Ram Puniyani
(Asian independent) The recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to RSS headquarters in Nagpur and pay homage to RSS founder Dr. K.B. Hedgewar and its second Sarsanghchalak, Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar elicited great interest all around. The much advertised trip was interpreted by many as a mechanism to strengthen his stature within the RSS combine. The other anticipation was that as this September Modi will be completing 75 years, as per the norms of BJP, Modi should retire.
There are a couple of other issues due to which it appeared as if the father (RSS) – son (BJP) relations had turned sour. In the wake of 2024 General elections the BJP President J.P. Nadda had stated that now BJP can be totally on its own so it does not need support from RSS. Earlier when BJP was less capable it did need RSS support for electoral mobilization.
The second was the arrogance shown by Modi when he announced that he is non biological, directly sent by God for the work on this land. This was perceived by RSS’s Mohan Bhagwat as a sign of inflated ego by Modi. Bhagwat said some people start believing they are superior (Devs) and then they declare themselves as Gods.
The Lok Sabha elections saw the decline in the strength of BJP. There is a feeling that RSS did not involve itself with full force in the 2024 Loksabha elections. It quickly jumped back for Maharashtra and Haryana elections. As far RSS is concerned barring 1984, when it saw Khalistani movement as a threat to Indian unity, it has always stood by BJP and ensured its rise in electoral power.
It is RSS which is the core planner. Its multiple organizations, coordinated by Rashtriya pratinidhi sabha (National Representatives Committee) ensure that though they will be pursuing the agenda of their own. These organizations spread the RSS ideology, to glorify the values of the past (Manusmiriti) among different sections of society and spreading hatred against Muslims and Christians as they belong to religions of foreign origin. At the same time, the elections will all put in their might to ensure BJP’s victory. The formation of Bharatiya Jansangh with the help of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee of Hindu Mahasabha and then gradual takeover of BJS by RSS after the demise of Mukherjee, RSS had a full fledged political organization under its belt. The division of labour between RSS, BJP and other progeny of RSS is very clear.
The best example of this was seen in the 1980s when VHP began the Ram Temple movement and then BJP took it over to make a National political agenda reaping a rich harvest. The issues raised by RSS are related to past glories, falsified history to promote it and create misconceptions against the religious minorities and weaker sections of society, particularly Dalits, Adivasis and women. Its strength lies in its strong reach to the community through its shakhas (Branches) and other communitarian programs.
Though Indian society made a political transition from feudal, colonial to democratic political system, RSS cleverly propagated the principles of caste and gender hierarchy of the times of Kingdoms and feudal society through its shakhas. This was supplemented by various other measures including Ekal Vidylalyas, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Seva Bharati, and Rashtra Sevika Samiti to name a few.
Though RSS infiltration into various portals of civic society and political structure of the society has been an ongoing process, with BJP coming to power in the states and then in Centre this has been magnified. Now to add up to Shakhas, it is planning community groups for women, children and old people to keep them under their ideological grip. Recently they organized a picnic in my area. One of the Muslim women wanted to join the same; she was bluntly told that she will become uncomfortable by the type of talks and programs during the picnic. Women going to Rashtra Sevika samiti’s morning shakhas become apparent as you see women walking with the lathi (Baton) in early morning.
During the last decade, the BJP rule has implemented the RSS’ Hindu Nationalist agenda of Ram Temple, abolition of Article 370, triple talaq, and NRC. (Waqf Board is already being discussed in Parliament). At a deeper level there is no question of discord between RSS and BJP), at the most some difference in the strategy level to achieve their goal of Hindu Nation.
Modi paid tribute to Hedgewar Golwalkar for the path they have shown. What is this path? One is to keep aloof from values of Indian nationalist movement striving for inclusive nationalism with values of Liberty Equality and Fraternity. Two, while they try to disown the Golwalkar’s ‘Threats to Hindu National Muslims, Christians and Communists”, in practice their policies follow this to the last dot. The blatant example of this is the celebration of Eid in the country this year (2025). To begin with one state has shifted it from Gazetted Holiday to optional Holiday, offering Namaz on Roads is being opposed and namajis are being attacked by the police are a common site. Now one cannot offer the same on the terrace of one’s house, so what Golwalkar said has been actualized in the last decade of Modi rule.
As far Christians are concerned there are reports that in Orissa now Christians cannot bury their dead easily. In Balasore district “Threats of village boycott for Adivasi Christians by tribal outfit known as Sarna Majhi with misleading claims that Adivasi Christian has no burial right in their village as per Art 13(3) A of Indian Constitution.” (From the fact finding report in Balasore).
Modi repeatedly said that India is becoming Viksit (Developed) on inspiration from RSS ideology. As such if we see the international indices of Happiness, Religious Freedom, Press Freedom, democracy and hunger India is witnessing a drastic fall on these indices. The vikas it seems for Modi and his ideology is the plundering of wealth by the few favorites, who flaunt most of the laws to flourish here or leave this country with large booty plundered from banks etc.
So what is the similarity between words and deeds? This Nagpur trip had clear-cut political goals and his utterances were more of a show, for the consumption for electoral purposes.
