) waving to crowds in front of media cameras as police and administration looks askance. Our human rights activist and media portrays carriers of AK-47s as poor victims of police 'encounter' and are nearly successful in getting police and army personnel behind bars. The same government pats US army commandos for killing 'unarmed' Osama in his own home.

Please keep quiet that is all I request to our worthies. Let Pakistan stew in the mess of its own making. Let it implode in its own contradictions. Let us take care of our own citizen's security and firmly punish freely roaming terrorists and extremists. Let us first be proud of our country, our civilization, that would strong will power to punish our enemies anywhere in the world. Nobody respects wimps.

Geronimo, Osama and Ancient Civilizations

2011-05-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

I just read a blog on ABC - link - http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/05/codename-geornimo-for-osama-bin-laden-mission-angers-some-native-americans.html
It talks about the hurt many native Americans have felt about Osama or Operation to kill Osam being named 'Geronimo' the legendary native who fought off massive White armies to save his people from plunder. Whether Geronimo was the name given to the operation or Osama himself is immaterial. Fact is that White settlers of American continent 'India' discovered by Columbus by mistake have still not been sensitized to the havoc they wrought on native Americans (or for them, Indians) in their urge to conquer territories. In this lust of wealth and resources they also used Christianity as a justification for punishing Pagans. Millions were killed or butchered. That these so called uncivilized Indians had more civilizational sense is well known now. Still, a government headed by a 'Black', a race that has seen worst side of 'White' civilization and wrongly exploited Christianity did not think twice before calling the operation after Geronimo, shows that behind the veneer of new political correctness, you still have deep rooted sense of superiority of a victorious civilization or rather a barbarian mentality.

Only Hindus can understand and respect all old civilizations and traditions because of their deeply imbedded psyche of 'ekam sat vipra bahuda vadanti' and 'all paths lead to same Godhead'. Its respect for environment and mother nature is common to all ancient beliefs. Let all of us, even in this hour of temporary feeling of triumph not forget that we are all sons/daughter of same almighty. Let us also be firm that mistakes committed by our forefathers whether whites of Americas or Australia or Mongols or Mughals will not be repeated.

Secularism of Muslim League!

2011-04-12T05:24:00.000-07:00

Kunhalikutty supporters’ strong-arm tactics against women activists (Daily Pioneer)
April 12, 2011 5:58:16 PM

PNS | Malappuram

In an incident reminiscent of the 2004 bid by thousands of Muslim League workers to attack a woman TV reporter for recording the statement of Rejina, victim of a sex scandal in which their leader PK Kunhalikutty was allegedly involved, party activists forcefully blocked some women’s rights activists from holding a Press meet in Vengara, from where he is contesting Wednesday’s Kerala Assembly polls.

Activists K Ajitha, a former Naxalite, and seven others were stopped in Vengara at the Muslim-majority Malappuram district on Saturday evening by activists of the Muslim League, which is the second largest constituent of the Congress-led UDF. The police had to work hard to send the women activists back unhurt.

Ajitha had carried out a long legal battle against Kunhalikutty in connection with the ice cream parlour sex scandal, following which he was forced to resign as Industry Minister in 2004. Women’s rights activists said Ajitha and her companions had planned to make some revelations about the case at the Press meet in Vengara.

Sources in the CPI(M)-led LDF in Vengara said they had information that the blockade was organised as per directives from the top Muslim League leadership. Ajitha said the Muslim League blocked them because it was afraid that they would reveal something about Kunhalikutty which could affect his electoral prospects in the constituency.

More than 100 Muslim League workers had laid siege to the Press Reporters’ Club in Vengara when Ajitha and her companions entered it. The protesters raised slogans laced with obscene terms against the women. Some of the protesters even shouted that the women would not leave Vengara alive if they conducted the Press meet.

