20th April 2019
Musings.......
Abhinav Bharat is a far right hindutva organisation founded by two retired Military men in 2006 in Pune, Maharashtra. It has a large base in Madhya Pradesh. The organisation is believed to be the revived form of the pre- independence era Abhinav Bharat Society. Abhinav Bharat Society also called Young India Society was a secret society founded by VD Savarkar and his brother in 1903. This organisation was one of many that cropped up across India during times of Militant Nationalism. It carried out few assassinations if British officials, the most notable being the Nasik Conspiracy Case - assassination of AMT Jackson, the district magistrate of Nasik.
VD Savarkar was convicted and deported to the Cellular Jail in Andamans for life. From 1911 onwards multiple Mercy Petitions were sent to the then Bombay Government for his release on compassionate grounds. In 1920, the Indian National Congress and leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Vithalbhai Patel and Tilak demanded his unconditional release. Savarkar was ultimately moved to a jail in Ratnagiri and later to Yerwada Central Jail. He was finally released on 1924.
Upon release, he was elected President of the Hindu Mahasabha in 1937 and served until 1943. Under his leadership, the Hindu Mahasabha openly opposed the call for Quit India Movement and boycotted it. He famously stated “Hinduize all Politics and Militarize Hindudom” during the Second World War and decide to give full support to the British. Instead of Joining Quit India Movement he asked his followers to enlist in the armed forces of the British Raj and learn “ arts of war “. Savarkar was an outspoken critic of the Mahatma whom he considered a “hypocrite and a naive leader who has a very narrow and immature head”.
Following assassination of The Mahatma on January 30th 1948 by Nathuram Godse, who was an active member of the Hindu Mahasabha and the RSS, it was found that Savarkar was an investor of a company- who’s Daily publication was edited by Godse Named “Agarni- Hindu Rashtra”.
VD Savarkar was arrested by the police and charged with murder, conspiracy to murder and abatement to murder charges. According to Digambar Badge on 17th January 1948, Nathuram Godse went to have last Darshan with Savarkar in Bombay before the assassination and was blessed “be successful and return” by Savarkar. However, Badges, testimony was not accepted as the approvers evidence lacked independent corroboration and hence, Savarkar was acquitted.
Soon after Independence, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookherjee resigned as Vice President of the Hindu Mahasabha dissociating himself from its “AKHAND HINDUSTAN” Plank, which implied undoing partition. This call for Akhand Bharat is raised by Hindutvawadi organisations like the Hindu Mahasabha, the RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the BJP.
I felt so much prelude of history is required to talk more about the grouping Abhinav Bharat in its present form and where its roots come from.
Himani Savarkar, the neice of Nathuram Godse and the wife of Vinayak Savarkar’s nephew, was elected the president of the present Abhinav Bharat group in 2008.
Many of its members were arrested on the suspicion of being involved in the 2006 Malegaon bombings. Abhinav Bharat was also been accused of plotting to kill RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat who they thought weren’t doing enough for Hindutva.
The Caravan news magazine conducted interviews of the recently acquitted and released Swami Aseemanand, who was accused in the Ajmer Dargah, Mecca Masjid and the Samjhauta Express terror bombings, in which he named RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat in relation to the above mentioned terrorist attacks which he now vehemently denies.
The modus operandi of the organisation Abhinav Bharat and the RSS for that matter is crystal clear. They were antagonised at the Mahatma for him seeking Hindu- Muslim unity and assassinated him. They consider individual terrorist attacks as their ways and means of achieving their goal even in these times.
It is hence not surprising that, The Indian National Congress which proponents Gandhian principles of secularism and Nehruvian socialism is their main enemy. They consider the Muslim community their enemies and partition hinderance to their goal of Akhand Bharat. As we all know the BJP is their political front which is run by the engine and horsepower of RSS and other hindutva groups.
It is out of this hindutva organisation that Sadhvi Pragya Thakur belongs.
Sadhvi Pragya of the 2006 Malegaon Terrorist Bombing fame was recently made the BJP candidate from Bhopal Parliamentary seat.
