Promising Hindu superiority, Hindutva has been turned into a vicious doctrine that promotes ultra-nationalism, religious fundamentalism and intolerance
Muslims are a suspect community in India and, in some states more than others, are increasingly becoming targets of scorn and terrorism at the hands of radical and fundamentalist Hindu outfits. What lies at the root of this is a fundamental change in the outlook of a segment of Hindus towards non-Hindus and minorities.
They call this doctrine of hate and terror, ‘Hindutva’.
In an election related petition before the Bombay High Court the appellants contended that an appeal to vote for Hindutva amounted to an appeal to vote on grounds of religion and therefore is a corrupt practice under the law. The respondents argued that ‘Dharma’ or ‘Hindutva’ or ‘Hinduism’ are all synonymous terms and appeal to vote for Hindutva was not for religion, but for culture. The Bombay High Court agreed that Hindutva or Hinduism was culture falling within Article 29 of the Constitution.
Later, appellants before the Supreme Court of India submitted that ‘Hindutva’ or ‘Hinduism’ was no religion but a way of life which incorporated noble values such as respect for all religions and the moral code of conduct for every sphere of human activity that evolved in this land from most ancient times, inter alia, included secularism. In support of this they relied on two earlier Constitution Bench Judgments of the Supreme Court in the cases of Yajnapurushdasji (1966 (3) SCR 242) and Sridharan (1976 (4) SCC 489). The court accepted the contention of the appellants and further observed that Hinduism and Hindutva accept and respect every religion and recognize the right of every individual to practice any religion.
Hailed as landmark judgment, this was expected to put an end to misinterpretation of Hindutva or Hinduism as religious fundamentalism or its misuse by exploiting religion for politics that could destroy the secular character of the Indian Nation. But this was not to be.
Most unfortunately, Hindutva has been turned into a philosophy of ultra-nationalism by right wing Hindu fundamentalists. Its votaries gloat over the rise of Hindutva on the pyre of Hinduism, for they have felt embarrassed and humiliated by Hinduism as it is.
Being a faith and way of life, fundamentalists saw Hinduism as weak and inferior to Semitic creeds that had a strong presence in India and which they found to be well-bounded, monolithic, masculine, organized and capable of sustaining the ideology of an imperial state. This was demonstrated by the past conquests of Hindu states by Muslim invaders from Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran that established their dynasties at different times and later by the Christian British colonialists. Consequently, they felt a strong need to build Hindutva on the tenets of reformed Hinduism, redefine the origins and evolution of Hindu civilization and religion and project Hindu power by building India into a powerful regional player and persecute Muslims, Christians and other minorities.
Sangh Parivar, a family of Hindu nationalist organizations of which Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad are part, adopted new Hindutva as its guiding ideology. Shiv Sena, a highly controversial political party of Maharashtra, shares this ideology and is very closely associated with Sangh Parivar. The record of these right winga radical right wing political party a radical right wing political party a radical right wing political party radical parties in pursuing ultra-nationalist agenda and engaging in indiscriminate massacre of minorities, particularly Muslims, is enough to show the true colors of Hindutvavadis (followers of Hindutva).
Since the first horrific Mumbai blasts of 1992 a persistent campaign has created a perception that Muslims were behind every terror activity, promoting a shrill paranoia about the existence of a vast and homegrown Islamist terror networks that were sometimes linked to Kashmiri freedom struggle and at other times to Pakistan’s ISI. This was reinforced by biased media coverage and political campaigning.
And it is this frame of mind that has slipped into the Indian criminal justice system too. The police, investigating agencies, intelligence agencies and even the lower courts, under the media and government pressure to show results after bomb blasts and killings, have found Muslim youth easy scapegoats for blame to be heaped on for all acts of terrorism, instead of finding actual culprits. These young men are rounded up even if Muslim communities themselves are the targets of Hindu terror. They are put away in jails without evidence, tortured without regard to their rights and even ‘convicted’ by the courts on the basis of their so called ‘confessions’. Their future is destroyed and their families are made destitute.
With this militant Hindutva on the rise, Indian secularism is clearly on the decline.
The well known Indian publication ‘Tehelka Magazine’ in its January issue makes startling revelations about the Hindutva conspiracy to commit large scale killings of Muslims. It has published the voluntary confession of a zealot who has for long remained directly involved in the planning and execution of such acts of terrorism.
According to the magazine, on December 18, 2010, Swami Aseemanand, an elderly Bengali man and key accused in 2007 Mecca Masjid blast (in Hyderabad Deccan) that claimed nine Muslims lives, voluntarily confessed before the metropolitan magistrate of Delhi his involvement in a string of terror attacks. He did this in full knowledge that his confession could take him to the gallows.