Secularism of Congress

2011-04-12T05:22:00.001-07:00

सेकुलर समाज को यह जानकर खुशी होगी कि केरल के आगामी विधानसभा चुनावों में कांग्रेस (सोनिया गांधी की शैली में 'खानग्रेस') पार्टी ने कुल 140 में से 74 टिकिट अल्पसंख्यकों को दिये हैं। यह तो अब एक स्वाभाविक सी बात हो गई है कि जिन विधानसभा क्षेत्रों में मुस्लिम अथवा ईसाई जनसंख्या का बहुमत है, वहाँ एक भी हिन्दू को टिकिट नहीं दिया गया है (“सेकुलरिज़्म की रक्षा” की खातिर दिया ही नहीं जा सकता), लेकिन ऐसे कई अल्पसंख्यक उम्मीदवार हैं जिन्हें हिन्दू बहुल क्षेत्रों से “खानग्रेस” ने टिकिट दिया है। यह रवैया साफ़ दर्शाता है कि “खानग्रेस” पार्टी को पूरा भरोसा है कि ईसाई और मुस्लिम वोट तो कभी भी “सेकुलरिज़्म” नाम के लॉलीपाप के झाँसे में आने वाले नहीं हैं, इसलिये जहाँ ईसाईयों और मुस्लिमों का बहुमत है वहाँ सिर्फ़ उसी समुदाय के उम्मीदवार खड़े किये हैं, जबकि हिन्दू तो चूंकि परम्परागत रूप से मुँह में “सेकुलरिज़्म” का चम्मच लेकर ही पैदा होता है इसलिये वहाँ “कोई भी ऐरा-गैरा” उम्मीदवार चलेगा, वह तो उसे वोट देंगे ही। ज़ाहिर है कि यह सिर्फ़ और सिर्फ़ हिन्दुओं की जिम्मेदारी है कि “केरल में धर्मनिरपेक्षता” बरकरार रहे…।

1947 pre-independence days for RSS

2011-04-12T05:19:00.001-07:00

……Earlier, Muslim League had waved its ‘green flag’ for ‘Direct Action’ on 16^th August, 1946 and Muslims butchered thousands of Hindus mercilessly, with indescribable cruelty. Congress was shaken to the core due to this act. Congress showed total lack of spirit of putting up a fight and not running away from battle ground. Responding its talk of ‘non-reaction’, the then head of RSS, Guruji Golwalkar said bluntly, “There is a lot of talk about not picking up arms and not taking revenge. But, I cannot agree with this current language of not reacting; it is not something arising out of bravery. It is nothing but cowardice and about fooling ourselves. It is ‘adharma’, that is, immoral to inflict pain upon self.”……. Witnessing this atmosphere, English Tribune wrote, “Punjab is the sword arm of Hindustan and R.S.S. is the sword arm of Punjab.” Perturbed with this development, mouthpiece of Muslim League, Dawn, wrote, “If Congress leadership wishes to receive co-operation from Muslims, then it must ban Sangh immediately.”

Major Defining Moments in RSS History

2011-04-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

Of various ‘medals’ RSS has received, one most commonly handed out is that of being reactionary and orthodox organization. I would say, slow to respond to various challenges or situations, yes; but reactionary or orthodox definitely never. The birth, the growth, its adaptation to changing circumstances, coming up with newer ways of working through its evolution - all these indicate an organization that is modern, pro-active and forward looking. Its urge to reform the society of its ills in its own way and make it progressive is recorded in this book briefly.

Dr. Hedgewar chose to take a harder path of social mobilization when he could have easily stayed on in Congress, taken up more positions of power in the organization and enjoyed fruits of this power. He chose a novel and innovative instrument of daily shakha for creating this organization. He understood well that it was a long drawn and tough path

RSS has gone through various trials and tribulations over its chequered history. I would just draw some bullet points that, I consider, as defining moments of this organization.

1. Partition of Bharat i.e. India

2. First ban of 1948

3. Vivekanand Rock Memorial

4. Second ban in 1975 Emergency

5. Ekaatmataa Yaatraa

6. Dr. Hedgeware birth centenary celebrations

7. Ram Janmabhoomi movement and third ban

I have not considered establishment of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the first Hindu organization in history of Hindu civilization of thousands of years that could manage to bring all the saints, sages, mahants and heads of various religious sects on a single platform in 1965-66 as a milestone in RSS history. It became a mass organization on its own after initial support from RSS during its early years. I consider it was more an achievement of second Sarsanghchaalak, Shri Guruji who, due to his background as an ordained disciple of Swami Akhandaananda and respect he commanded due to his knowledge and humility, could bring them together thus, and persuade all Hindu saints, including revered Shankaraacharyas to declare that ‘All Hindus are brothers’ and ‘No Hindu is fallen or untouchable’.

What is this thread of Unity that binds India?

2011-03-11T03:21:00.001-08:00

Unity in diversity

All our leaders proclaim very proudly that India is a perfect picture of ‘Unity in Diversity’. With hundreds of languages, scores of religious faiths, diverse geography, what is the thread which holds together this beautiful garland of diversity denoting Indian identity? The only thread that binds people together from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to Guwahati is the ancient Hindu civilization and belief system. This deep running sap throughout the nation since eons is what has kept this sense of unity alive. Whatever else we talk of is built over this deep and strong foundation.

According to Shri H. V. Sheshadri, “Diversity is like leaves, flowers and fruits that grow out of a tree. But, the sap that nurtures all these diverse elements of tree comes from the root of the tree.” It is this sap that is the life blood of this diverse looking tree. The diverse tree is Bharat i.e. India, this sap is the Hindu way of life. If sap dries up, the tree dies.

