During a television debate recently, a panelist leaning towards the Congress claimed that MS Golwalkar, who succeeded KB Hedgewar as RSS chief, had said only Hindus must be considered as citizens of India, while the rest of the religious denominations ought to be left out of this category. It was a shocking allegation for both its audacity and inaccuracy, and should have been countered by the RSS representative present at the discussion but was not because the debate veered into another direction. This was not the first time that secularists and the liberals brazenly misquoted or misrepresented statements by RSS leaders, neither was it the first occasion (nor will be the last) when the allegations were not backed by historical material.
We live in a robust democratic system where everyone has the right to criticise the other’s point of view. As such, Golwalkar is not above criticism — nor for that matter is Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru or Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel etc. But one should challenge something that has been said and not something that has been concocted as being said. Had the Congress-leaning panelist on the show quoted the book or passage where Golwalkar made the remarks attributed to him, the accusation could have been worthwhile. But he did not, perhaps because he could not find it. Possibly such a comment does not exist.
Most of Golwalkar’s prominent writings and speeches are to be found in his Bunch of Thoughts. In the chapter, ‘Live Positive Dynamic Hinduism’, his explanation of Hinduism is razor-sharp and does not communally discriminate. He writes about ‘reactionary Hinduism’, in which he frowns upon the Hindu taking a decision merely to cock a snook at the Muslim. He narrates an incident involving a campaign to collect signatures again cow slaughter, saying that a Hindu leader was not too concerned about the issue but was willing to sign the petition “since the Muslims are bent upon cow slaughter”. Golwalkar disapproves of the reactionary approach and calls it “negative Hinduism”, adding that Hindu beliefs must be upheld regardless of the other side’s actions or reactions.
In yet another passage which demonstrates his commitment to the Hindu cause without disparaging other religious faiths or seeking to counter them, he says that “even if Prophet Mohammad had not been born and Islam had not come into existence, we would have taken up this work just as we are doing it today, if we had found Hindus in the same disorganised, self-forgetful condition as at present…” He adds that this positive conviction is “my Hindu Rashtra, this is my dharma, this is my philosophy…”
Golwalkar’s concept of a Hindu nation did not exclude Muslims or the other. He says, “It is essentially a cultural one.” He goes on to explain the cultural aspect, but not once does he dismiss the presence of non-Indic religions even as he emphasises on the Hindu cultural aspects. All through in the Bunch of Thoughts, he explains at length his views on nationalism, Hinduism, and the country’s cultural heritage. Some or even all of these may not be palatable to a section of the people — which is understandable given that India has a variety of opinions which are to be — and is being — freely expressed. He does express strong opinions on Muslims, but always in a context that is often deleted when he is sought to be defamed. Golwalkar may not be a hero to many in this country, but he certainly was not the demon he has been made out to be.
Discussion about this post