Hindutva is not what Centre-Left liberals constructed – Part I
For decades, our public discourses had been carefully constructed by Centre-Left liberals or those who are denoted in common parlance simply as the ‘liberals’. Hindutva is one such ideology manipulated by liberals and cunningly presented as the equivalent of political aspects of Islam! They continue this wrong and deceptive comparison even to this day. One reason is the attempt to maintain false supremacy of secular-liberal philosophies hence, relegating any political ideology seeming to have connection with any traditionally ‘perceived’ religions and thus grouping them in a basket. The other reason is their own disregard to objectively understand the ideology, thus hiding away from the reality concerning their Right-Liberal counterparts. The insincerity of Centre-Left liberals in defining Hindutva is also the result of a face-saving tactic, to appropriate everything bad to a poorly perceived term- Religion.
Not addressing the issue however is only aggravating the very existence of centre-left liberal and communist parties in India. The Congress Party has officially become a family dynasty with worst performances in elections. The communist party of India (Marxist) or CPIM has only its substantive presence as of now in the state of Kerala, which is also facing existential crises due to the appeal of Hindutva among the members and sympathizers of the party. The CPIM leadership has openly stated this situation of growing Hindutva adherence within the party cadres and the failure of its leadership in preventing this situation. The communist leadership has recently urged to conduct a detailed study of Hindutva ideology to better understand it and devise policies to sustain communism and check on the growing appeal of Hindutva among communists.
No matter what will be done, the future of CPIM in Kerala is going in the same and expected trajectory of CPIM in Bengal. The remarkable aspect of this ideological migration from left-center to right of liberal spectrum for secularists is that it is not a conversion in a strict manner. A congress nationalist and a communist need not ‘convert’ fundamentally and ideologically to be accepted as a right-wing adherent. So why is that atheists and communists who consider religion to be the ‘opium of masses’ flocking to Hindutva? How is Hindutva embracing atheists, agnostics and those who do not consider Vedas to be of divine revelation? Why does Hindutva accept to its fold unhesitatingly those who completely reject the teachings of Vedas, Upanishads etc.? Understanding Hindutva ideology as constructed by liberals will fall short of explaining these questions. Afterall, all that it takes for a centre-left liberal to become a Hindutva supporter and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) proponent is to slightly upgrade their understanding of Nationalism and Secularism which we will explain in this series of essays on Hindutva.
Nationalism and Ideological sync between Congress & Hindutva
Liberal writings on Hindutva are awash with poorly generalized and cliché jargons of ‘communal’, ‘religious fundamentalism’ etc.; without further explaining these concepts. Almost all liberal commentators, analysts, journalists etc. make sure to pin and equate any mention of Hindutva to Islamic political ideologies or groups. They maintain that since these are related to ‘religions’ as they understand it, they are each other’s equivalent. This is an intellectually bankrupt and ideologically false statement which are deliberately used to appease a small section of liberal populace and mislead others.
Analysis of the works of M.S Golwalkar and Savarkar from a non-liberal philosophical worldview as well as basic observance of the activities/ rhetoric of Hindutva idealogues however, gives another dimension of this oppressive ideology that facilitates any layman except True believers to sympathize and embrace it. What most liberal analysis on Hindutva fails to acknowledge is the nature of the ideology of Nationalism among other things that are core creeds of Hindutva. For Golwalkar, there was only a slight variation of his Nationalism with the Nationalism of a centre-liberal Congress party. In Bunch of Thoughts, Golwalkar says, The Nationalism of Indian National Congress was a lifeless hybrid-concept of territorial Nationalism[i]. Arguing further, he insists that ‘we must correct the initial blunder, which we committed in accepting the new-fangled idea of Nationalism’.[ii] Thus Golwalkar’s mission with RSS as he clearly states is to implement the correct form of Nationalism or upgrade the Nationalism of Congress party to its pure form. It should also be pointed out that, Golwalkar in many instances of his speeches- which is compiled in the form of Bunch of thoughts-has mentioned about many Congress leaders who share the same thought of his but are afraid to speak of.
