New Delhi: The annual Vijayadashami address by the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat was different from its earlier editions in many ways. As the world’s largest cultural organization enters its 100th year, the speech hardly made any reference to tom tom its achievements or to explain its mission or objectives. While the speech referred to contemporary developments, from the R G Kar medical college rape incident to the Israel-Hamas conflict to the happenings in the country’s neighbourhood, particularly Bangladesh, the underlying theme was the need for Hindu unity and consolidation in the face of an onslaught on their culture and identity through “increased fanaticism and planned incitement to violence”.
In fact, the Sarsanghchalak, cited the conflict in Bangladesh as a reference point for the Hindu community and urged upon them the urgent need to close their ranks to survive the onslaught against them, from both within and outside. He pointed out as to how the minority community was targeted in Bangladesh post Sheikh Hasina’s ouster and how the attacks subsided to some extent when the community came out together in a show of strength. Going beyond, the RSS Chief invoked recent political terms such as Wokeism, Deep State and Cultural Marxists describing them as “declared enemies of all cultural traditions’. He explained their modus operandi in highlighting faultlines and creating an atmosphere of anarchy and fear “by intensifying distrust and hatred towards the system, laws, governance, administration etc.”
While Bhagwat did not specifically name any political party or leader, the message was loud and clear to those advocating caste census and other divisive agenda by consistently building a narrative of injustice and discrimination and seeking to polarize citizens on casteist and communal lines.
Condemning outrightly incidents of unprovoked stone pelting on procession of Shri Ganesh Visarjan, the RSS Chief exhorted the society to remain alert and prepared and to identify those evil tendencies and those who support them.
“While it is the job of the administration to prevent such incidents from happening and to control and punish the culprits immediately, but until they arrive, the society has to protect itself and its property along with the lives of the loved ones”, he said.
He also expressed concern over the illegal infiltration from Bangladesh and the population imbalance caused by it.
“Hindu Community across the world should learn the lesson that being unorganized and weak is like inviting atrocities from the wicked”, he forewarned.
Pointing out that there was a sudden increase in incidents that incite fanaticism without any reasons, he regretted that instead of raising dissatisfaction in a democratic way, “resorting to violence, attacking a particular section of the society (read Hindus), resorting to violence without reason, trying to create fear, is hooliganism’.
Interestingly, he cited Babasaheb Ambedkar’s reference to ‘Grammar of Anarchy” to define such acts.
While the Modi factor undoubtedly played a critical role in the BJP’s recent surprise victories in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana, the silent role played by the RSS in spreading the larger message of Hindu unity on the face of minority consolidation cannot be underestimated. Off course, all the stakeholders including the OBCs, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, too were beneficiaries of the BJP Government’s development schemes, unlike the dominant caste and minority card played by the Opposition. It would be naïve to state that the majority of the voters were influenced by fear factor. Being a Hindu organization, RSS certainly talks about the aspirations and challenges of the majority community but its definition of Hindu is broader beyond the narrow concept of a mode of worship. Its definition includes Muslims, Christian and others who accept their ancestry in India and Hinduism. RSS Pracharaks and office bearers belong to all caste groups in the country.
Hence, the RSS supremo in his Vijayadashami address reiterated the call for equal participation in temples, crematorium and drinking water, aimed at consolidating the Hindu society at the grassroots level. Festivals like Valmiki Jayanti, celebrated largely by the Scheduled Caste communities, should be observed by all sections and such actions should not be merely symbolic.
In his over hour long address, Bhagwat also referred to contemporary issues including the environmental issues, restoring family values, civic discipline, self-esteem, swadeshi etc.
Last but not the least, while speaking on the RSS centenary plan, the Sarsanghchalak again gave a renewed call for Hindu Unity stating that “good people have good conduct towards everyone but do not know how to unite. That is why they appear weak. They will have to learn the art of building this organized strength. Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh signifies the creation of peerless, character based strength of the Hindu society”.
(The author is a Delhi-based journalist and Political Analyst)