Even though not surprising, the BJP has taken a calculated risk by her candidature.
She faced arrest, but was granted bail following dropping of charges by the Special NIA court considering her ill health. She currently faces trial for charges under the Unlawful Activities ( Prevention ) Act (UAPA).
Our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has today endorsed her candidature saying “ the ticket to Sadhvi Pragya is the answer to those who branded 5000 year old civilisation as terrorism.” It is with disgust and contempt that I could read this statement clearly to satisfy his bosses at the RSS and keep them happy in between the ongoing General Election.
I would like to refute PM Modi’s statement with points from history.
Communalism/ Sectarianism is basically an ideology which gives more importance to once own religious/ ethnic groups rather than to the wider society as a whole.
Extreme Communalism is the notion that not only different religious communities have different interests, but also that these interests are incompatible i.e., two communities cannot coexist because interest of one community come in conflict with those of the other.
The BJP- RSS - Abhinav Bharat are proponents of the Extreme Communalism.
Communalism grew in our country because of the fact that socio- economic distinctions in Indian society coincided with religious distinctions. The inherent class contradictions were given a communal colouring by the vested interests.
Religion actually did not dictate the economic and political interests of the Hindus or Muslims. One community (consisting of Hindus and Muslims) differed from another ( also consisting of Hindus and Muslims) by language, culture, social status, food and dress habits, social practices, customs and so on. It is true to say that a Bengali Muslim will have much more in common with a Bengali Hindu than with a Punjabi Muslim.
As Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said in his book Discovery of India “ There has been a difference of a generation or more in the development of the Hindu and Muslim middle class, and the difference continues to show itself in many directions, political, economical and other. It is this lag which produces a psychology of fear among the Muslims”.
Written in times of the Independence Movement, Nehrus prophecy turned out to be true as seen in the past 5 year rule of the Right wing Modi Government, under which the minorities lived in constant fear of mob lynchings, NRCs, Citizenship of India Acts, Triple Talaq Bills, Hindutva terror- the list is endless.
Historians ignored the fact that politics ancient and medieval as of all times and everywhere was based on economic and political interests and not on religious considerations. The refusal to accept a composite culture in India was in the interest of British and communal historians. Hence, they portrayed the ancient phase of Indian History as Hindu Phase and the Medieval Phase including the rule of the Mughals as the Muslim Phase. The conflict of ruling classes during the medieval phase were distorted and exaggerated as Hindu- Muslim conflicts.
The minority Communalism met with a reaction from the majority Communalism. History seems to be repeating itself in cycles as we see similar circumstances in our country.
Any discussion on Hindutva would be incomplete without mentioning about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It is one presently one of the most powerful independent organisations of the world. It’s organisational growth has seen a tremendous boost under the Modi Government in the past 5 years. A statement of one of its previous Sarsangchalaks or Head MS Golwalkar is aptly sums up its intentions-
“ The Non- Hindu people of Hindustan must either adopt Hindu culture and languages, must learn and respect and hold in reverence the Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but those of glorification of the Hindu race and culture... in a word they must cease to be foreigners; or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation , claiming nothing, deserving no previlages , far less any preferential treatment- not even citizens rights.”
The same person once supported Hitlers creation of a supreme race by suppression of minorities.
Hence folks it’s game on. We have a general idea of the “ New India by 2022” that our PM Modi speaks about every other day. Don’t be mistaken to think that the New India will be one of Economic Prosperity, but will be the idea of Hindu Rashtra where secular Hinduism will not prevail. What will prevail will be militant Hindutva leading to the end of the India was formed with the sacrifice of millions in the Indian Freedom Movement.
Now it is upto us Indians to decide what kind of India we want for our future generations, hence the importance of this General Election 2019 which will probably be a watershed moment in the subcontinent’s history. What we decide now may have far reaching consequences for generations to come. Hence, let’s all Vote responsibly.
