By Ram Puniyani
This 12th October 2024, the Vijayadashmi (Dussara), which is regarded as the foundation day of RSS, as is the practice of RSS Chief (Sarsanghchalak), Dr. Mohan Bhagwat gave a speech. This came in the background of his other significant speech in the aftermath of the slide down of BJP in 2024 General elections. In that speech he had targeted Narendra Modi. Modi had been claiming that he thinks he is non-biological, sent by God. As BJP slid down from 303 seats to 240, Bhagwat stated that “a Man wants to be superman, Then a Dev (deity) then a Bhagwan (God).” This was probably the first election where BJP claimed that it was earlier seeking the help of RSS as it was not that capable, now it is more capable.
With this speech Bhagwat brought down the rising arrogance of Narendra Modi and RSS combine (called Sangh Parivar) became hyperactive in election in Haryana, and along with the helpful manipulations of Election Commission, BJP came to power, defying the perception of sure win of Congress party.
Now in his Dussara speech he restated most of the policies of BJP, took on the states where the non BJP governments rule and outlined the deeper goals of RSS and the core of Hindutva politics, “Words like ‘Deep State’, ‘Wokeism’, ‘Cultural Marxist’ are enemies of all cultural traditions. Their modus operandi is first to bring educational institutions under their influence. They then try to destroy the thoughts, values and beliefs of the society. They then artificially create problems and inbuilt a feeling of victimhood in people. Then, they fan discontent, they make people aggressive, create an atmosphere of anarchy and instill fear and hatred towards the system, laws, governance in people. This makes it easy to establish one’s dominance over that country,”
The less popular word wokeism is used in a derogatory way mostly by right wingers for “the behaviour and attitudes of people who are sensitive to social and political injustice” This is the core sentence of his talk. As such as the Hindu right wing has been dominating the social political scene RSS combine have adopted the modus operandi whereby through shakhas, schools like Sarswati Shishu Mandir, Ekal Vidyalays and word of mouth through its vast network it has influenced the social common sense which promotes conservatism, promotes caste and gender hierarchy. Lately through control of the media by sympathetic Corporate and IT cells of BJP the thinking of a large section of society is being shaped by Hindu nationalist discourse.
Now what does wokeism do? It is the longing for a just society. It is against the discrimination on the grounds of caste, religion, color, language and supports the LGBT rights. These rights for equality of all beings are what pinch the Brahminical values, the core of Hindu nationalist politics. To slightly generalize it all the political tendencies parading themselves in the clothes of religion, Taliban, Muslim Brotherhood, politics in the name of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, Christian fundamentalism promote inequality. They do have different expressions depending on the local situations.
In another way the founders of Hindu nationalist ideology eulogized Manusmriti for the same, as it subjugates dalits and women. RSS also regards Muslims and Christians as foreigners. And it did covertly support the genocide of Sikhs in 1984. Right wing politics regards wokeism as evil as it is this which looks forward to values of equality, the goal of the journey of social movements in a society. It is precisely for this that democracy is a deeper longing for most movements of the deprived. While the movements of dalits, women and LGBT are looked down upon by Hindu nationalists in India, Women are the major targets in Muslim majority countries where fundamentalist forces rule. As RSS combine is for substituting the values of equality with the values of ‘ancient Golden period’, the values of inequality. The word Wokeism is being used by RSS ideologues for movements and ideas promoting rights of the deprived.
While internal dynamics between RSS and BJP is a parivar matter, the basic values of the two remain the same, despite the ego clashes. On most of the other issues as Bhagwat repeated what BJP is practicing. He criticized the non BJP ruling states, “Due to this, today Punjab, Jammu-Kashmir, Ladakh on the north-western border of the country; Kerala, Tamil Nadu on the sea border; and the entire Purvanchal from Bihar to Manipur is disturbed,” The cat is out of the bag when he puts Ladhak and Manipur in the same category.
Manipur has seen the worst type of violence against Kukis, and women in particular. The apathy of the BJP Government in the matter is more than disturbing. As far as Ladhak is concerned we have seen the best of the movements to protect the environment and demand for equal citizenship, as causes worthy for the struggle. And what a peaceful struggle it has been? The remarkable leadership of Sonam Wangchuk will be etched in the letters of gold. And how RSS progeny BJP has ignored the whole Ladhak movement, is a dark chapter of India’s contemporary history.
His mention of R.G. Kar Medical college tragedy and keeping mum on the atrocities against women wrestlers, the rising atrocities on dalit girls is to say the least is most partisan. Once this gentlemen had proclaimed that rape happens in India (Urban) areas and not in Bharat (villages). Most of such cases in BJP ruled states have taken place in villages or small towns. A report released by the ministry of social justice and empowerment tells us” Uttar Pradesh with 12,287 reported cases, followed by Rajasthan with 8,651 and Madhya Pradesh with 7,732 cases of atrocities against Dalits in the year 2022 show a disturbing trend…)
The gem from his speech comes when he asks the Hindus to unite and be strong, as the weak are not able to defend themselves. Are we all not united as Indians? Is there any problem in unity as Indians as per Indian Constitution? But to expect otherwise from Bhagwat will be illogical as their faith in Indian Constitution is also a mere show for electoral benefits.
