Caste Being Used As Software For Political Energy Play, Says RSS’s Dattatreya Hosabale – News18
Final Up to date:
In an interview with Karnataka’s Vikrama Weekly journal, he stated that many who declare to comply with Dr BR Ambedkar’s ideology are deeply concerned in caste politics, forming events and energy teams primarily based on caste identification
RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale. (File pic/PTI)
The Sangh contains folks from all traditions, sects, and castes, nevertheless it has by no means adopted the customs or rituals of any explicit caste or sect, stated RSS Sarkaryavah (normal secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale in an interview with Karnataka’s Vikrama Weekly journal.
“The Shakha follows solely a minimal set of practices vital for its functioning. Caste isn’t a subject of dialogue within the Sangh,” he stated. “The primary lesson taught within the RSS is that we’re all Hindus. The way in which to cut back the divisive strains of caste is by drawing a bigger unifying identification, which is Hindu unity. Thus, caste has no place within the Sangh. There’s a self-discipline within the Sangh that its staff should not be actively concerned in caste-based organisations. Because of this, RSS swayamsevaks (volunteers) don’t maintain management positions in any caste-based teams.”
Efforts to eradicate caste by confrontation solely reinforce caste divisions, he added. “In 1974, throughout his Vasanta Vyakhyanmala (lecture sequence), the third Sarsanghchalak Balasaheb Deoras said, ‘Let caste be erased from society. Let it go extra easily, however there isn’t any must lament that caste goes away.’ The inflexible caste hierarchy doesn’t enable social mobility; as Dr. BR Ambedkar described it, it’s ‘a multi-storied constructing and not using a staircase’. Nonetheless, inside the RSS ecosystem, many inter-caste marriages have taken place, however the Sangh has by no means used this for publicity,” Hosabale stated. “Since RSS swayamsevaks deeply internalise the concept of Hindu unity, they continue to be above caste divisions.”
The argument that caste should be preserved solely to take care of range just isn’t conducive to nationwide unity, stated the RSS functionary. “India’s geographical and pure range ensures that social range will all the time exist. It’s incorrect to say that caste alone is important to take care of range. If caste stays confined to household traditions or home practices, it doesn’t hurt society. Nonetheless, if caste is used to discriminate or decide political energy, it turns into an issue for society,” he stated.
The Sangh has all the time urged {that a} system be put in place by society and the Structure to eradicate this deficiency for individuals who have been disadvantaged of respect, alternative, and equality primarily based on beginning (caste), stated Hosabale.
“Has the Sangh’s stance on caste influenced society? Sure, it has. Whereas this transformation just isn’t solely as a result of Sangh, many people have labored in direction of this purpose. With altering instances, caste boundaries are naturally weakening. Right now, we see IAS officers, sports activities individuals, movie stars, and IT professionals selecting their life companions primarily based on profession and compatibility somewhat than caste. This pattern is growing, progressively shifting caste identities,” he stated.
Caste is getting used as a device for political energy play, he argued. “Many who declare to comply with the maker of the Structure Dr BR Ambedkar’s ideology are deeply concerned in caste politics, forming events and energy teams primarily based on caste identification. With out fostering a nationwide consciousness with the assumption that ‘That is one nation, and we’re all one folks’, an answer can’t be discovered to this drawback,” stated Hosabale.
