Main Presentation
Secular Democracy or Hindutva Fascism: India at
crossroads
By Daya Varma
Background
Independent India was proclaimed as a secular
state. This was in accordance with the spirit of the independence
movement, which recognized the multi-religious and multi-lingual
nature of India, and was influenced by the progressive wave of
anti-colonial struggles, modernity and respect for socialism.
However, secularism and grass-root democracy could not fully entrench
at different levels of Indian polity for a variety of reasons.
Indian National Congress (INC), which pioneered
the independence movement under the leadership of Gandhi and Nehru,
allowed communal elements to retain important influential positions
in the organization and the government. Thus despite proclaimed
secularism, Indian state did not develop a secular culture; at
best it propagated tolerance towards minorities. The communal
riots that preceded and continued during the time of independence
created an atmosphere for Hindu chauvinism in India and a favorable
background for the emergence of Hindutva ideology, which was further
encouraged by Indira Gandhi’s flirtations with Rashtriya
Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS)-type slogans during the 1980 parliamentary
elections. The alliance between the amorphous Janata Party and
ideologically consolidated Jan Sangh (the forerunner of the present
Bhartiya Janata Party of Advani and Vajpayee) in the wake of the
post-Emergency elections provided the first opportunity to Sangh
Parivar to emerge as a party of governance and expand their base.
Rise of RSS from an insignificant to a dominant
position
Although there are a number of Hindu fundamentalist
organizations in India such as Hindu Vishwa Parishad (VHP), Shiva
Sena, Bajrang Dal and all serve specific purposes, RSS is the
backbone of all of them. Since its founding in 1925 at Nagpur
on the obscurantist ideology of character building in the image
of mythical glorious Hindu India and the slogan of "Hinduism
is nationalism", RSS has grown from insignificance to the
central stage in Indian politics.
Several factors have helped the expansion and
consolidation of RSS; however, its internal organization as well
as its realistic assessment of the weaknesses of other political
formations in India have been the principal factors in its growth.
RSS followed a complete organizational policy coupled with uninterrupted
mass mobilization tactics, the most significant of which was the
Rath Yatra of Advani and the demolition of Babri Mosque in 1992.
On the other hand, democratic and secular forces were complacent;
instead of treating the Babri Mosque episode as a battle between
fascism and democracy, they converted the whole issue as a simple
Mandir-Masjid religious controversy.
What led to the expansion of RSS, will also prove
to be the tool for implementing its fascist agenda when the time
comes. RSS has floated organization of workers (Bhartiya Mazdoor
Sangh), students (Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parisad) and other
sections; it has formed issue-based organizations (e.g. Hindu
Jagaran Manch, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, Sanskar Bharti, Seva Bharti
etc, almost 40 of them) dealing with practically everything that
concerns the people of India. Moreover, RSS uses Gandhian principle
of organizing which combines propaganda with popular involvement
such as "Kathas" in working class areas, brick collection
for Ram Mandir etc.
There is a long history of the role of Diaspora
in Indian politics both during the anti-colonial struggles and
after independence. However, most Indian political parties paid
little attention to the potential role of Indian Diaspora. Hindutva
forces seem to have most clearly recognized this role. VHP started
establishing branches in different countries with significant
population of Indian origin and organized youth camps and other
events such as the anniversary of Dayanand’s visit to the
USA. RSS started its usual Shakha in the USA and elsewhere. Hindu
Diaspora was mobilized in support of Shilanyas (to replace Babri
Masjid with Ram Mandir). Vajpayee government was able to get billions
of dollars of NRI investment in retaliation against sanctions
after Pokhran nuclear tests.
With the formation of NDA government and BJP
rule in certain states, RSS has been able to create an atmosphere
of some degree of respectability for itself and its members. Although
it still is an organization of intellectual dwarfs, a number of
personalities in cultural and academic fields as well as a good
sections of bureaucrats, police and military personal no more
feel the necessity of hiding their Sangh affiliation. If an army
officer like Jaswant Singh becomes an important member of BJP
day after retirement, obviously he must have been with them secretly
while in service. This must be true for civil servants and bureaucrats
such as Jag Mohan, the most hated ex-governor of Jammu and Kashmir,
now a BJP member of the parliament.
