Hindutva Milking the Cow

PatriotsAndPartisansByByRamachandraGuha

PublishedbyPenguinIndia|Pages:352|Rs.699

Books/CoverStories/Extracts MAGAZINE|NOV19,2012

BOOKEXCERPTS

WhoMilksThisCow?TrackingthatspeciesofHindutvawadi,obsessivelytrollingtheNet,lookingforslightstothefaithRAMACHANDRAGUHA

Iwasborninahomeofbroad-mindedHindus.Myfather,thoughbycasteaBrahmin,neverworeathread.Hisownfathersbrotherwasalifelongopponentofthecastesystem;ahostelheopenedforDalitstudentsstillfunctionsinBangalorecity.Mymotherwentfromtimetotimetoatemple,butwashappytoeatwithormakefoodforhumansofanybackgroundorcreed.Twoofherbrothershadmarriedoutofcaste;athirdhadmarriedaGerman.

When,in1984,Igotmyfirstjob,attheCentreforSocialStudiesinCalcutta,Ihadtofillinaquestionnairewhich,amongotherthings,askedmetodenotemyreligion.IwroteHindu,immediatelyattractingtheireofafriendwhoworkedatthesamecentre.Hefeltthatasecularstatehadnobusinessaskingforapersonsreligion,andthusIshouldhavelefttheanswerblank.ThisfriendwasaMarxist,so(althoughhewouldnotthenrecogniseoradmitit)heactuallysubscribedtoafaithofhisown.

AsIsawit,Iwasbroughtup,ifloosely,intheHindutradition.OnecouldstillbeaHinduandnotbelieveinindeed,militantlyopposecastediscriminationandthesubjectionofwomen.OnecouldbeaHinduandstillberespectfulofotherfaithsandtraditions.ThatiswhatmyreadingofGandhihadtaughtme.AndifGandhi,whoinadultlifedidnotenteratemple,andwhowasvilifiedbysantsandsankaracharyas,couldyetcallhimselfaHindu,sowhenpushedcouldI.

FiveyearsafterthisdebatewithaMarxist,IencounteredarathermoredirectchallengetomyHindufaith.IhadbeenwithateamofscholarstoinvestigateacommunalconflictinandaroundthetownofBhagalpur,inBihar.Theriotwas

www.outlookindia.com|WhoMilksThisCow? http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?282904

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ItsbroughtmeintocontactwithacertainkindofIndianwhogetsupbeforedawn,hasaglassofcowsmilk,praystothesungod,andbeginsscanningcyberspaceforthedayssecularheresies.

sparkedoffbythebrickworshipceremoniesconnectedwiththeplanstobuildaRamtempleonthesiteoftheBabriMasjidinAyodhya.TheceremoniesclashedwithaMuslimfestival,andviolencebrokeoutbetweenyoungmenofthetworeligions.Theconflictspreadoutwardsfromthetownintothecountryside.

NearlytwothousandpeoplediedintheBhagalpurriots.Manymorewererenderedhomeless.AlthoughMuslimswerelessthan20percentofthepopulation,theyconstitutedmorethan70percentofthosewhohadbeenkilledordisplaced.Wevisitedaonce-flourishingvillageofMuslimweavers,orjulahas,whosehomesandloomshadbeentotallydestroyedbyamobofHindus.ThesurvivorswerebeingtakencareofbyaprosperousMuslimweaverinBhagalpurtown,whohadlaidouttentsinhisgarden.OtherrefugeeswerebeingprovidedfoodandshelterbyaMuslimreligiousorganisation.Ofgovernmentworkintheresettlementandrehabilitationoftherefugeestherewasnotasign.

IwasshakentoseethatmyfellowHinduswouldwillinglypartakeofsuchsavagery,andthatmygovernmentwouldtakenoresponsibilityforthevictims.Tillthen,thepoliticsofreligionhadnoplaceinmyscholarlyworkorwriting.Myprincipalfieldofresearchwastheenvironment.IhadjustpublishedabookonthesocialhistoryoftheHimalayanforests,andhadwrittenscholarlyessaysonenvironmentalconflictsinAsiaandNorthAmerica.However,IwasnowprovokedtowriteanessayontheBhagalpurriotsfortheSundayObserver.Thatnewspapercollapsedsoonafterwards,butIremaingratefultoitforpublishingthefirstarticleIwroteonthebloodycrossroadswherereligionandpoliticsmeetinmodernIndia.

