Opinion: Opinion | What RSS’ Calls For ‘Moderation’ Actually Inform Us

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak  Sangh (RSS) is celebrating 100 years since its inception—a exceptional journey for an organisation that was lengthy thought-about untouchable and ridiculed by the mental class but has not solely survived, however thrived. 

The Congress, with its superb legacy of members like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Tilak, and Bose, has fractured a number of instances; the Socialists—as soon as led by JP and Lohia—have turn into virtually unrecognisable, splintering so typically that their divisions are past depend; even the Communists have seen splits, leading to a proliferation of leftist events. The RSS, in distinction, has had none of this. Despite the fact that it isn’t an mental motion, it has efficiently developed a course of—pushed by endurance and resilience—that has propelled it as a hegemonic drive. If the Congress fails to course-correct, it will not be a shock if the twenty first century is seen as belonging to the RSS and Hindutva.

Conserving Up With The Instances

The RSS has a exceptional capacity to adapt to altering circumstances with out dropping its ideological basis. Certain, it might have withdrawn sure chapters of Bunch of Ideas or moderated a few of Golwalkar’s statements, but it surely has by no means compromised on its core ideology. After Gandhi’s assassination and within the towering presence of Nehru and Indira Gandhi, the RSS—working by way of the Jan Sangh and later the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP)—averted overt anti-Muslim rhetoric, as a substitute partaking within the constitutional and parliamentary course of. Nevertheless, after Indira Gandhi’s passing and Rajiv Gandhi’s ascent, the RSS noticed a possibility to overtly advance Hindutva by way of the Ram Mandir motion. It sidelined Atal Bihari Vajpayee, elevating hardliner LK Advani because the face of its agenda. Later, when coalition politics demanded a extra reasonable stance, Vajpayee was introduced again, ultimately serving as Prime Minister for six years.

By 2013, with the Congress deeply discredited and the circumstances ripe for Hindutva’s resurgence, the RSS most popular Narendra Modi to guide the BJP.

The final 10 years have been significantly fertile for the expansion of Hindutva. The power of the RSS shouldn’t be measured by the variety of states the BJP has received, the workplaces and buildings it has constructed, or the expansion of its shakhas and new members. As an alternative, its true power is mirrored in how broadly the ideology of Hindutva has been accepted by a major part of Hindus. Electoral victories and bodily enlargement are merely superficial indicators of success—momentary in nature. What’s extra basic and enduring is the exponential rise in Hindu consciousness and satisfaction.

Hindu Consciousness

The RSS has efficiently dismantled the sooner hesitation amongst Hindus in direction of overtly embracing their id. Not too way back, many Hindus have been reluctant to put on their spiritual id on their sleeves, fearing that doing so would result in accusations of communalism and a major notion loss. The socio-political ecosystem was dominated by left-liberal thought, which discouraged overt spiritual identities. Faith was confined to the non-public sphere, and it was broadly preached and practised that India, as a secular state, should preserve a transparent separation between faith and politics.

Nevertheless, that has modified within the final 10 years. Underneath the state’s patronage, Hindu id is worn extra aggressively than ever, with aggressive shows widespread. Whereas a majority of upper-caste Hindus are absolutely aligned with Hindutva, sections of OBCs and Dalits have additionally joined this motion, shedding their reservations about asserting their Hindu id. These are the ‘New Hindus’—a bunch whose idiom and language differ from these of conventional Hindus.

This socio-cultural metamorphosis carries an inherent flaw, nonetheless. Its basis is constructed on hatred towards Muslims, which has left each a big part of Hindus—together with many silent supporters of Hindutva—and Muslims cautious of a disruptive current and a probably difficult future. There’s rising apprehension that if the present trajectory continues unchecked, it may result in widespread disruptions.

A Dilemma

Satirically, whereas the RSS takes nice satisfaction in its mission to unite Hindus as a civilisational purpose, this has additionally created fissures inside. Hindus at the moment are extremely polarised. The aggressive rhetoric of BJP leaders, coupled with the energetic connivance of the state equipment, has instilled concern and nervousness in a phase of the Hindu inhabitants.

It seems that the RSS management is conscious of the hazards posed by the aggressive Hindutva embraced by the ‘New Hindus’. Since 2018, statements from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat counsel an acknowledgement of this danger.

The Nagpur Violence

On this context, the assertion by senior RSS functionary Sunil Ambekar—that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is “not related now”—assumes significance. He additional remarked: “I believe any sort of violence isn’t good for society.” Ambekar was commenting on the Nagpur violence, which was triggered by aggressive statements from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal leaders, who demanded that Aurangzeb’s tomb be razed. As rumours unfold, they incited anger amongst sections of the Muslim neighborhood, resulting in stone-pelting and the burning of public property. Greater than 40 folks, together with a number of cops, have been injured.

If Ambekar’s intention is to counsel that Aurangzeb is a historic determine of the previous and that there isn’t a benefit in revisiting the problem to settle scores with the Muslim neighborhood, then his assertion is a welcome one. Prior to now, Bhagwat, too, has made a number of statements that appear aimed toward softening the aggressive stance of Hindutva warriors. In 2018, he made a very vital comment: “With out Muslims, Hindutva is incomplete.” Nevertheless, this had little impression on hardcore Hindutva proponents.

Equally, in response to the courtroom order to research whether or not a temple as soon as existed on the mosque adjoining to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, Bhagwat said, “Why seek for a shivling in each mosque?” But, quickly after, within the run-up to the 2024 elections, India witnessed one of the vital communal ballot campaigns in its historical past, the place BJP stalwarts overtly stated issues like “batenge to katenge” (if divided, we’ll die) and “ek hain to protected hain” (united, we’re protected).

This raises severe questions concerning the implications of Sunil Ambekar’s assertion about Aurangzeb. One may argue that the RSS has been driving a ferocious tiger—one which thrives on hatred for Muslims. Taming it’s no simple activity. But, on the very least, there appears to be an try to change its course.

Is the RSS genuinely dedicated to alter? Allow us to wait and watch.

(Ashutosh is the writer of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and co-founder of SatyaHindi.com)

Disclaimer: These are the private opinions of the writer