Food for Thought
RC
rohitchennithala.blogspot.com
rohitchennithala.home.blog
Abhinav Bharat is a far right hindutva organisation founded by two retired Military men in 2006 in Pune, Maharashtra. It has a large base in Madhya Pradesh. The organisation is believed to be the revived form of the pre- independence era Abhinav Bharat Society. Abhinav Bharat Society also called Young India Society was a secret society founded by VD Savarkar and his brother in 1903. This organisation was one of many that cropped up across India during times of Militant Nationalism. It carried out few assassinations if British officials, the most notable being the Nasik Conspiracy Case - assassination of AMT Jackson, the district magistrate of Nasik.
VD Savarkar was convicted and deported to the Cellular Jail in Andamans for life. From 1911 onwards multiple Mercy Petitions were sent to the then Bombay Government for his release on compassionate grounds. In 1920, the Indian National Congress and leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Vithalbhai Patel and Tilak demanded his unconditional release. Savarkar was ultimately moved to a jail in Ratnagiri and later to Yerwada Central Jail. He was finally released on 1924.
Upon release, he was elected President of the Hindu Mahasabha in 1937 and served until 1943. Under his leadership, the Hindu Mahasabha openly opposed the call for Quit India Movement and boycotted it. He famously stated “Hinduize all Politics and Militarize Hindudom” during the Second World War and decide to give full support to the British. Instead of Joining Quit India Movement he asked his followers to enlist in the armed forces of the British Raj and learn “ arts of war “. Savarkar was an outspoken critic of the Mahatma whom he considered a “hypocrite and a naive leader who has a very narrow and immature head”.
Following assassination of The Mahatma on January 30th 1948 by Nathuram Godse, who was an active member of the Hindu Mahasabha and the RSS, it was found that Savarkar was an investor of a company- who’s Daily publication was edited by Godse Named “Agarni- Hindu Rashtra”.
VD Savarkar was arrested by the police and charged with murder, conspiracy to murder and abatement to murder charges. According to Digambar Badge on 17th January 1948, Nathuram Godse went to have last Darshan with Savarkar in Bombay before the assassination and was blessed “be successful and return” by Savarkar. However, Badges, testimony was not accepted as the approvers evidence lacked independent corroboration and hence, Savarkar was acquitted.
Soon after Independence, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookherjee resigned as Vice President of the Hindu Mahasabha dissociating himself from its “AKHAND HINDUSTAN” Plank, which implied undoing partition. This call for Akhand Bharat is raised by Hindutvawadi organisations like the Hindu Mahasabha, the RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the BJP.
I felt so much prelude of history is required to talk more about the grouping Abhinav Bharat in its present form and where its roots come from.
Himani Savarkar, the neice of Nathuram Godse and the wife of Vinayak Savarkar’s nephew, was elected the president of the present Abhinav Bharat group in 2008.
Many of its members were arrested on the suspicion of being involved in the 2006 Malegaon bombings. Abhinav Bharat was also been accused of plotting to kill RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat who they thought weren’t doing enough for Hindutva.
The Caravan news magazine conducted interviews of the recently acquitted and released Swami Aseemanand, who was accused in the Ajmer Dargah, Mecca Masjid and the Samjhauta Express terror bombings, in which he named RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat in relation to the above mentioned terrorist attacks which he now vehemently denies.
The modus operandi of the organisation Abhinav Bharat and the RSS for that matter is crystal clear. They were antagonised at the Mahatma for him seeking Hindu- Muslim unity and assassinated him. They consider individual terrorist attacks as their ways and means of achieving their goal even in these times.
It is hence not surprising that, The Indian National Congress which proponents Gandhian principles of secularism and Nehruvian socialism is their main enemy. They consider the Muslim community their enemies and partition hinderance to their goal of Akhand Bharat. As we all know the BJP is their political front which is run by the engine and horsepower of RSS and other hindutva groups.
It is out of this hindutva organisation that Sadhvi Pragya Thakur belongs.
Sadhvi Pragya of the 2006 Malegaon Terrorist Bombing fame was recently made the BJP candidate from Bhopal Parliamentary seat.