II

Inthe1990sandbeyond,asthereligiousrightgainedinstrengthandimportanceacrossthecountry,Iwasmakingthemovefromacademicstobecomingafull-timewriter.Inowpublishedfortnightlycolumnsintwodifferentnewspapers.Mybrief,ineachcase,wasverybroad;Icould,anddid,writeonhistoryandsportapartfrompolitics.ButsincetheseweretheyearsinwhichtheSanghparivarmovedfromthemarginstothecentreofpubliclifeinIndia,naturallyIwroteabouttheiractivitiesaswell.

RSScadreatoneoftheoutfitsfunctionsinnorthDelhi.(PhotographbyNarendraBisht)

Inthepasttwodecades,ImusthavepublishedsomefortyarticlesthathavedealtwiththepoliticsorpoliciesoftheBharatiyaJanataPartyandtheRashtriyaSwayamsewakSangh,orofstateandcentralgovernmentsledordirectedbythem.Thisconstitutessomewhatlessthan10percentofmytotaloutputthatistosay,atleastnineintenofmyarticleshavedealtwithothersubjects.However,itisalwaysarticlesthattouchonthephilosophyandpracticeofHindutvathatattractthemostattention(andanger).TheyhavebroughtmeintocontactwithacertainkindofIndianwhogetsupbeforedawn,hasaglassofcowsmilk,praystothesungod,andbeginsscanningcyberspaceforthatdayssecularheresies.IfacolumnIwritetouchesinanywayonfaith,Hinduism,Hindutva,GuruGolwalkar,Gujarat,orAyodhya,bybreakfastIhavehaddeposited,inmyinboxorperhapsintheCommentssectionofthenewspapersownwebsitemailswhicharehurt,complaining,angry,ordownrightabusive.Arepresentativesamplefollows:

Ithinkyouarelivingonotherplanet.Ashistorian,ifIndiasintegrityisatstakefromterroristIslamicShaitanPakistanyouarequibllingonsmallmatters....socalledpseudohistorianslikeyoubesmirchIndiainWesternmediafromwhomyougetsinecuresandroyalty.

RamachandraisverymuchaHinduname.Pleasedontinsultthatname,andshowyoursecularismbychangingyournametorahimorrehaman.anyway...sanatanadharmadoesnotwantcowardslikeyou!!!especiallycowardswhorapetheirownmother(land)!!!Itwouldbetoyouradvantageifyougetmentallytreatedbeforeitistoolateifyouaresufferingfromamentalproblemof


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Butforallthisloveofthemotherland,itsstrikinghow,whilethisparticularhereticlivesin

distortionsandifitistreatableandcanbecured.Goodluck.Whenmuslimsgotalandtoliveoutofthelandthatbelongstohindusofindiasince2000BCwhereistheneedformuslimstocontinuetoliveinIndiaandiftheycannotgototheretothelandgiventothemtheyshouldkeepquietandvoteinPakisthanelectionsnotinIndia.Youtoocangowiththemtopakisthanandlivethere...Iwillbethemosthappiestmanifapoisonlikeyouisnotexistinthisworld.Ifsoourcountrywillbemoresafewithlessoneenemy.

SometimesthemailsaresentasletterstotheeditorofthejournalswhereIwrite,withacopymailedtome.Theseostensiblyimpersonalrejoinderstendtoberatherforcefulaswell.Considertheseexamples,wherethehistorianischaracterisedas,respectively,aNaxalitesympathiser(butsimultaneouslyaNehru-Gandhifamilyloyalist),anewspapersalesagent,acovertChristianmissionary,andasakintoaSwissbank:

Indiahasbeenonecountrynotinthewestophiliansensebutinadharmicsenseforthelastthousandsofyears.HemightnothaveheardaboutAdiSankarawhowasborninKaladibutestablishedMuttsinthefourcornersofIndia.ForhimIndianspiritualunitydoesnotexist.GuhawhoisaNaxalitesympathiserhasgotpermissionfromSonia(Gandhi)tousethearchivesatNehruMuseumtowritehisbookandsosingthesongsoftheSoniaDynasty.

