Nagesh Chaudhari
Hindu Nation concept is, according to their admission and proclamations is age old and is based basically on the Chaturvarnya model. (hierarchical fourfold division of society). They claim, it is god given and is mentioned in the Rig Veda and later on in Smritis, Puranas, epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Geeta. That means according to the Hindu nation theoreticians basically, Hindu nation is the caste model based on inequality, discriminations, and deprivations. The representatives of suffering low caste, untouchables, like Mahatama Phule, Periyar Ramasamy, and Dr. B R Ambedkar opposed this model and strived for social equality. In a way, they were against the caste system. In their eyes caste is more cruel than the class. That is why they opted and struggled for, ‘Annihilation of Caste’.
On the contrary, Hindu nationalists supported Communists and opposed anti-caste ones. Following is the statement given by V.D.Savarkar on 6-7-1959. – “I exhort the Hindu Sanghatanists in Kerala to render all possible support to the Communist Government led by Shree E M S Nambudripad in their struggle which they are bravely carrying against the united front of Christian, the Congress and the Muslim league all of whom are sworn enemies of Hindu cause.” (Samagra Savarkar Wangmaya: Hindu Rashtra Darshan, Vol. VI, (1964), Maharshtra Prantik Hindu sabha, Sadashiv Peth, Poona p.561)
Understanding of the Hindu nation by Communists of India is based on anti-Muslims or anti-Christians character of Hindu nationalists. Communists call Hindu nationalists as communal or fascists (some of them as semi-fascists). But, they do not attack Hindu nationalists as protectors and supporters of the caste system.
Prakash Karat in his article, ‘Know your enemy’ (I.E., September 6, 2016) has said, ‘BJP is not an ordinary bourgeois party. Its uniqueness lies in its organic link to the RSS. The BJP is a right wing party with respect to its economic and social agenda, and can be characterized as a right-wing party of majoritarian communalism. Further, given its linkage to the RSS which has a semi-fascist ideology.’ So far, communists were calling RSS as fascist and many leftists even today call it so.
During emergency imposed by Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi (1975) the Communists had floated the Anti-fascist front to oppose RSS, and allied parties. That means they opposed RSS because it was fascist in their views.
Secondly, he says, ‘In India today, Hindutva ideology and chauvinist nationalism are used to polarize the people on communal lines and to attack religious minorities.’ Also, writes, ‘Religion based communalism or political mobilization is accompanied by the imposition of extreme right-wing economic policies.’ Giving verdict on the enemy designs of BJP he suggests, ‘the broadest mobilization of all democratic and secular forces against communalism, while also building a political alliance of left and democratic forces based on alternative programme.’
The emphasis of Karat seems to be on the communal character of RSS-BJP. But, is the RSS only communal? What is its social agenda? The main ideologues of Hindu nation from Savarkar to Golwalkar (Hindu Mahasabha to RSS) basically define Hindu nation as a pyramid like social model, the caste model. They link Hindu nation to Vedas, to Smrities and propagate that fourfold division of society is the basis of Hindu nation. Communal divide is later phenomenon but caste or social divide is centuries old. Caste system is basic and class is built on this base. Communalism is comparatively recent phenomenon.
Everybody accepts that BJP is the product of RSS and its main thrust is making India a Hindu nation or claiming it as already a Hindu nation. This concept pertains to pre-Muslim or pre-British rules. Golwalkar asserts in his book ‘We or our nationhood defined’ that supremacy of Brahmanic values is Hindu Nation. This is evident from the five unities outlined by him that forms the nation. 1. Country, 2. Race,3. Laguage, 4. Religion and 5. Culture. Aryan-Brahmin supremacy in these unities is Hindu nation, according to Golwalkar. Interestingly, Golwalkar accepts that he had got inspiration from V.D.Savarkar’s book. In the preface of ‘We or our nationhood’ Golwalkar says, ‘His work Rashtra Meemansa in Marathi has been my chief sources of inspiration and help.’ V.D.Savarkar was elder brother of V.D. Savarkar. In V.D.Savarkar’s book also mentions that five unities that form the nation are given but he used the word ‘Jati’ and Golwalkar changed it to ‘Race’. It becomes amply clear that Hindu nation is based on hierarchical social model.
Savarkar in his book ‘Hindutva’ accepts that Varna Vyavstha is essential part of the Hindu Nation. He also asserts that where there is no Varna Vyavastha that country is Mlechha (foreign) country. All the Hindu nationalists eulogizes Manusmriti, which prescribes fourfold social division and considers king, ruler, secondary to the priest- Brahmin. This exactly is the view of Golwakar. He says in the Prologue of “We..’ We stand for national regeneration and not for that hap-hazard bundle of political rights-the state.’ He also asserts that nation is above the state. Hence, the RSS is above BJP. .. That way BJP government is a state under RSS-the nation.
Communists do not realize this danger of Hindu nation. They deal with the state under the Hindu nation. There were no Muslims or Christians during Manu’s period.
Karat says communalism is the main problem secularists have to face from RSS-BJP. He does not mention Hindu Nation. All Indian main stream political parties are not against the basic inhuman caste division. They ignore or bye-pass it. Even the press including Indian Express give importance to such left authors who toe this line. Only the thinkers, leaders belonging lower or untouchables castes make it an issue or oppose it. Mahatma Phule to Periyar to Ambedkar strived for annihilation of caste and the Hindu nationalists bent on for maintaining the status quo.
Golwalkar asserts, ‘Nation should have all four classes of society as conceived by Hindu religion and should be free from booting hunter and Mlechhas, this latter word meaning all those who do not subscribe to the social laws dictated by the Hindu religion and culture.’ (We…p.54) As lately as on 1st January 1969, Golwalkar gave an interview to a Marathi daily Navakal (Mumbai) claiming ‘chaturvarnya’ (four fold division) is essential as it is a god given concept.
If Karat calls RSS –BJP as enemy they ought to deal with the basic nature of BJP i.e. RSS and Hindu nation, which he has not even mentioned in his article. Dr. Ambedkar says, ‘Hinduism is a political ideology of the same character as the fascist and or Nazi ideology and is thoroughly anti-democratic. If Hinduism is let loose –which is what Hindu majority means, it will prove a menace to the growth of others who are outside Hinduism. This is not the point of Muslims alone. It is also the point of view of the Depressed classes and the non-Brahmins. (Dr.B.Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches, vol.1, Govt. of Maharashtra, p.241,1979)
Dr. Ambedkar also differentiated between the character of Hindu fascism and Hitler Nazi fascism. He says. “The Nazis had indeed a great deal to learn from the Hindus. If they had adopted the technique of suppressing the masses devised by the Hindus they would have been able to crush the Jews without open cruelty and would have also exhibited themselves as humane masters.” (Dr. B R Ambedkar Writings and speeches, vol. 3, p.127, Govt. of Maharashtra, Mumbai, 1989)
I think the Communists; unless they take the stand against caste system, they cannot oppose RSS, BJP. Their understanding of RSS is either incomplete or they are not against the entire designs of the RSS-BJP or they are not against the caste hierarchy. This is incomplete understanding of enemy. Golwalkar also said, RSS wants to dominate not only Jan Sangh (now BJP) but all other political parties. If the parties claiming leftism, communist and if they are not against caste system, social hierarchy they can be said to be dominated by RSS and claimed by Golwalkar. RSS penetrates in almost all political parties and non-political religious sections like Muslim, Sikhs and social organisations. The need is to be on the guard by the egalitarian religions and organisations and also by the political parties that claim oppose to Manuvadis.