Naba Kumar Sarkar, popularly called Swami Aseemanand, a Hindutva leader and a rabid Muslim hater, was arrested in November 2010 after being a fugitive for two years. He was known to be very close to RSS leadership, including former RSS chief KS Sudarshan, current chief Mohan Bhagwat and politicians like Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.
According to Aseemanand, it was a momentous emotional transformation that prompted him to take this step of seeking prayschit (penance). He reportedly told the magistrate, “When I was lodged in Chanchalguda district jail in Hyderabad, one of my co-inmates was Kaleem. During my interaction with Kaleem I learnt that he was previously arrested in the Mecca Masjid bomb blast case and had to spend about a year and a half in prison. During my stay in jail, he helped me a lot and used to serve me by bringing water, food, etc for me. I was very moved by Kaleem’s good conduct and my conscience asked me to do prayschit (penance) by making a confessional statement so that real culprits can be punished and no innocent has to suffer.”
The confessional statement spread over 42 pages went beyond terror attacks against Muslim communities. It unraveled the inner working of Hindutva terror network, provided names and extent of involvement of Hindutva leaders in the conspiracy, uncovered legal evidence about the planning and execution of terror acts over past several years by Hindutva zealots and provided forensic evidence that connects the missing links that has eluded investigators so far. In short, this one confession unfolds the mystery surrounding RSS reign of terror against minorities.
This testimony and earlier investigations have revealed new faces that lie at the heart of the terror conspiracy. One such person is Indresh Kumar, a member of the RSS central committee. His own party men have confessed before CBI investigators that he mentored, bankrolled and directed the RSS pracharaks in carrying out Malegaon, Hyderabad, Samjhauta Express, Ajmer and Mecca Masjid attacks. Evidence has surfaced that these radicals even bombed Hindu temples and blamed the attacks on the Muslims groups.
Bharat is not a secular country as it propagates itself to the world. It is a Hinduvta state, only it does not have the courage to admit it. Muslims are its main targets but Christians and other minorities and even its own scheduled class are not spared. If this policy is not arrested India will have scores of anti state organizations rising up in addition to the many they already have, and then its disintegration will be a foregone conclusion. Shahid Sb as usual has brought out a well researched and timely article which reflects the true face of the Hinduvta state– Bharat, its leaders and its policies. They will not stand the test of time and unless the policies and attitude of the majority changes they will head toward their own disintegration.
786:
THANKS TO MUSLIM INFLUENCE, CULTURE, AND RULE OFCENTURIES IN INDIA, MAJORITY OF POOR HINDUS WERE TREATED BY A MINORITY WEALTHY HINDU COMMINUTY CALLED BRAHMENS, LIKE SLAVES / CATTLES / USABLE COMMODITY.
THE POOR DOWN GRADED HINDUS WERE MERCELESLY TORCHURED EVEN IF THEY PASSED NEAR THE WEALTHY BRAHEMANS TEMPLES. THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH ANY THIG WHICH BRAHEMENS USED.
EVEN UPTO BRITISH RULES, THIS TREATMENT WITH MAJORITY WAS PREVELENT.
I HAVE SEEN THESE PERSONALLY. PEFORE PARTITION I LIVED IN BOMBAY, POONA, MADRAS, BANGLORE, UP, RAMPUR & BHOPAL.
If we are to use a few individuals as proof of the extremism of a nation or a peoples, then a few individuals are proof of the extremism of a religion or a religious group. Such a “logical” argument would need to first condemn the communists, then the christians, then the muslims before getting to Hindutva. There is no question that crazy killing extremists need to be identified and to be defeated from good people. But that is not the argument presented. The argument presented as that India is not secular because of the acts of a few Hindus. Then, my so called open minded friends, islam is not peace oriented and “The infiltration of Hindutva radicals (islamists) in the armed services with links to terror groups should be a matter of grave concern for the Indian (all) political leadership, as well as for the army top brass.”
A really logical look would ask, 1 billion stated muslims, 1 billion stated Hindus. What is the rate of terrorist thinking in each group. Of course we can recognize state terror in the form of ISI type activity as well as KGB and CIA. Of course we can recognize state terror in the state’s failure to create peaceful societies for minorities (say gays in Iran). Of course we can recognize state terrror in state sponsored sites for cross national missions as from Pakistan to Mumbai. And then we must recognize how many pulpits, how many imams… as a ratio of their dialogue… mention god’s justification to kill the enemy (with accounting for cause). Then we are approximating a real scientific / objective understanding of a ideology that has issues with inferiority complexes that in turn propagates hatefulness, crusades, jihad, and the occasional hindu riot.
