A most striking paradox of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that he wears M.S. Golwalkar on one sleeve and Mahatma Gandhi on the other. These were two irreconcilable leaders who could not be more different in what they preached. Modi's youth was shaped by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, where he worked as a pracharak, an activist in the shadows for many years. Golwalkar, who made the RSS a national force, was his idol.
Modi has been a zealous votary of Golwalkar's philosophy of hindutva. It is a curious irony that Golwalkar was inspired by the revolutionary firebrand V.D. Savarkar, who propounded the foundational idea of hindutva and Hindu Rashtra through his books and speeches, but was an atheist. He was a member of the Hindu Mahasabha and not the RSS. He propagated a collective Hindu civilisational identity as the essence of Bharat or India. It was not a religious identity for Savarkar, but the aims and activities of the RSS have, over time, morphed into a religious crusade for the creation of a Hindu state.
The rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the formation of Islamic states replacing monarchs and dictators in neighbouring countries, and in the Middle East and North Africa, along with appeasement of minorities for votes by the Congress and other parties, helped the RSS enlist more Hindus for its fight for a Hindu state. The propaganda that Hindus were under threat resonated with many, and catapulted the BJP to power at the Centre and in many states, including in the northeast, where Hindus are not in the majority and where the population consumes beef.
Esta historia es de la edición June 04, 2023 de THE WEEK India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 04, 2023 de THE WEEK India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock