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Hindutva connects all Bharat
Ma. Mohan Bhagwat
28 September 2009
http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=839
Excerpts:
‘Hindutva’ is this ancient
culture of Bharat that teaches us a method of connecting and accommodating every
one. ... Today the world is in dire need of this view and way of life. The
experiments based on the ‘reductionist’ and ‘exclusivist’ approach have
failed.... Our politics, politicians and political system should not play with
the identity, security and integrity of our nation. They should not become mere
witnesses to anti-national forces and need to be honest and sensitive to the
needs and miseries of the last person in society. ..In a democracy, an organised
society that eventually emulates the sagacious powers will have to take the onus
of this job. Hence it is necessary to awaken patriotism, honesty, discipline and
unity in every heart. It is necessary for every individual to be alert and
active round the clock for the sake of the nation.
[This is the abstract of the
Vijayadashami Mahotsva speech delivered at Nagpur annually by RSS
Sarsanghachalak on 27 September 2009, Yugabda 5111. The speech is traditionally
delivered in Hindi; this is a ready translation by his aides - Editor]
The path-breaking work of the
RSS to organise ‘Hindu Society’' was launched on this very date (27 September)
eighty-four years back. It is needless to emphasise that organising ‘Hindu
Society’ is an imperative national duty. It is immaterial whether or not one
uses the word ‘Hindu’ or ‘Hindutva;’ deep inside the core of every ‘Hindustani’
heart this feeling exists in either a dormant state or in conscious but
unrevealed form, or in an expressed form, and knowingly or unwittingly it gets
manifested instinctively as the ‘Truth’ that always stands out.
The word ‘Hindu’ does not
symbolise any particular way of worship, language, province, creed or religion.
Actually it signifies an ancient culture, a way of life that has come down to us
through ages. It is a way of life that believes in everyone living together in
harmony by respecting and accepting all religions, sects, languages, provinces,
and parties.
‘Hindutva’ is this ancient
culture of Bharat that teaches us a method of connecting and accommodating every
one. Even the Supreme Court of India has emphasised on this meaning of ‘Hindutva’.
This is the only ‘philosophy’ and ‘culture’ that inspires us to comprehend the
inherent unity in apparent diversity and motivates us to take together everybody
in harmony to make this planet a paradise of peace, prosperity and happiness.
Today the world is in dire
need of this view and way of life. The experiments based on the ‘reductionist’
and ‘exclusivist’ approach have failed. If the basic viewpoint is flawed, though
the purpose be noble and efforts genuine, the outcome will not be as desired.
That is why thinkers and visionary leaders around the globe are looking forward
with high hopes towards ‘Bharat’ for its integral and holistic vision.
The ‘Bharat’ that is capable
of successfully dispensing its divine responsibility to the world of imparting
‘Dharma’ that beholds the balance and harmony in Creation, and the ‘Bharat’ that
will educate the world by its own living example, is the necessity of today’s
world. However, looking at our present situation, our psyche and our policies,
our abilities and speed to raise our nation to the pedestal of ‘Vishwaguru’ is
questionable.
When common people think
(beyond their routine livelihood issues) about our country, the first issue that
worries their mind is that of national security. We are well-acquainted with the
behaviour and ultimate motives of Pakistan and China towards us. Bangladesh has
also been creating problems for us.
USA
still continues to play its double game openly as well as clandestinely, to
protect its self-interest in the Asian sub-continent. Earnest attempts are going
on to bring countries like Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka under its fold.
Our Parliament has resolved to
bring back every inch of our land in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh
occupied by China during its aggression in 1962. China has almost cordoned
Bharat by creating its influence in the neighbouring countries surrounding us.
Though frequent wars and border infringements imposed on us after the
independence have made us somewhat less complacent regarding our defense
preparedness, we are still less prepared for any potential war as compared to
China, and it is necessary to make more potent arrangement to secure our
borders.