WhatyournewspaperwantcheappublicityIcanunderstand.ActuallyyouwanttoincreasesellofnewspaperthatswhyyoupublishedthistypeofantiIndiaandantiRSSarticlebecauseatleastRSSpeoplewillbuyyournewspaper.Ivownottobuyyournewspaperandwilltrytoconvincemoreandmorepeople.TheegoistpeoplelikeGuhawillbepunishedbymassesalongwithyou.

AnycriminalinIndiacangethisstupidviewsoneverythingunderthesonpublishedinanysocalledsecularpublicationandevenearnaverycomfortablelivingprovidedheinvariablystartshispiecewithalamentationabouttheuntoldsufferingtheChristianshavebeenundergoinginIndiasinceindependence.Butstill,howcouldsomewhatdecentpeoplelikeMrVinodMehta(theneditorofOutlookmagazine)toleratethesefakeintellectuals?Itisadvertisementincome,stupid.Thecontrollingshareofalmostallmultinationalsareheldbychurchgroups.

MrGuhawasoneofthehistoricalcartelsinIndiawhobrainwashedtheyoungandimpressionablestudentsinIndiaabouthowworthlessancientIndianheritagewas....IthinkRamachandraGuhasassetsareliabletobeproceededagainstinaClassActionlawsuiteitherinIndiaortheUSAliketheSwissBanksroleinprofitingfromtheHolocaustvictimsunderHitlerbylaunderingthesufferingsofHitlersJewishvictims.TheSwissBanksreceivedthegoldfromHitlersGermanyincludingthosemeltedfromthetoothfillingsofhisJewishvictims.IbelievetheColonialvictimsofIndiaandtheirdescendantsincludingthosevictimisedbyMr.GuhacensorshipofancientIndianHeritageforideologicalreasonsareonasimilarstandingtotheHolocaustvictimsandtheirdescendants!!!

Notalllettersareangryorabusive.Somearewritteninaciviltone,yetreflectthesameanxietiesand(dareonesay)paranoiasofacertainkindofmodernHindu.AletterIreceivedfromanelderlygentlemannowbasedinElCerrito,California,fearedthatIndiawasbecomingaMuslimnation.Inthe1940s,theleadersofwhatthismancalledaroguereligionhadintriguedwiththeBritishtocreatePakistan;now,theysoughtbydemographicmeanstoconvertthealreadybalkanisedmotherlandintoanotherIslamicstate.Afghanistan,wrotemyCaliforniancorrespondent,wasoncea100percentBodth(Buddhist)CountryandentirepoplationwasconvertedtoIslambytheterroristictacticsinthepastmanycenturies.Now,theMadarsasofIndiaaretoochurningoutterroristslikePakistanattheexpenseofHindutaxpayers....SoonthepopulationexplosionofMuslimswillmaketheminMajorityandthefateofIndianTempleswillbethesameasBamyanBudhahadfaced....YoumaynotbeabletogivesuchthoughtstotheIndianPressbecauseofcertainreasonsbutthesefearsarerealandfeltthousandsofmilesawaybyHinduswhoarelivinginUnitedStates....

Sometimes,thechastisementisgentle,offeredinsorrowratherthananger,andoutliningthehopethat,despitemypasterrorsandmisdemeanours,ImightyetcometorespectandevenrepresentthecauseofthevulnerableandaggrievedHindu.AcorrespondentwithwhomIhadanextendedexchange,asked:

Ibeg,pleasedoafavour.DonotuseeverysingleopportunitytooffendthosewhospeakforHindus.Wehavenowheretogo.Thisisourfatherland/motherlandourspiritualland.Thelandofourgods.Andwehaveonlywelcomedeverypersecutedraceonearthandgivenspacehere.Helpedthemtoflourishandnowwearepayingtheprice.Therearebiggermonsterstofight.Pleaseuseyourenergythere.Weneedbrightintellectualslikeyouthere,sir.Forourgreatnationanditsgreatcivilisation.Andlikeitornot,theHinduCiviilsationistheonlygluethatkeepsourgreatnationtogether.AndifitdieswehavenoidentityandIndiawouldnotexist.