Need for an organization like RSS

2011-03-11T03:18:00.001-08:00

I once asked a very senior prachaarak of RSS Shri Bapurao Moghe during emergency period, “no other country in the world has such mass based social organization just to provide cultural values, inculcate a positive sense of patriotism and selfless love for the society. Why is RSS carrying on such an activity in India?” He answered that world over these values are inculcated in schools but they are amiss in our schooling system due to perverted ideas about secularism and moral education. Thus, RSS is fulfilling a social obligation. If and when these duties are taken up by the government and schools, there will be no need for RSS.

Narmada Kumbh

2011-02-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

Those who promote the idea that RSS is an organization of urban brahmins need to witness Narmada Kumbh being held now in MP to see how its followers have organized a public event where average Indian - tribal, rural and urban are mingling together in a tribute to holy river Narmada

Purchase this book now from flipcart

2011-01-14T23:44:00.001-08:00

Dear friends, you can also purchase Secrets of RSS - Demystifying the Sangh, from www.flipcard.com!

From preface of Secrets of RSS - Demystifying the Sangh

2011-01-14T03:53:00.001-08:00

I am amused at the debates that take place between RSS and its adversaries. It is like two people arguing with each other in different languages. So, all you hear is lot of noise but not an informed debate. A recent comment by the venerable number one newspaper of the world, our own Times of India, that RSS is a secretive organization while giving the news of elevation of Shri Mohanrao Bhagwat to the august post of Sarsanghchaalak or Chief of RSS, prodded me to shred away the veil of so called secrecy over working of RSS. So the title of the book does not denote an effort by me to have a sensational tag line for the book, but only have a title that would not leave any excuse for the critics for being uninformed. If it be so, it would be only out of choice.

2011-01-13T23:31:00.001-08:00

Table of Content of my book

2011-01-13T22:33:00.000-08:00

1. Table of Contents

PROLOGUE

I. RSS & Fight for democracy during Emergency

II. Major defining moments in Life of RSS

THE SPIRIT

Extracts of RSS Constitution

III. What defines India

IV. Need to organize Hindus

V. RSS Prayer and its meaning

THE FORM

VI. RSS Shakha

VII. Supremacy of mission over self

VIII. Human Relations & Event Management training

IX. Organizational structure

X. Inculcating values and sense of Nationhood through Festivals

XI. Institution of Prachaarak

THE MANIFESTATION

XII. Off shoots – Sister and associate organizations

RSS, Nation and Society

a. Second line of Command

b. Positive Force of social harmony

c. Duty toward society – Sewa

d. Defending Hindu faith

XIII. Current scenario

EPILOGUE

The Ultimate secret

XIV. Secretiveness of RSS & Media

XV. Saffron Terror

References & Readings

Index

Annexure

Annexure I – RSS Sanghchaalaks & their Contribution to RSS Growth

Annexure II – 1942, Quite India & RSS

Annexure III – Background of Ban on RSS in 1948

Annexure IV – Exchanges between Nehru, Patel & RSS

Annexure V – Satyagraha against 1948 Ban and its successful culmination

Why - Secrets of RSS - Demystifying the Sangh

2011-01-13T08:47:00.000-08:00

It is amazing that not much is known about Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in spite of one of the oldest mass Indian organization, being around for 85 years and widely accepted as the largest NGO in the world. People only have half baked information about it.

While critics blame it on the secretive ways of the RSS, The RSS volunteers believe that these critics don’t really wish to understand its working that is quite different from other organizations or its philosophy as that too goes against the established norms of ideological discourse in India, heavily influenced as it is by dominating elite brought up on western world view of culture, nationalism and social organizations. The noise created by media also vitiates the view of ordinary lay people. This book tries to rip off the so called veil of secrecy around the RSS with its easy flowing narration that is peppered with live examples and anecdotes from a person who has worked at various levels of the organization for nearly four decades, yet has managed to take a non-partisan view on some of the controversial issues.

It is probably the first time that there is an attempt at comprehensive 360⁰ view of the RSS in a single book that covers not just its philosophy but also its organizational structure, its working; information about its little understood systems like its Prachaarak system, its Prayer, its Constitution etc. It talks about working of its ‘Shaakhaas’ that look so simple and yet produce leading organizers, managers and leaders. It gives a glimpse of manifestation of this philosophy that has created thousands of organizations covering nearly the entire spectrum of socio-political action across India. The annexure throws light on some crucial days in this organization’s history, namely 1942, 1947 and 1948 that also witnessed Gandhiji’s assassination.