Immediate and severe steps
need to be taken to curb continuous infiltration into our land from our porous
borders. The infiltrators already inside our land should be weeded out without
delay following the policy of detect, delete and deport. As regards
international diplomacy, we have failed to take steps towards the realisation of
the clearly defined long term goals of our country. We have not yet formulated
any such vision, and that is why, in spite of having been betrayed once by China
and repeatedly by Pakistan, increasing incidents remind us of the absolute
naiveté, immaturity, carelessness and lack of foresight of our political
establishment.
Far from taking more
initiative and active part to befriend all the south Asian nations and leading
an ambitious plan in international politics towards providing a transparent,
honest and supportive leadership to not only the Third World countries but to
the whole world, it seems that we have to be contended if we can even understand
and frustrate the covert machinations of foreign powers on our own soil.
Years have elapsed since a
national opinion was expressed by a unanimously passed resolution in Parliament
that, “The only problem remaining now is to liberate the POK and integrate it
with the inseparable Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.” But the problems are
increasingly being made knotty and we are missing opportunities. Instead of
strengthening the indivisible and integrated national voice awakened by the
Amarnath movement, the counter policies of the state government and
administration are being supported.
The fact that the legitimate
rights of the people of
Jammu
and Ladakh are acquired not by the governments at centre or state, but only by
the resolve, efforts and unity of the people is not a healthy state of affairs.
The patriotic forces in the Kashmir Valley need to be strengthened. In view of
this, an arrangement for the return of displaced Hindus is mandated. This will
help to restore the demographic balance of the valley. Mere chimerical
proclamations of a favourable environment for return are not adequate. The
legitimate demand of Kashmiri Hindus for a permanent and honourable return to
their homeland as patriotic citizens of Bharat and followers of Hindutva –
well-equipped to defend themselves and pledged by the government - needs to be
fulfilled immediately.
In the meantime, those who are
forced to live a displaced life in our own country on account of their
Bharat-bhakti and adherence to Hindutva should be informed about the various
relief policies and schemes available for them. Besides this, they should always
be taken into confidence regarding all talks and discussions about the valley.
Anti-national elements are
having a field day in the north-east. In spite of various court decrees and
confirmatory reports of intelligence agencies, there is no evidence of a tough
policy adopted to curb the infiltration of Bangladeshis in either the north-east
or rest of the country. How much more humiliation and damage in terms of life,
property and prestige do we need to suffer before realising the cost of
neglecting national interests under the influence of votebank politics? The
terrorists, separatists, foreign-funded proselytizing forces which were
responsible for the recent bloody inhuman massacre to create enmity amongst the
brotherly Jemi Naga and Dimasa tribes of
North Kachar region, gain shelter from vote-mongers.
The government has irrefutable
information that the joint association of ISI and many different foreign
mercenary agencies, in tandem with anti-national elements, is not only behind
the so-called home-grown Maoist extremism in the interior regions of the
country and the Jehadi terror, but is also active in fomenting the terrorism on
both sides of the border. But there is no evidence anywhere, except probably in
speeches and declarations, of any policy having been put in place to immediately
and effectively counter the menace. It is therefore, urgently required to
implement well-thought out plans to provide for a ‘five pronged’ approach as
brought out below:
- Elimination of terrorist activities through simultaneous
tough action by the government and administration
- Strengthening the security forces - modernisation and
empowerment
- Capability enhancement of intelligence gathering and
intelligence agencies
- Cover the entire population through extensive training
and awareness programmes on security of the individual and the society
- Early deliverance of society from unemployment,
exploitation and corruption
The fifth relates to the issue
of development. Bharat is one of the countries in the world that can attain fast
development and become an economic superpower. Everyone is aware of the mettle
displayed by our industrialists, agriculturists, scientists and skilled workers.
However, where the Western model and methods of development have taken the West
is evident by the discussions of Western thinkers themselves. From the state of
‘industrialise or perish’ they have reached to a state of ‘industrialise and
perish’.