III

ThiswasaselectivebutnotunrepresentativesampleofthemailsIhavereceivedovertheyearsfromtheintenselychauvinistictribeofInternetHindus.Ihavereplied,ascourteouslyasIpossiblycould,toeache-mailIreceived(apracticeIstillmaintain),butdiscontinuedthecorrespondenceif(aswasoftenthecase)themailerprovedincapableofreasoneddiscussionordebate.Ihavewithheldthenamesofmycorrespondents.Notably,theywereallmale.IdohaveoneHindutva-orientedmailerwhoisawomanbutsheisanexception,theonlyoneIhaveencounteredinsomefifteenyearsofsuchcorrespondence.Alongwiththegenderbiasisacastebias.Sharma,Shukla,Rao,Iyer,Guptathesekindsofsurnamesrecurwithregularityinmyinbox.Thesearetypicallydwijanames,denotingtwice-borncasteswho,accordingtothetenetsoforthodoxHinduism,canwearthesacredthread.(MyexperienceinthisregardtendstoconfirmthecharacterisationoftheBJPasaBrahmin-Baniaparty.)OthernamesIrecogniseareofKayasthorRajputorigin,thatistosay,alsoupper-caste.


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India,somanyofhisorthodoxopponentsarebasedoverseas,indecidedlyun-HinduEuropeandtheUS.

Thefundamentalistisconvincedhewillbevictorious.LiketheMarxist,theevangelicalChristian,theIslamicfanatic,theHindutvawadineedstoconstantlyreassurehimselfthathellwinintheend.

Theageprofileishardertoconstruct.Itappearsthatalargeproportionofmymailersareintheirtwentiesandthirties,butthereisasignificantsprinklingofseniorcitizensaswell.Theformertendtobeimpatient,seekingtoovercomeIndiasmanifestweaknessasanationandastatewithaninfusionoftherightkindofdharmicenergy.Thelattertendtobeanguishedorbitter,believingthatIndiathrewawayitschancesofbecomingagreatandpowerfulnationbecauseoftherelianceofitsleadersontheperniciousWesternideologyofsecularism.HadIndiafollowedtheexampleofIsrael,theyargue,andbaseditsnationalunityonasharedreligion,languageandsacredtext(Hinduism,SanskritandtheVedas,inthiscase),itwouldhavestoodtallamongitsneighbours,andintheworld.Forthesedespairing,defeatistnationalists,theonetruemomentofnationalpridewaswhenIndiadefeatedPakistaninthewarof1971,forthembothrevengeandconsolationforcenturiesofhumiliationatthehandsofMuslimandChristianinvaders.

VHPmenmomentsbeforetheBabriMasjidcamedown,1992

TheyoungprofesstodetesttheWesttoo.Butforallthisloveofthemotherlandandtheancestralfaith,itisstrikinghow,whilethisparticularhereticlivesinIndia,somanyofhisorthodoxopponentsarebasedoverseas,intheprosperousanddecidedlyun-HindunationsofEuropeandNorthAmerica.Oneofmyregularmailerswritesfromhishomein1650VoyagerAvenue,SimiValley,CA,USA.Asecond,whochoosesrathertoaddresstheeditorsofthejournalsIwritefor,signshisnameandthenadds,bywayoffurtheridentification,OutWest,USA.Athird(theonlywomaninthepile)writesfromCanadaandalwaysremindsmethatsheisaPhD,WesternOntario.Afourth,wholikewisecombinesanadmirationofindigenousculturewithanalmostunreasoninghatredofthemodernWest,nonethelessneverfailstomentionthatheisthepossessorofthoseveryWesterncertifications,M.D.,PhD.Afifthendedalongandveryangrymailwiththeseoddlydefensivesentences:IriskofbeingdismissedasaunemployedHindufundamentalistandwouldnotbesurprisedatallifthismailisputintrashcan.HenceIthinkitisappropriatethatIintroducetoyouthatIamaexperiencedSeniorManagementprofessionalworkingwithaMNCinIndiassunshineindustry.Asixthfirstasked:Whocaresaboutyouropinion,man?YouspeakasifyouarerepresentingabillionplusHindus!Dimwitsandslaveslikeyousitinacornerofyourdimlylithousesandpontificatetoothers;andthenofferedhisown,rather,betterqualificationsforspeakingaboutthesubjectathand:Iameducated,young,wellread(with3mastersdegrees)andresidinginthewest.YetIhavegreatprideandrespectformycountry,itsculture,myHindureligion,itsHeroes,Godandphilosophies.