Thus, RSS is well-set to implement its agenda.
It has both the government, mass organizationsl and armed machinery
at its disposal. Most importantly NDA government carries out many
of its controversial programs not by state apparatus but by its
affiliate organizations such as VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena,
who are now being trained in the use of arms.
RSS agenda
From the very beginning, RSS has a vision of
India as a strong Hindu nation, while accommodating its non-Hindu
population within the overall framework of Hindu ethos. A lots
of articles and books have provided evidence from the history
of RSS and from the writings of Golwalkar, its second Chief who
is responsible for major expansion of the organization and from
the writings and statements of other leaders. However, within
this framework of a strong Hindu Nation with one dominant culture,
RSS has adjusted its policies as needed. A good example of this
adjustment is the stand on Babri Masjid. Both Advani and Joshi
who acted like heroes when the Mosque was demolished pretended
to have no hand in its demolition at the Liberhan Inquiry Commission
now that both are important ministers in the BJP-led National
Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. NDA government claims to
abide by the court ruling and the construction of Ram Mandir at
the site of the mosque seems to be indefinitely postponed although
preparations continue.
With massive grass root organization of Sangh
Parivar and entrenchment in the Central and several provincial
governments mystified by fabricated differences between the ruling
BJP and its ideological-political head RSS and support in the
affluent middle class, bureaucracy and military, India is confronted
with the both the tool and program for fascism.
Forces for and against Hindutva
The neoliberal policy and globalization has created
a relatively large affluent class, which constitutes a favorable
base for Hindutva ideology. In addition, big businesses such as
Ambani and Bajaj have acquired influential positions in BJP and
the government. At the same time India is a country with a very
rich cultural heritage, strong influence of left democratic movement,
a substantial minority population and even larger Dalit population;
these are in life-death struggle against the evolution of India
into a theocratic Hindu state. Hindu nation means Brahminical
order; Sangh Parivar want to make it a reality by winning over
all those such as Dalits, backward classes and Muslims who are
not part of it and have everything to lose should it succeed.
Thus it is not easy to fulfill the dreams of Hedgewar and Glolwalkar
in the real India.
Sangh Parivar is cognizant of these hurdles against
its primary objective. Perhaps that is why it does not seem to
be in any haste. In order to implement its agenda, Sangh Parivar
must change India’s cultural heritage of a composite culture
which originated during the Moghul rule and flourished thereafter.
It is no surprise therefore that the current emphasis of the ruling
BJP-led NDA is to invade history, education and media. Rewriting
history, changing textbooks, controlling film industry and television
have received the highest priority.
NDA government: much harm in a short period
Since coming to power in 1997, the BJP-led government
has caused tremendous cultural, economic and political damage
to India.
There have been numerous attacks on minorities
especially the Christians to ensure that tribals, Dalits and Adivasis
do not abandon oppressive Hinduism as their religion. Education
and educational institutions have come under attack; subjects
like Astrology have been introduced at the University level and
numerous senior position in academic institutions have been bestowed
upon incompetent pro-BJP academics. Hussain’s painting was
attacked, the shooting of Deepa Mehta’s film "Water"
at Varanasi despite the fact that the script was officially approved
was disrupted and pro-BJP jury with no credentials in arts were
selected to the jury at film-awards. Muslims, Dalits and other
minorities were singularly denied relief after the Gujrat earthquake.
Gandhi’s Samadhi was washed because President Musharraf had
gone there to offer his country’s respect. There has been
systematic attack on workers and trade unions and a new act is
being formulated to exempt industries employing up to 100 workers
from abiding by the Trade Union ACT. Disinvestment of public enterprises
is proceeding at full swing even to the dismay of BJP trade Union
BMS. Constitution is under illegal review in an attempt to fix
the term of Parliament, thus making it immune to non-confidence
motion; as well a direct election for the position of Prime Minister
is being proposed. NDA government intervenes in most important
International forums by sending disproportionately large number
of BJP delegates such as happened during the meeting of Historians
in Canada. Big industrialists like Ambani, Hinduja, Bajaaj and
Tata play a decisive role in formulating the policy of the government;
it is reported that the Ambani household was present during the
Agra Summit between Musharraf and Vajpayee.
