SHILLONG, Sep 30: As Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s “everyone is already a Hindu” remark continues to draw ire, the People’s Democracy Youth Front (PDYF) has now cast aspersions on the vile attempt against the indigenous minority of India.
PDYF president Egenstar Kurkalang, while speaking to reporters here on Friday, said that people of Meghalaya will not accept Bhagwat’s remark, maintaining that Khasis have their own customs, culture and civilisation.
Stating that the Khasi or Hynniewtrep community became part of India after 25 Khasi States signed the Instrument of Accession with the Dominion of India in 1948, Kurkalang said, “The agreement was signed with the condition that the identity, culture, ideology and customs of the Hynniewtrep people should be protected.”
He went on to say that prior to India attaining Independence, Khasi States were self-governing and had separate territories governed by different traditional chiefs.
According to him, the leaders of the Khasi States had agreed to join the Dominion of India only after they were assured by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawahalal Nehru that their identities will be safeguarded under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
The PDYF president, however, admitted that there has been advancement of technology and spread of education, leading to mix-up of cultures.
According to him, none of the custom, culture, ideology and philosophy coming from either other parts of India or outside the country has influenced the indigenous Khasis.
Meanwhile, reacting to Bhagwat’s remarks, veteran political leader Bindo Mathew Lanong, said, “In Meghalaya, even the non-Christian tribals do not introduce or identify themselves as Meghalaya Hindus, but simply as Khasi-Pnar or Garo non-Christians or as members of indigenous faith. The term ‘Hindu’ is not a synonym for ‘Indian’.”
Bhagwat, during his recent visit to the state capital, said the Sangh is not working to turn everyone into Hindus since the values of this country’s eternal civilisation had been named as Hindutva and everyone is already a Hindu.
“People are afraid that the Sangh will turn everyone into Hindus. We are not here to covert anyone. We are all from Bharat. To become a Hindu, we need not change anyone; we are already Hindus. We need to live with all sections of people. We are together though we look different,” the RSS chief had said.