Even though not surprising, the BJP has taken a calculated risk by her candidature.
She faced arrest, but was granted bail following dropping of charges by the Special NIA court considering her ill health. She currently faces trial for charges under the Unlawful Activities ( Prevention ) Act (UAPA).
Our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has today endorsed her candidature saying “ the ticket to Sadhvi Pragya is the answer to those who branded 5000 year old civilisation as terrorism.” It is with disgust and contempt that I could read this statement clearly to satisfy his bosses at the RSS and keep them happy in between the ongoing General Election.
I would like to refute PM Modi’s statement with points from history.
Communalism/ Sectarianism is basically an ideology which gives more importance to once own religious/ ethnic groups rather than to the wider society as a whole.
Extreme Communalism is the notion that not only different religious communities have different interests, but also that these interests are incompatible i.e., two communities cannot coexist because interest of one community come in conflict with those of the other.
The BJP- RSS - Abhinav Bharat are proponents of the Extreme Communalism.
Communalism grew in our country because of the fact that socio- economic distinctions in Indian society coincided with religious distinctions. The inherent class contradictions were given a communal colouring by the vested interests.
Religion actually did not dictate the economic and political interests of the Hindus or Muslims. One community (consisting of Hindus and Muslims) differed from another ( also consisting of Hindus and Muslims) by language, culture, social status, food and dress habits, social practices, customs and so on. It is true to say that a Bengali Muslim will have much more in common with a Bengali Hindu than with a Punjabi Muslim.
As Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said in his book Discovery of India “ There has been a difference of a generation or more in the development of the Hindu and Muslim middle class, and the difference continues to show itself in many directions, political, economical and other. It is this lag which produces a psychology of fear among the Muslims”.
Written in times of the Independence Movement, Nehrus prophecy turned out to be true as seen in the past 5 year rule of the Right wing Modi Government, under which the minorities lived in constant fear of mob lynchings, NRCs, Citizenship of India Acts, Triple Talaq Bills, Hindutva terror- the list is endless.
Historians ignored the fact that politics ancient and medieval as of all times and everywhere was based on economic and political interests and not on religious considerations. The refusal to accept a composite culture in India was in the interest of British and communal historians. Hence, they portrayed the ancient phase of Indian History as Hindu Phase and the Medieval Phase including the rule of the Mughals as the Muslim Phase. The conflict of ruling classes during the medieval phase were distorted and exaggerated as Hindu- Muslim conflicts.
The minority Communalism met with a reaction from the majority Communalism. History seems to be repeating itself in cycles as we see similar circumstances in our country.
Any discussion on Hindutva would be incomplete without mentioning about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It is one presently one of the most powerful independent organisations of the world. It’s organisational growth has seen a tremendous boost under the Modi Government in the past 5 years. A statement of one of its previous Sarsangchalaks or Head MS Golwalkar is aptly sums up its intentions-
“ The Non- Hindu people of Hindustan must either adopt Hindu culture and languages, must learn and respect and hold in reverence the Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but those of glorification of the Hindu race and culture... in a word they must cease to be foreigners; or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation , claiming nothing, deserving no previlages , far less any preferential treatment- not even citizens rights.”
The same person once supported Hitlers creation of a supreme race by suppression of minorities.
Hence folks it’s game on. We have a general idea of the “ New India by 2022” that our PM Modi speaks about every other day. Don’t be mistaken to think that the New India will be one of Economic Prosperity, but will be the idea of Hindu Rashtra where secular Hinduism will not prevail. What will prevail will be militant Hindutva leading to the end of the India was formed with the sacrifice of millions in the Indian Freedom Movement.
Now it is upto us Indians to decide what kind of India we want for our future generations, hence the importance of this General Election 2019 which will probably be a watershed moment in the subcontinent’s history. What we decide now may have far reaching consequences for generations to come. Hence, let’s all Vote responsibly.
Food for Thought
RC
rohitchennithala.blogspot.com
rohitchennithala.home.blog
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