Talking of Indian National Congress leader and former President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Golwalkar states; “even those who talk of broad-minded outlook have the same beliefs as we have (alluding to anti-Muslim sentiment)- despite not expressing it straight way. They take a roundabout way, but in the end, come to same conclusion about solid fact of Hindu Rashtra and about the real nature of the non-Hindu communities living in our country, especially the Muslims, issue of which is most concerned in their minds”.[iii] This is the reality of Congress leaders even today, which people like Shashi Tharoor will never acknowledge in their analysis of Hindutva and falsely portray it as antithetical to the ideologies of Congress party.
Golwalkar with the conviction of his Congress colleagues puts it: Thus, we find that even though some people may call us communal and all that, still their beliefs and our beliefs are the same. Only we have the courage to tell truth![iv] Quoting another congress leader- Kailash Nath Katzu who said to Golwalkar: “To whom else, if not Hindus, does this Land of Hindustan belongs? And whose life, if not Hindus, is the national life of this soil?”[v] These statements also implies that the concept of Nationalism propounded by RSS is also that cherished by many Congress leaders decades before. Why then should a Congress politician or its traditional sympathizer not adopt the ideology of Hindutva especially given a very supportive and conducive environment of Islamophobia like today? All they have to do is be brave and openly oppose the false accusation of ‘Muslims appeasement’ and convey their Muslim hatred explicitly.
Communism’s morphosis into Hindutva
Communism is a failed ideology today that has no vision for itself and the world. In his book Nationalism: A religion, political scientist Carlton J.H Hayes informs about the nationalism of communist idealogues and their drift away from Marx’s envision of communism which was not nationalistic. Hayes writes, after Marx’s death, communism shifted to nationalism.[vi] He argues that the successors of Marx- Lenin and Stalin had to resort to Nationalism because it was more capable than communism of arousing a religious sense.[vii] Communists in India, especially in the states of Kerala and West Bengal now find Nationalism more appealing than Communism. Since Hindutva is an ideology that considers even atheists or agnostics as Hindu, there is literally no barrier of any form that prevents communists from embracing it. Golwalkar has stated the mission of RSS as follows:
“RSS has been making determined efforts to inculcate in people a burning devotion for Bharat and its national ethos, to make people realise that service to the Nation is the supreme end”[viii]
Any honest observer can understand that Hindutva is a nationalist fundamentalism whose deity is the Nation or Bharat Mata as they claim. If it was religious fundamentalism (religion as understood by liberals), Hindutva would urge people for devotion to God and not Nation, which is a very modern ideology originated in Europe. Not only is it modern in this aspect for Hindu state is also secular. This is visible in the current politics of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the stance of RSS today. Other than conducting Hindu customs, Hindu Rashtra lacks any political model inspired from Hindu scriptures. Golwalkar’s statement “The function of state according to Hindu concept is limited to secular matters only”[ix] is from a conviction of the dearth of a political system inherent in the Hindu scriptures. Definition of Hindu is defined in the constitution or by its intellectual ideologues like Savarkar and Golwalkar to consist of everyone in the subcontinent who are not Muslims and Christians. For Savarkar and many others today, one does not even need to believe in Vedas to become a Hindu, implying its racial-ethnic understanding and not spirituality.
The appeal of nationalism is of course banded together with hatred against Muslims and Islam.. An analysis of CPIM’s policies and actions in Kerala will provide excellent insights into what the party today embodies. From parroting RSS propaganda against Muslims to imprisoning Muslim activists for protesting against BJP policies, CPIM is in the forefront of abetting Muslim persecution and oppression.
[i] Bunch of Thoughts, p.127
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Bunch of thoughts, p.129
[iv] Ibid, p.130
[v] Ibid, p.132
[vi] J.H Hayes, Nationalism: A religion. P.16
[vii] Nationalism a religion p.18
[viii] Bunch of Thoughts, p. 143-144
[ix] Ibid. p.144