ThesociologicalbackgroundoftheHindutvahate-mailercanbepartiallyreconstructedfromhisnameandbackground.Hisideologyismoredirectlymanifestedinhismails.ThisrestsonadeepsuspicionofandhostilitytowardsthoseIndianswhoarenotHindusbyreligiousbackground.ChristiansandespeciallyMuslimscomeinforspecialanimosity.Andyet,asthehistorianDharmaKumaroncepointedout,thephilosophyofHindutvaonlymimicsandreproducestheideologyofitsmajoradversary.ItsunacknowledgedmodelistheIslamicstate,wherethosewhodonotbelongtotherulingfaitharetoleratediftheyareobedientandsubservient,butattackediftheyseektoasserttherightsofequalcitizenship.

HindutvawadisthuswanttoconstructwhatDharmaKumardescribedasanIslamicstateforHindus.InmedievalMuslimstates,therewasacategoryknownasdhimmi,consistingofJewsandChristians,who,aspeopleofthebook,weretreatedsomewhatmorelenientlythanthekafirs,theunbelievers.Thedhimmiwerebarredfromthetoppositionsinthestateandinthearmy.However,solongastheypaidtheirtaxesanddidnotchallengetheruler,theycouldliveinpeaceandsecurity.Thekafirs,ontheotherhand,wereseenalwaysandinvariablyasadversaries.Inthesamemanner,iftheRSSweretogetitsway,MuslimsandChristiansinmodernIndiawouldliveundisturbed,solongastheyacknowledgedtheirtheologicaland


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politicalinferioritytothedominantHindus.Butiftheysoughtequalrightsofcitizenshiptheywouldbepunishedasthekafirshadoncebeen.

Likeallfanatics,theHindutvahate-mailerthinksinblack-and-white.AlthoughIamaliberalwhohasconsistentlystoodagainstleft-wingaswellasright-wingextremism,thedefaultreactiontomycriticismsofHindutvaisthatImustbeacommunist.Themailthatfollowsischaracteristic:

Ifthecommunistjournaliststhinkingtheycandistroyanorganizationbywritingfewwordsagainstthem,youarewrongsir.Therewasatimepeopleforcedtobelivewhatyouwrote.ButtodaythereismassCommunicationbetweenpeople.Unlikeearliertherearepeoplenowtorespondagainstcommunistjournalistsimmediately.TodayevenyourownmediacannotsurvivewithoutsupportingHindutva.YouseetodayyourCPMchannelinKeralaislivecoverage(thoughitwassponsored)ofaMahayagamatThirivananthapuram.90%oftheparticipantsareSanghParivarleaders.IpityyourCPMchannel,theyhavenootheralternativebuttotelecastthelivecoverage.Rememberthatourworkisalreadyspreadseachandeverycornerofthecountry.Nowweareengagedtoincreaseouractivitismorepowerful.ItisourchallangewewilldismantleCommunistpartyinIndia.Youwaitandseewhatisgoingtohappeninthecomingtime.

Theextremistonlyrecognisesotherextremists.SinceIcarryaHinduname,yethavedistancedmyselffromthebigotryandchauvinismoftheHindutvawadi,Imustbeacrypto-communist.

