By Morning Star Sumer
In an article, “Marching with the khaki: A fight back by a disappearing people” (ST Jan 30, 2016), Bhogtoram Mawroh has opportunely raised a storm over the bogle of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). By this simple statement I am sticking my neck out for the rabidly pro-RSS readers to make mince-meat of me. However, I hope that they may have the good sense to read this article through to the end to enable them to sift the grain from the chaff – which they would not be able to do if they don’t (read through the whole article). That said, we are ready to talk seriously about what we are concerned at this point in time and place.
Until June 30, 2009, my opinion of the RSS was that it was a social organisation which was doing good work in Meghalaya by undertaking the onerous task of uplifting the less privileged members of our community to come up to the level of the more privileged or cream of society: in fact I had equated its work with that of the Ramakrishna Mission. Alas! on that date my rosy dream about the role of the RSS in our community was shattered beyond repair because, on that date the substance of the Tehelka expose of the insidious role being played by the RSS was carried on the front page of The Shillong Times under the caption “RSS embarks on mission to Sanskritise tribal children” (ST Jun 30, 2009) which, I consider to be the most bizarre of all that I knew about the RSS till then: never suspecting that there was an ulterior motive behind the facade of social work being undertaken by the organisation – in spite of the negative press country-wide against it that I had come across.
In the very first or opening sentence Mawroh had expressed surprise and discomfiture at the way the RSS had organised the event, purportedly, to honour Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary by taking a ‘Path Sanchalan’ (Procession) in Meghalaya’s state capital on 23rd January, 2016. To most of the readers who are aware of the ideology and activities of the RSS it is an event that should raise eyebrows because, the insidious activities, under the façade of social services among the so-called backward indigenous people of NE India are well-known.
It is very interesting to read that, “Tribals in India are known as Adivasi which roughly translated means native people.” I would translate that to “indigenous people”. The terms tribal or tribe are no longer appropriate to describe us or the so-called “Adivasis” at the present time. All in all Mawroh’s article is a welcome sign that more and more indigenous people are aware of the dangers that confront them from those who profess to be their do-gooders and that there are more citizens who would come forward to air their views through the media – not just to see their names printed/viewed in the media – but to make wake-up calls and to raise the necessary alarm to avoid pitfalls: the very same step that I myself had started taking since 1986 and continue doing so even now though with no visible sign of resultant awakening among my fellow citizens. In that context/sense Mawroh’s reaction to the RSS’s involvement in the event to honour Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on the 23rd January, 2016 is necessary and timely.
Right or wrong, there is substance/wisdom in the adage that we are judged by the company we keep. Albert Thyrniang’s reference to Subhash Chandra Bose’s association with Hitler is telling (in “Debates are welcome not intimidation” – ST February 12, 2016), though one may admire his (Bose’s) firebrand character in the freedom movement. However, the reference lends credence to Bose’s detractors’ negative views of his action and character notwithstanding Abhijit Choudhury’s apologia for Bose in “Facts are sacred in history” (ST Feb 10, 2016 page-6); which, incidentally, is a good read for students of Indian political history. Mawroh seems to have successfully drawn attention to the fact that Subhash Chandra Bose had nothing to do with the RSS: the reason why the event in Shillong is viewed with suspicion.
Quoting from a passage in Mawroh’s article, B. K. Dey Sawian, in a letter to the Editor (ST Feb 6, 2016) states that, “…a belief in the concepts of secularism and plurality must first begin at home…” and continues by stating his personal knowledge that there are Khasis who were either coerced or duped into conversion and asks a question if we think that “other socio-religious denominations are more secular and pluralistic than the RSS”. This is merely a case of the pot calling the kettle black. He concluded his letter by alluding to “…the most successful and secular Congress Prime Minister who brought a change to this country…” and, who had started life as a pracharak. While we are grateful for the allusion to this “most successful Congress Prime Minister”, we would be interested to know who that Prime Minister was and whether he continued to remain a pracharak while in office: if not, why did he ditch the RSS: that would be both interesting and revealing about the person and about the kind of persons holding important offices in political parties. In the over-all context of the article the chosen passage in B. K. Dey Sawian’s letter is a true reflection of what most people in the country – including a large swathe of Indian intellectuals – think of the organisation’s activities country-wide.
In a letter to the editor captioned, “Why meddle with indigenous faith?” (ST Feb 10, 2016), the writer had mentioned my name, among others who are marked as being inimical to the claim of Niamtre-NiamKhasi for minority status and raising “a hue and cry over the issue.” I would request the writer of that letter to quote just one instance in my many speeches and writings that suggests even a hint of condemnation and hue and cry against Niamtre-NiamKhasi. On the contrary, I am the one who suggested that Niam Khasi or Niam Tre, being a Niam-Kur (Clan-Religion), every Kur (Clan) could claim minority status since each Kur is a minor among the other acknowledged religions even without counting/including the other clans in the State! Apparently, he has read my letter to the editor captioned “Religious minorities’ rights in Meghalaya” in the columns of The Shillong Times of January 12, 2016, but, did not comprehend its import. I would suggest that he re-read that letter and weigh his opinion against its implication.
The RSS claims to be an apolitical organization with a socio-economic agenda. Its all-out support and activities for the successful election campaign of Narendra Modi in 2014, contradicts that claim. Since then, it has been campaigning for BJP candidates in recently held electiond in Bihar as well as in the forthcoming elections in some states of the Union. Is it possible now to maintain or support the claim that it is apolitical?
Interestingly, we learnt from the grapevines that the RSS leadership had grudgingly given support to Modi’s Prime Ministership candidature as well as to his choice of Amit Shah as President of the BJP before the 2014 general election: so, we know where his relationship with the RSS may be standing. At present most people, including me, are all admiration for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his apparently sincere efforts to deliver on his pre-election promises though he was seen as the face of the RSS before the 2014 election. However, he may not continue to have and hold that admiration if he should allow himself to be led by the nose, by the RSS fanatics.
I entertain no animus towards the RSS or other like-minded organisations, but, as far as possible, I choose to be neutral with the option to either support or condemn any view/activity which may be perceived as being below or beyond the mandate of their own constitution or manifesto. My views are always based either upon personal experiences or well-researched facts and findings of other researchers and/or the published reports which I may accept as being credible. Since my disillusionment with the RSS, I have been pondering over the truth or falsehood of the many accusations against it. Now I address the RSS directly to either deny or confirm the truth or otherwise of the accusations which I have come across in the course of my study about RSS activities, the most serious and mind boggling ones relate to activities for collecting arsenal of arms, poisoning of food to be fed to children of ST/SC and OBC parents in schools etc. All these are contained in secret circulars issued by units of the RSS.
Religion and politics may not be separated from one another. It is sad that the RSS and members of religious and political parties have been selectively mixing them to dupe the unwary citizens.