The Vijay Dashmi address of the Rastriya Swayamsewak Sangh Chief is an event which provides a glimpse into the thinking of the organization regarding various developments taking place within not only India, but throughout the world. The speech has always had many layers that need to be properly understood in the context of the times we live in and without any prejudice or bias. On Saturday, Mohan Bhagwat, the Sarsangchalak of the Sangh made multiple points during his discourse. His speech has evoked strong reactions from the Opposition while within the BJP, an attempt has been made to selectively pinpoint certain portions of what he said. The address assumes significance since it coincided with the beginning of the centenary celebrations of the RSS, an outfit designed to safeguard the interests of the Hindus. However, Bhagwat did not name any political party thereby allowing a scope for the interpretation of his text in more ways than one. His clarion call to the Hindus to unite was equally for the opposition parties as it was for the BJP, which has been pursuing divisive politics, where candidates are selected on basis of castes and community rather than their contribution to the party. Similar pattern of nominee selection is done by the opposition as well and the point sought to be made by the RSS boss is that such activities were creating divisions within the society which needs to protect itself and the country from forces which are wanting to weaken it. He warned against what the deep state, wokeism and cultural Marxism can do to erode the centuries old cultural values that we have imbibed. The RSS has been worried that its thesis of keeping the Hindus united was increasingly being threatened by the rise of the caste agenda. Therefore, the castes which had the means and resources should consider it their responsibility to come to the aid of those who needed assistance. It was not the job of the government alone to bring about parity and upliftment of the deprived sections, but also of the people of this country. The major criticism of his address is that the BJP, the party supported by the RSS, does not observe the tenets which Bhagwat was speaking about and thus he should first look inwards before advising others on what should be done. The RSS has its own way of showing its resentment and the fact that it did not work during the Parliamentary polls for the BJP nominees was its way of expressing its unhappiness over a number of matters.
Many Sangh Veterans believe that the BJP has no option but to fall in line with what the RSS wishes to pursue, and the selection of the next party president shortly would bring to fore how the Sangh is viewing the BJP at this juncture, and how it wishes to get the corrective measures implemented. Bhagwat’s call for Hindu unity was also aimed at focusing attention on the atrocities being committed in Bangladesh against the Hindu minority and has demanded an end to such acts. Although there was no detailed reference to the minorities within India, yet the RSS Chief has been advocating inclusive politics with the objective of providing education and other facilities to the Muslims in particular. It is another matter that the Muslims view the Sangh and its affiliates with suspicion and thus are not likely to be impressed by any sort of sermons. The relations between the RSS and the BJP have been strained and the Sangh has been wanting to re-assert its supremacy which has led to tensions within both the organizations. In this context, the RSS and the BJP both have to understand that excluding one community from the political narrative within the country was not going to help in unifying the nation nor would it lead to easing tensions. Therefore, the first priority should be to make the minorities participants in the electoral process so they feel reassured about their stakes in the future of the country which is so diverse and complex, that it is extremely difficult to have a single formula for keeping it together. The RSS has nationalist credentials and has come to the aid of the country on multiple occasions. During the Sino-Indo conflict of 1962, the RSS did exemplary work in discharging civil defence duties, a fact that was even recognized by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It is not without a reason that he allowed the RSS to participate in the Republic Day parade of 1963 to acknowledge its contrition towards the national cause. The problem with the RSS is that it viewed as a secretive organization which has an extensive international network; many countries abroad have full scale RSS branches under different names and also conduct Shakhas in these regions. The international wing of the RSS was founded by the late Chaman Lal who also did some exemplary work for the Indian origin people in many distant countries such as Surinam. What Bhagwat is today warning is about the stepped-up activities of many international forces which were wanting to weaken India or rather divide it. He has warned against an attempt similar to what took place in Bangla Desh. Bhagwat’s address needs to be understood for many things it has stated between the lines. While those opposed to the politics of the Sangh Parivar have every right to be critical of his assertions, it should also comfort them somewhat that the Sarsangchalak has also given a strong but subtle message to even the BJP.