TheTajMahalPalace,Mumbai,underattackduring26/11.(PhotographbyReuters,FromOutlook19November2012)

Apartfromthinkinginblack-and-white,thefundamentalistisconvincedthathewill,intheend,bevictorious.Thistriumphalistrhetoric,however,isactuallyaproductofparanoiaandinsecurity.LiketheMarxist,liketheevangelicalChristian,liketheIslamicfanatic,theHindutvawadineedsconstantlytoreassurehimselfthathewillwinintheend.ThismailIreceivedfromayoungmanofGujaratiextractionisbothtypicalaswellasrathersad:

NarendraModiistheChiefMinsterofmygreatstateGujarat.HeiswithoutdoubtthegreatestChiefMinsterinthehistoryofIndia.OnedayinthenearfuturehemaybecomethePrimeMinsterofIndia.YouallthirdrateparasiticaldhimmitoadswhodonothingallyourlivesexceptlectureothersandcontributenotanioatatotheIndianeconomycanthentakeapermenantsabbiticaltoyournaturalabodePakiStan.YoucanbarkyoucanrantandyoucanuseeveryconceviableweapontovillifyanddemoniseNarendraModiandusGujaratisandeverytimewewillshowyouenviousscumsoftheearthtwofingersandtreatyoulikeonetreatssewage.WeGujusareno1andwillalwaysremainno1whetheryoulikeitornotandcontinuetocontributethehighesttotheIndianeconomy....YouthirdratefilthweGujushavenothingbutcontemptanddisdainforyourtypes.youcancontinuebarkingandrantingagainstmyState,itsChiefMinsterandherpeopleandeverytimewewillsayUpyours!

Tothisdeepsuspicionofdiversityandpluralism,thistendencytothinkinblack-and-white,thisinsistent(ifultimatelyunconvincing)claimthattheyarehistorysinevitablewinners,letmeaddonefinalcharacteristicoftheHindutvahate-maileranutterlackofhumour.Themailsalreadyquotedillustratethisinabundance,butconsideralsosomeresponsestoanessayIwrotecriticisingtheMinistryforHumanResourcesDevelopmentforproposingthatthewifeoftherichestmaninIndiabemadeabrandambassadorfortheiradultliteracycampaigns.Ihadpointedoutthatifoneisthinkingofanametomotivatepoorwomenormentolearntheirletters,nonamecouldbemorespectacularlyinappropriatethanNitaAmbanis.Sheissoontobetheresidentofa4,00,000squarefeethouse;sheisalreadytherecipientofaBoeingaircraftasabirthdaygift.Ifthisexhibitionismdoesnotruncontrarytoourconstitutionalcommitmenttosocialismandequality,Idontknowwhatdoes.AsforourothernationalcommitmenttosecularismandthescientifictemperwhichIpresumethe


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Hatemailsincreaseatparticularmoments...beforethe1999,2004,2009generalelections,IgotafloodofmailswarningthatIdbeputinmyplaceoncethepartyofthefaithfulcametopower.

HRDministryshareshowdoesonesquarethatwithMrsAmbanisperiodicvisitstoaSouthernhill-toptoprayfor,ofallthings,acricketteam?

ThearticlewaspublishedinapaperthatdoesnothaveaneditioninBangalore.Downloadingitthemorningitappeared,Inoticedthattheboysweanedoncowsmilkhadcomesniffingalready.OnemailercomplainedthattheSouthernHilltopthejournalistsocallouslyreferstohereisthemuchreveredLordBalajistemple.Wheredothesepeoplegetthenerve??WillhesayPeoplerunningtomiddleeasterndesertforHajpilgrimage??ThisiscalledProvingonessecularcredentialsbyputtingdownthemostreveredLordinIndia.Anotherangrilyasked:WouldMr.GuhahavetakenaswipeataMuslimperson,worthyorworthlessinherownright,forprayingfivetimesadayorfordoingHaz?Whythisstep-motherlytreatmentforvisitingtemples?

Fortunately,thesemailershadbeenputintheirplacebyanIndianwithasenseofproportion,whorespondedtotheirscreedsasfollows:Therewegoagain,justdragreligioussentimentsintoit,andfinishoffwithaHindu-Muslimcomparisontohighlightaperceivedbias.(Guha)wascommentingon(NitaAmbanis)visitstoprayfor,ofallthings,acricketteam...Thepointbeingshewasprayingnotforliteracy,notforendofpoverty,notforbenefitoffellowman,countryorworldbuthercommercialinterestsinacricketfranchise.

