The RSS shrugs off M.S. Golwalkars take on minorities. Is it evolution or pre-poll tactics?
IN JUNE THIS year, former president Pranab Mukherjee did the unthinkable. He accepted the invitation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)—a hindutva organisation reviled by the Congress, and more recently by its president Rahul Gandhi—visited its Nagpur headquarters, and addressed a gathering. Though he told the gathering that Indian ethos stood for tolerance and pluralism, Mukherjee’s visit sent out a subtle message against political untouchability. As a result, the RSS’s stock grew instantly.
Last week, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat spoke extempore during a three-day lecture series held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. He addressed the concerns about the 93-year-old organisation’s past, its secretive style of working, and also about a possible course correction. Bhagwat appeared to distance the sangh from its political progeny, and all but disowned M.S. Golwalkar’s controversial views on Muslims and Christians. Bhagwat said, “If we do not accept Muslims, it is not hindutva.... Hindutva is Indianness and inclusion.” It was the first time that Muslims were given a space within the definition of hindutva. Golwalkar—the RSS’s second and longest-serving chief— had painted them unpatriotic and alien to the Indian ethos in his book, Bunch of Thoughts.
Did the sangh drop the baggage to change with the times? “Without com-promising on the fundamentals, he has presented the RSS to a larger audience as an acceptable and progressive organisation,” said Prafulla Ketkar, editor of the Organiser, the RSS mouthpiece.
Esta historia es de la edición October 07, 2018 de THE WEEK.
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 October 07, 2018 de THE WEEK.
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
Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
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