Put simply: Islam: A Story of Hate and Terror. looking forward to the article.
Isn’t it odd that an untouchable has the right to a face in society but a woman has no right to a face in society in islamists nations? Who is the more oppressed? Isn’t it odd that a muslim can live and prosper as a muslim in India, yet a Hindu can’t worship freely in Saudi Arabia. Who is more oppressed? Isn’t it odd that a untouchable can be at the core of Indian political thought and development while despots and sultan’s wouldn’t allow a hindu into their court but as a piece of property for their harem?
History. Comparative history will help defeat bias in what you see. The greatest horrors of history were done by communists, then christians, then muslims. If you demand perfection from your enemy, then that black and white thinking is what must end. If you seek truer understanding, you must understanding comparative analysis.
786:
DEAR FRIEND, DO JUSTICE TO HISTORY.
MUSLIMS RULED INDIA FOR CENTURIES, BUT YOU WON’T FIND ANY MENTION OF ANY TORTURE / DISCRIMINATION / OR INTERFERENCE IN NON MUSLIM WAY OF LIVING / BUSINESS / CULTURE / DAY TO DAY LIVING.
MUSLIM RULERS HAD COMMANDERS, MINISTERS, FINACIAL INCHARGES, TOP ADVISERS AND EVEN SENIOR MOST LADY OF THE FAMILY NON MUSLIMS.
DURING AND AFTER PARTITION THER WERE VERY FEW RIOTS IN PAKISTAN THAN INDIA.
PAKISTAN’S FIRST FINANCEMINISTER WAS A NON MUSLIM, CHIEF JUSTICE WAS NON MUSLIM, EVEN A VERY SENIOR AIRFORCE COMMANDERS WERE NONMUSLIMS.
I FULLY APPRICIATE THAT NEHRU AND GANDHI DID THERE BEST TO STOP MUSLIM MASSACERS. AND YOU HAD MUSLIMS AS PRESIDENT, AND ARMY GENERALS.
SO GOOD THINGS DO HAPPENED, BUT INTERESTED POWERS IN THE WORLD ARE DOING THERE BEST THAT WE SHOULD REMAIN ENEMIES.
“Karkare was bumped off during the 2008 Mumbai attack, ostensibly by RSS and other Hindutva radicals whom he was exposing….”
Interesting, to say the least.
Does this mean that the various anti India agencies like the LeT which orchesrated the Mumbai massacre have teamed up with the RSS now? I wonder if Kasab confessional shed any light on this angle….
Hello Gorki
This reply is about another matter. I had read your last email and now when I wanted to reply couldn’t trace it. I must have erased it by mistake. If you have a copy of that email, please re-send or write back your email address.
Nasir Khan
The Indian Republic has a long history of fighting all kinds of terrorists who claim to fight for all kinds of obscure religious causes; Islam, Sikhism, Hindutva etc. since its founding but the Indian armed forces have remained steadfastly true all along to the secular ideals of the Republic. In that they alone are an exception among all the armed forces of the nations in South Asia.
For example the Muslim officers and men served with distinction during the wars with Pakistan in 1948, 1965, 1971 and during the Kargil conflict. Similarly the Sikh officers and men remained loyal during the attack on the Golden temple which was carried out by the army under the command of a Sikh Major General and a Sikh Lieutenant General. When a local reporter asked a Sikh officer how he could be part of an attack on one of their own religious sites; he replied, I am a soldier the army itself is my religion.
Of course there have been isolated exceptions like Shabeg Singh and now Colonel Purohit, (who is in custody and under trial) but these people acted alone in their individual capacity.
The author betrays a major weakness by using nothing but more than the alleged words of another under trial terror suspect Aseemanand, to write up a whole article and coming to the following conclusions:
“One wonders if this is only the tip of the iceberg. The infiltration of Hindutva radicals in the armed services with links to terror groups should be a matter of grave concern for the Indian political leadership, as well as for the army top brass….”
For great intellectual author i have only one question. In Pakistan hindu population came down to 1.5% and in banglAdesh it came down from 30 to 9 %. In india muslim population moved up to 13.5%. YOu yourself should think about the most tolerant people in this world are hindus. If they were like TERRORISTS they would have done the same that is today in Pakistan
This man, Siddiqi has worked with Pakistani Air force, which is now a defunct organization. So his track record in providing philosophical guidance is dubious.
Contrary to what he says, Hindus have created India which is a large economic, democratic, academic, industrial, military and cultural power in the world that everyone recognizes. They also have allowed 130 million muslims to prosper in India.
In contrast, Ex-Hindus (Pakistani Muslims) have created a corrupt, failing, hopeless, lawless and violent society. They have exterminated all other cultures and religions and now have turned on each other. The country is 99% muslim and no other country wants to follow a pakistani example.
In the end, the only difference between India and pakistan is the religion, India is Hindu, pakistan is muslim. That’s the only difference why it explains why one country is prospering and the other is collapsing. It is high time pakistanis abandon islam and come back to Hinduism.
We have heard it enough times, the strongest remained Hindus, the weakest were converted to islam (by a sword or next to a bed).
http://india_resource.tripod.com/islam.html
The source above is just one picked from a simple search. There are others. I like it as it nuanced enough to suggest scholarship.
“MUSLIMS RULED INDIA FOR CENTURIES, BUT YOU WON’T FIND ANY MENTION OF ANY TORTURE / DISCRIMINATION / OR INTERFERENCE IN NON MUSLIM WAY OF LIVING / BUSINESS / CULTURE / DAY TO DAY LIVING.” – not so.
“INTERESTED POWERS IN THE WORLD ARE DOING THERE BEST THAT WE SHOULD REMAIN ENEMIES.” Certainly this is true. Those powers believe that there is only one right, one good, one god that all must obey and anyone else is an enemy of the true good. Some people with these beliefs call themselves Hindu, some Muslim, some christian… Indeed. Pakistan is wracked by powers that are doing their best to keep sects of islam as enemies. But we can externalize this false ideology on only one way and say they are the enemy. Or we can internalize this construct and understand when we believe we have the right book, the right prophet, the right name of god, we participate in this evil in the world.
So I look forward to learning from history and rejecting monobook ideology. But, the argument presented by the author is that a few persons can be equated with Hindutva being terrorist. That logic more strongly applies to Islam, yet that is rejected on the basis that a few do not represent the many. One must then conclude that the author is propagating his own bias rather than arguing reason or empiricism.
Its sad… But all that you have said is true..good job !
We are waiting for the great pakistan to certify if we are secular or not. look at your own backyard, people are dying everyday in some blast or the other and please for god sake do not blame that on hindu terror! Being a pakistani i can expect you do that too! Nothing has been proven against Swami Aseemanand, also in one of the interviews on rediff.com a more credible news website that Tehelka says Aseemanand was helping the poor people in India – so which one would you consider? India is secular and people are more tolerant here than the violent and lunatics across the border.
Mr Jeremy Hammond ,
The comment by someone who call himself ‘Ali’ to deceive readers about his identity but I suspect him to be a Hindutva fascist using a Muslim name to attack Islam, Prophet Muhammad, and ‘Pakis’ in in such a vulgar way that astounds me!
But I do not want to reply to his vulgar nonsense, though. Not that that I can’t but because I won’t be drawn into such a nonsense.
What this person says does not belong to what we assume to be a civilised way of expressing one’s views for or against some topic. I will be happy if you remove his silly comment as offensive from World Policy Journal.
Correction:
I meant Foreign Policy Journal.
Yes, such comments constitute spam, and it’s been removed.
The article is pathetic. What happened is that after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, the US fed steroids to Pakistan and to Islamic jihadism. The result was a campaign of terror against India and Hindus in particular. This led to a nationalist backlash from Hindus. Hindutva is a self-defensive reaction, and not some lebensraum that the author fantasizes about. Hey, you push me and I’ll push back.
The corrupt Congress Party in India is a clone of Hosni Mubarak’s govt, and likewise always seeks to paint its political opponents as religious fanatics in order to portray the Congress Party as the savior against fanaticism. This is an age-old tactic by corrupt kleptocracies, whether in Turkey, Egypt, India, etc.
The more these kleptocracies fear losing power and facing the wrath of the people, the more they cling to the “fanaticism” card and seek to build it up in order to preserve their own crooked hegemonies.
For those of you who are offended by a Pakistani exposing the dark secrets of Hindu society, I invite you to read the following article by Kuldip Nayar, a former Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom and a former Rajya Sabha member.
Saffron terrorism rears its ugly head – By Kuldip Nayar (Jan 29, 2011, Gulf News)
http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/saffron-terrorism-rears-its-ugly-head-1.753598
DO YOU KNOW, MR.SHAHID R SIDDIQI, THE WRITER OF THE ABOVE ARTICLE, PASSED AWAY AFTER A HEART ATTACK ON FEBRUARY 23RD 2011.
INNA LILLAHAY WAA INNA ILLAHAY RAJAOON.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEASE. AAMEEN.