IV

ThenumberandintensityofHindutvahatemailsinmyinboxhasvariedoverthepasttwodecades.TheyhaveincreasedandbecomemoreabusiveatparticularmomentsaftertheGujaratriotsof2002,forexample,oraftertheterrorattackinMumbaiof2008.Beforethegeneralelectionsof1999,2004and2009IalsogotafloodofmailswarningmethatIwouldbeputinmyplaceoncethepartyofthefaithfulwouldbeelectedorre-electedtopower.Themailsflythickandfastintimesofpoliticalcontroversy,buttheybynomeansdryupinquieterperiodsin-between.Forthehard-corefundamentalist,thehuntforhereticsisafull-timebusiness.

Ishallendthisessaybyquotingfiveveryspecialmailsthat,intheirindividualanddistinctiveways,illustratethepeculiaritiesandpathologiesoftheHomoIndicusHindutvawadi.

ThefirstmailoffersthisapparentlycarefulandclosedefinitionofHinduism:

AHinduissomeonewhobelievesinthenativeandnaturaltraditionsofIndia.ThesetraditionsincludealifestylethatiscompatiblewiththenaturalbountiesandlimitsofIndia.Abeliefinthemultiplefacetsofspiritualityandtoleranceofdiverseconceptsofgod(s)(incl.thatitisManwhocreatedgod(s)-nottheotherwayaround!).BythistokensomeMoslemsorChristiansmaybebetterHindusthanthosewhowerebornHindus.ButingeneralHindusarethebackboneofIndiaandgiveititstruecharacter.Minoritycommunities,nomatterhowlarge,aretheunfortunateremnantsofpastinvasions.WesternizedsecularslikeRamachandraGuhaaremerethirdratestoolpigeonswhocouldnotmovetothericherWestontheirownbutwouldsayanythingtoharmthecoreofIndiaforafewdollarsasbaksheesh!

Thedefinitionwashoweverunderminedbytheaddressofthewriter(outwest,UnitedStates)although,asapatrioticHindu,perhapshehaddemandedofhisemployerthathebepaidin(saffron-colouredandlotus-shaped?)rupees.

AransackedchurchinKandhamalin2008,Orissa

Mysecondexample,comingalsofromanon-residentIndian,isnotableforitscapaciousdemonology,whichincludedMuslimsand


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EnglishmenbutprivilegedabovealltheMuslim-lovingandEnglish-lovingrenegadeHindu,JawaharlalNehru:

DearMr.Guha,

Ihavereadsomeofyourarticles,theheadingsofyourarticleshavenothingtodowithbodyofyourarticles,everyarticleisBJP/RSSandHindubashing.

ButifyoucaretoanswertwoquestionswhichareaskedbylargenumberofIndians,thequestionsare:-

1.AfterBritishleftIndia,allBritishinvadershadleftIndia,whyMusliminvaderswerenotevicted?WhatrightNehruandGandhihadtokeeptensofmillionsofMuslimsaftergivingthemhomeland(readHinduland)?2.Ifthereare150millionMuslimsinIndiathenwhyPakistanwascreatedandifPakistanwascreatedthenwhythereare150millionMuslimsinIndia?

AreyoudenyingthatbeforeBritishtookoverHinduswerenotfightingtogetridofMuslims?ItseemsallthehistoriansareonSaudipayroll.

WhenIcometoIndiaItalktorickshawwallas,railcoolies,waitersandotherrealIndians,allaskthesamequestions.TheytalktomebecausetheyknowIliveoverseasandIamnotadangertothemlikejournalistsandpeoplelikeyouwhoimmediatelydeclareHindusanti-Muslim,anti-secular,chauvinistsetcandalsoletpoliceandCongressgoonsletonthem....

