RSS says, all Indians are Hindus. But where is the real action plan for making a constitutionally valid Hindu Rashta (Nation-State) in Bharat?

Indian descendants of Hindu culture. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says all Hindustanis (Indians) are Hindus, triggers controversy. Why not a Constitutional Hindu State here? 

Upananda Brahmacahri | HENB| Cuttack and New Delhi | 11 August 2014::  Again the issues related to Hindu, Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra (Nation-State)  have paced enough in the socio-political mind in ‘India, that is Bharat’ in order to highlight the pulsation of the majority people of the country better known as ‘Hindusthan’.

If inhabitants of England are English, Germany are Germans and USA are Americans then why all inhabitants of Hindustan are not known as Hindus, came a poser from Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangha (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday 10th August.

“The cultural identity of all Indians is Hindutva and the present inhabitants of the country are descendants of this great culture,” Bhagwat said while speaking at the ‘Golden Jubilee’ function of an Odiya weekly, “Rashtra Deep” here. Rashtra Deep is the most circulated Odiya weekly run by RSS activists and supporters.

The RSS chief further went on to say that Hindutva is a way of life and Hindus could be of any religion worshipping any God or not worshipping at all.

Referring to Vivekananda, Bhagwat said not worshipping any God is not necessarily an atheist rather the one who doesn’t have faith in self is sure an atheist.

He said the world has now realised that Hindutva has been the only basis to keep India united since ancient days despite having plenty of diversities.

He, however, expressed concern saying that some in India are not realising it and whenever a discussion on it takes place, the protagonist are wrongly branded as communal.

Speaking on the current world scenario, the RSS leader said there is darkness everywhere and the world at large is looking at India for solace because India still marches on the path of righteousness.

“As long as dharma exists in India, the world will continue to respect this country. But once dharma is gone, no force on earth can stop the country from crumbling,” the RSS leader warned.

On Monday, 11 August,  RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday received flak from non-BJP parties for his suggestion that all Hindustanis are Hindus with many leaders wondering if he has read the Constitution and really believes in it.

Congress leader Manish Tewari said Bhagwat would be well-advised to read the Constitution which very specifically states that India is Bharat, a union of state, and the word “Hindustan” is nowhere mentioned.

Sitaram Yechury of CPI(M) said Bhagwat should make it clear if he believes in Constitution.

“He should make it clear if he believes in it. In our Constitution, the country is Bharat not Hindustan,” he told reporters.

JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said India has come so far since Independence by keeping its faith in the Constitution and its future lies in following the same course.

BSP Chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati while slamming Bhagwat said he does not have “proper knowledge” of the Constitution.

“When Ambedkar ji (Bhimrao Ambedkar) wrote the Constitution he kept in mind that our country comprises various religions and people follow them. So the name Bharat was given, the word Hindustan was not used. The RSS chief does not have proper knowledge of the Constitution. He should learn that and then comment,” she said.

Father Savrimuthu of Archdiocese of Delhi expressed concern over Bhagwat’s comments, saying India is a pluralistic country but the RSS head has tried to put everybody under one umbrella.

“Our nation is great and known for unity and diversity… Now you (RSS) are trying to make one nation, one religion, one culture, trying to put everybody under one umbrella which is not right,” he said.

Seeking to downplay the row over Bhagwat’s comments, BJP leader Vinay katiyar said, “what he (Bhagwat) mneant by ‘Hindu’ was ‘Hindustani’. He never spoke about interfering in religious practices of people.”

Bhagwat on Sunday asked if inhabitants of England are English, Germany are Germans and USA are Americans then why all inhabitants of Hindustan are not known as Hindus.

“The cultural identity of all Indians is Hindutva and the present inhabitants of the country are descendants of this great culture,” Bhagwat said while speaking at the ‘Golden Jubilee’ function of an Odiya weekly in Bhubaneswar.

The RSS chief further went on to say that Hindutva is a way of life and Hindus could be of any religion worshiping any God or not worshiping at all.

Our Delhi Bureau chief Angnesh Tripathi have captured the opinion of  Upananda Brahmachari, Chief Editor, Hindu Existence on the current issue that ‘all the inhabitants of Hindusthan (Bharat- India) are virtually Hindus’. The points of importance are given below.

(i) The matters related to Hindu, Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra should not be the points of mere discussions or debates. RSS has been successfully campaigned the matters enough since 1925, the Establishment of the largest organisation in Bharat. Now, the organisation must take concrete action to make 100% Hindu, Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra in Bharat within 2025, within 100 years of its establishment.

(ii) The traditional and cultural concept of Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra as endorsed by RSS is not objectionable, but unless RSS takes initiatives to make Bharat as a constitutionally and internationally valid Hindu Rashtra here, nobody will get a scope to speak a single word for Hindutva or Hindu Rashtra after 2025. Keep it mind that 2025 is the deadline for a viable Hindu Rashtra in Bharat.

(iii) Those name sake Hindus like Sitaram Yechury, Manish Tewari or Mayawati are barking against Hindutva, have no knowledge about Hindu, Hindutva or Hindu Rashtra. They are all anti-Hindu or their vested interest of politics. People of India are interested to all about Hindutva from Chatrapati Shivaji down to the legacy of  Swami Vivekananda, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sri Aurovinda, Rabindramath Thakur, Dr. Hedgewad, Savarkar and so on. They all champion of Hindutva and their ideology of Hindutva is still relevant in Bharat, not of these secular maroons like Sitaram Yechury, Manish Tewari or Mayawati.

(iv) Those who are talking about constitution should keep in mind that History of this ancient country of Dharma and Manavata (Rightouness and Humanity) cannot be replaced by any recent constitution. Recently, this country was divided at the time of Independence in 1947 on the basis of ‘Two Nation Theory’. These two nations are, Hindus and Muslims. Muslims got their portion of Pakistan as Muslim Nation and Muslim State. But, Hindus still awaiting their portion as constitutionally and internationally valid Hindu Nation-State  in Bharat. This disparity must go without any debate.

(v) Hindus in Bharat must start a new struggle for getting a constitutionally and internationally valid Hindu Rashtra (Nation-State) in this holy land of Hindus as a natural demand for a single Hindu Rashtra for more than one billion Hindu people on this earth. Henceforth, Hindutva must be an action plan for making a practical Hindu Rashtra than a theoretical points of discussion anymore. There is no doubt that Hindu is a way of life, but it is more important to make a space of Hindu Rashtra to ensure the survival of this way of life. This is practical Hindutva.

(with an input from PTI)