We must learn and save
ourselves from their mistakes. We shall have to devise a Bharat-specific
concept, goals and road map of development, based on our integral, holistic,
human-centric view of life. Bharat is still an agrarian country. What share of
budget is spent on agriculture? 60% of the farmers cultivate on semi-irrigated
or non- irrigated land. How many facilities such as subsidies are available for
them? Majority of the farmers are either small or medium sized landowners. How
many schemes are devised for them? Why is the farmer, who feed the world,
compelled to commit suicide?
All studies conclude that
agriculture has become expensive. Mixed farming along with ‘Gopalan’ and
‘Gosamvardhan’ has become near extinct. Prices of agricultural produce are not
decided on the basis of cost of production. Government and bank loans trap
farmers in a manner worse than old Sahukar system. Urban-centric development has
deprived us of security available in the integral family system.
We need to change the concept
and path of development. We will have to come out of the vicious circle of
discriminatory policies of World Trade Organisation. We have to renounce the
policies that needlessly invite multinational seed companies and endanger our
foodgrain safety. Agriculture technology that renders fertile agricultural land
into unproductive one must be done away with. We should save cultivable lands
from SEZ or save ourselves from SEZ itself.
Our traditional agricultural
techniques have proved true to the test of modern science and are brought into
practice in many countries. Nourishing and medicinal properties of cow-based
agriculture and cow-based products have already been proved. We must invent and
propagate technology that is contemporary, appropriate and at the same time
based on our traditional knowledge.
Education must be
self-awakening, that would boost self-esteem and self-confidence. Education
should be governed by our own people. Commercialisation of education has made
education exorbitant and hollow. Education that would unite the nation and
connect us with the nation is completely missing from the texts; rather it is
doing the reverse. The defense, economy and education policies centered to the
National-Self only can help our nation emerge an eternally affluent nation. But
this concept of National-Self must be elaborated and clearly stated in a lucid
manner.
However, the political leaders
who should care for this are nourishing votebank politics and are instead found
to be counteracting. They are not expected to proliferate divisions on the basis
of languages and provinces in the lure of votes. Our political leaders are
supposed to set healthy examples like the commendable initiative of Karnataka
Chief Minister, who together with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, planned to erect
statues of a great saint and Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar in Bangalore, and that of a
great saint and Kannada poet Sarvajnya in Chennai.
For political leaders to
accomplish this, the need to revolutionise our election system that will create
a proper democratic set up is felt by one and all. This expectation has been
clearly voiced in the three-day discussion during the parliamentary session held
on the completion of 50 years of independence. The same sentiments were also
clearly expressed on many other occasions. We should act upon them.
National-Self, righteousness and culture are well protected in the actions and
the behaviour of society. The leaders are expected to exhibit behaviour and
adopt policies that will protect and nourish unity, fellow feeling, harmony and
self-esteem in society.
The basic nature of Hindu
society is tolerant because ‘Hindutva’ accepts everybody and opposes none.
However, the culture that teaches ultimate inclusiveness, non-violence and love
- its deities and traditions are assaulted and chastised by monotheists and
fanatics. Efforts are on to fragment and weaken Hindu society by way of guile,
deceit, force and enticement. Political leaders who are part of the government
dare to chastise ‘Hindutva’ and ‘Hindu society” just out of their greed for
votes and do not hesitate to play into the hands of anti-national forces. Our
politics, politicians and political system should not play with the identity,
security and integrity of our nation. They should not become mere witnesses to
anti-national forces and need to be honest and sensitive to the needs and
miseries of the last person in society.
In a democracy, an organised
society that eventually emulates the sagacious powers will have to take the onus
of this job. Hence it is necessary to awaken patriotism, honesty, discipline and
unity in every heart. It is necessary for every individual to be alert and
active round the clock for the sake of the nation. Sangha has developed this
technique in the form of ‘shakha’. This is the only way to triumph over the
present situation and to triumph over the situation is our desire, requirement
of the world and the prerequisite for the existence of Bharat. On the occasion
of today’s festival of the triumph of humanity and divinity over demonic forces,
let us have a resolve to follow this path.
The
author is Sarsanghachalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
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