Nehruwasaloafer,thugandaruffian,hewasonlyinterestedinLadyMountbatten,cantyouseethedamagedonebyNehru?Kashmir,Tibet,AksaiChinanddecimationofHindusociety?AboutGandhi,lesssaidthebetter.

Butcomingbacktomytwoquestion,doyouhavethecourage,guts,IQtodetachyourselffromwhiteskinnedladyandanswertruthfully,notyourgeneraldoble-de-gook....

ThethirdexampleillustratesthehectoringandbullyingtypicalofacertainstrainofHindutva.ItwaswrittenfromMaharashtra,afterIhadpublishedanarticleinTheTelegraphofCalcuttaontheMaoistthreattoIndiandemocracy.IhererecalledasimilarthreatfromtheextremerightintheearlydaysofIndianindependence,andmentionedinpassingthatGandhismurderer,NathuramGodse,hadoncebeenamemberoftheRashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh.AnangrymailerclaimedthatmyarticlehasnothingtodowithfactsandhistoryalsoequatingRSSwithMaoistissheerlieandhencecourtsuitisinevitableagainstyouifyoudoesnttendersstraightawayapologytoRSS.


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Tobefair,thecriticismsalsoallowedforabenigninterpretationofthewordsthatappearedundermynamenamely,thatIwassufferingfromsomekindofmentalsickness.

ABajrangDalactivistduringtheGujaratriots,2002.(PhotographbyAFP,FromOutlook19November2012)

WehavesuccessfullycounteredsuchtypeofblasphemouspropagandaagainstRSSthroughcourtbattle....SoIamherebydemandingimmediateapologyfromyouandTheTelegraphforthereportorbepreparedforlegalbattle,Incaselegalbattlestartsitissurethatyourcareerasjournalistwouldendabruptly,soitisnotinyourpersonalinteresthencebettertotenderapologyandendthematterherebeforereachingtotheCourtpremises.

NoapologywasofferedeitherbymyselforTheTelegraphalibelsuitisyetawaited.

MyfourthexampleillustratesthestreakofparanoidtriumphalismIspokeofearlier.AfterIhadpublishedalongessayexplainingwhy,giventhesocialandpoliticalfault-lineswithin,Indiawouldnotandshouldnotbecomeasuperpower,areaderwroteintosaythatIndiaisbound2beworldpower.Takemywords.PeoplelikeMrGuhaareagentsofChinaandtheyalsogototemple(thoughinthedarkofnight).Ofallthehatemailsthat,overtheyears,havepoppedintomyinbox,mypersonalfavouritecamefromaman(witharesoundinglyBrahminname,asithappens),livinginthetownofGhaziabad,inUttarPradesh.This,inonesinglesentence,encapsulatedthesentimentsofhisfellowfanaticsandideologues.Itissuspected,saidmycorrespondent,thatyouaregettingmoneythroughHawala(theblackmarket)fromantiIndiaforcesoryourmindsetiscommunistoryouarepsychologicallyweakrequiringtreatmentormoderntimeAsura(demon)wishingtodestroymotherland.Ithinkofmyselfasapatriot,wholoveshiscountry,andlivesandworksinit.Ialsothinkofmyselfasamoderate,middle-of-the-road,liberaldemocrat.Butbythedefinitionsofright-wingHindusIwassomethingelsealtogether.SinceIfoundflawsinHindutvathought,itwasself-evidentthatIcouldnotbeapatriot.SinceIcriticisedthepracticeofHindu

fundamentalistgroups,Imustbeanextremistontheotherside,thatistosay,acommunist.SinceImadethesecriticismsrepeatedly,itwasoverwhelminglylikelythatIwasinthepayofforeignpowers.AndsinceIwaspublishedinawell-circulatedIndiannewspaperIwasprobablyademonindisguise,too.Tobefair,thecriticismsalsoallowedforamorebenigninterpretationofthewordsthatappearedundermynamenamely,thatIwassufferingfromsomekindofmentalillness.IfonlyIcouldseetherightdoctor,whowouldthenprescribemethecorrectmedicines,themotherlandwouldbesaved.


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ExcerptedfromPatriotsandPartisansbyRamachandraGuha.Publishingdate:November20,2012.

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