In a significant departure from all previous
governments, many of the misdeeds of the NDA government are being
done under the patronage of the government but not directly by
the state apparatus. For example, the BJP government in UP gave
permission for Deepa Mehta’s filming of "Water"
but it was disrupted by the goons of VHP, Shiva Sena and Bajrang
Dal. When the debate became very intense following Gujrat government’s
decree allowing government servants to become members of RSS,
the decree was withdrawn after the intervention of RSS chief Sudarshan.
Secular democracy versus fascism
Nazi Germany is the most commonly accepted model
of fascism. However, almost seventy years have passed since Nazis
took power in Germany. A fascist state in the present time would
inherit many of the attributed of Nazi Germany but could not be
the same. Fascism is a complete system with its distinct ideology,
politics and culture, central to which is denial of civil rights
to the people by legislation and terrorization, suppression of
minorities and workers and attempt to ensure unchallenged and
permanent rule by the class in power. Ultimately Hindutva fascism,
if it succeeds will be bad not only to the minorities but also
to the majority Hindus. Fascism must practice dictatorship, through
state or civil machinery, but it is more than dictatorship. The
Sangh Parivar with or without RSS as the main force has all the
ingredients to impose fascism in India. Secular forces are already
terrorized and hesitate to openly oppose Hindutva.
There is a good indication that the Sangh Parivar
wants to adopt the Israeli model of governance. It will be belligerent
in South Asia as is Israel in the Arab world and it will suppress
legitimate demands of linguistic, national and religious minorities
like Israel does.
Notwithstanding the statement above, it should
be recognized that political formations and the forms of governance
in what is known as the Third World have yet not matured and reached
stability. To a great extent it is also true for India. Many political
parties have come and gone. Congress which was thought to rule
forever is having difficult times keeping its units together.
BJP itself is facing some crisis and supremacy of RSS is threatened
by more lumpen elements in VHP, Shiva Sena and Bajrang dal. This
calls for active intervention by democratic forces.
Whither India?
BJP came to power sooner than it had expected.
Notwithstanding its overall agenda, Sangh Parivar still does not
possess fully developed instruments to implement its policy of
a unitary Hindu Nation, nor is India prepared to accept such a
political formation. NDA government is proceeding more aggressively
than preceding governments to contain the situation in North East
and Kashmir using a combination of false assurances, announced
ceasefire and unannounced repression. The foreign policy of the
BJP-led government is tailored to suite US interests in South
Asia. All this, including the Agra current summit between Vajpayee
and Musharraf is among other things designed to make India as
the Asian power and a challenge to China. The ascendancy to power
of a political formation openly committed to Hindutva is qualitatively
different from all other formations which formally uphold secularism
despite the inclusion of a number of communalists in their ranks.
To some extent bold voices of secularism have already been silenced
in India. And yet there are serious constraints and BJP is not
firmly entrenched into power. Thus the situation is serious but
the battle for secularism and democracy is not lost.
What can be done?
A closer look into the way things are shaping
in India is sufficient basis to make struggle against the threat
of fascism the principal task. This is more than having a position
or stand against fascism or against Sangh Parivar. Fascism cannot
be defeated by positions of individuals or groups. It is a life-and-death
battle requiring organized actions. This in turn requires unity,
alliance and compromise with organizations and groups against
Sangh Parivar for whatever duration it can be done.
There are numerous indications that Democratic
forces in India are fighting Hindutva at the grass-root level
and realizing that parliamentary struggles are not sufficient.
Like wise different democratic organizations in all major cities
of North America and the European Union are countering the influence
of VHP and other organs of Sangh Parivar on the Diaspora. Our
task therefore remains to mobilize the Diaspora, specially the
youth, for a secular, democratic and peace-loving India.
Sangh Parivar wants to make India into an Israel.
We should not let it happen.
SURRENDERING INDIA TO IMPERIALISM
Daya Varma
India has overtaken Pakistan as a favorite of
US imperialism. US President Bill Clinton could not have found
a more hospitable government to greet him during his visit than
was accorded by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic
Alliance (NDA) government. Instead of being ashamed, the NDA government
made a hue and cry that for each day Bill Clinton spent in India
he only spent one hour in Pakistan. The security of Bill Clinton
in India was taken care of by the FBI and not by the Indian intelligence,
army and police. To crown this episode, FBI now has an office
in New Delhi. Is this a compliment to the sovereignty of India?
While waiting for the results of the Pakhran
nuclear explosion in May 1998, Vajpayee was busy composing a letter
to Bill Clinton begging for his understanding. This was the first
action of the Indian government in international arena following
the nuclear test. This is in contrast to none- of- anybody’s-
business attitude of Indira Gandhi in 1974 although her decision
to go nuclear was equally unfortunate.
To add further proof to this servility of the
Indian state, both Home Minister Advani and Foreign Minister Jashwant
Singh rushed to Israel not on a normal diplomatic mission but
to meet the chief of Mossad, the most dreaded secret service organization
surpassing even the Central Intelligence Agency of the USA. Nuclear
bombs have to me supplemented with superior counterinsurgency
methods to deal with Kashmir and North East now and anywhere else
in the future. India with second largest army in the world, and
the largest deployed in internal combat operation made a complete
reversal of its nonaligned stand to curry favor of Western imperialism
led by the United States.
On all international issues on which India used
to be at odds with the aggressive policy of the USA, the present
government is too eager to show its support including for Bush’s
Missile-Defense plan. It has agreed to sign CTBT (Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty) not on moral grounds but to tow US dictates.
On the economic front, the record of the present
Indian government led by BJP, the political front of Sangh Parivar,
is even more dismal. The post-independent Indian economy was characterized
by greater state intervention in planning and development than
by any other country with the exception of socialist countries.
Although much criticized by the middle class liberals on grounds
of wastefulness and inefficiency, the state planning pursued by
India was single most important factor in building an industrial
base, laying the foundations of science and technology and dealing
with perpetual food shortage in absolute sense. Although the living
conditions of the average working people only marginally improved
during that period, at least they were a factor in the planning
process. The dismantling of this policy began with Rajiv Gandhi;
the Vajpayee government has completely delivered the fate of India
to market forces and is immensely proud to have done so.
Having allowed World Bank, the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and multinational corporations with their
head quarters in New York, London and other metropolises to take
over whatever is profitable on Indian soil, the only task for
the Vajpayee government remains maintaining law and order. It
is therefore not surprising that Advani and Jashwant Singh are
eager to learn from Israel’s Mossad’s technique of dealing
with Palestinians and from the British Intelligence’s method
of handling the Irish Republican Army.
This sell out of India to the Western imperialism
headed by the USA is not an aberration in the policy of Sangh
Parivar but the very basis of its foundation and its inherent
character. A lot has been written about the history, ideology
and philosophy of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of which Advani
and Vajpayee are products and senior members. It is well known
that RSS never participated in the independence struggle although
history is being distorted to prove otherwise. Indeed fascination
for British colonialism and Italian and German fascism was central
to formulation of RSS ideology. Even the external appearance and
routine practices are inspired by adulation for authority and
British colonialists. Take for example the adoption of knickers
as the formal garb of RSS. This attire was neither used by Rama
nor Shiva Ji nor there is anything Indian about it. It was the
dress of British police who commanded authority and displayed
discipline in the service of British colonial rule. The knickers
and morning drill shows the reverence of RSS for authority, discipline
and ruthlessness.
Not only did RSS not take part in anticolonial
struggle, it organized active campaign against Congress and Gandhi
and finally was responsible for Gandhi’s assassination. No
wonder that RSS was the only organization never to face persecution
by the British Raj except for a short period during World War
II because of its propaganda in favor of German and Italian fascism.
Ironically the efforts of RSS to prevent Hindu-Muslim unity and
oppose all those who considered this unity central to struggle
against British colonialism is rarely raised as a factor in the
ultimate division of India. The founding principle of RSS was
"Hinduism is nationalism".
This historic subservience of Sangh Parivar to
Western imperialism is now in full bloom. Sangh Parivar will deliver
to imperialists what Indian patriots in the past fought to acquire.
