When Pranab Dropped by at the RSS
Now that Pranab
Mukherjee has completed his address at the RSS headquarters, let’s see what it
says about the different actors in the story, as well as those on the sidelines
who spoke (or stayed silent) as events played out:
1)
Pranab
Mukherjee did something that most intellectuals only talk about: He was willing
to publicly engage with an opposing ideology. Or as RSS ideologue Rakesh
Sinha put it:
“Whether it is ideological or political
untouchability, anyone who considers political untouchability is harming
democracy. This was the first message of Pranabda attending the RSS headquarters.”
2)
Pranab
comes off even better because he had the courage to tell the RSS (in their own
den, no less) that India stood for plurality, secularism, tolerance and
inclusiveness.
3)
The
RSS comes off well because they too were willing to engage with someone who
opposes their ideology. In fact, as this Deccan
Herald editorial said:
“The RSS, as the ideological parent
organisation of BJP, the dominant political party today, has come to occupy a
prominent position in the country’s discourse, and it feels confident enough to
have Pranab speak to its cadre.”
4)
And
the Congress? RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha tells how they reacted:
“The Congress left no opportunity to
disgrace, discard and demoralise Pranab Mukherjee before the programme. They
created a hullabaloo. More than three dozen Congress leaders tweeted or wrote a
letter advising Pranab Mukherjee on what to speak. This itself is a disgrace
for the ex-President of India who was being told not to attend a particular
meeting as he is no longer a Congressman. This showed the intolerance of the
Congress party.”
Granted,
Sinha puts it very colorfully, but is he wrong?
5)
The
intellectuals never said a word. They never stood up for the need for a
dialogue. Nor did they stand up for Pranab’s right to do what he liked, as a
citizen of a free country.
I think the DH
editorial wraps up the next steps perfectly:
“Having had the grace to listen to the
opposite view, it is now for the RSS to examine the gulf between the two views
of nationalism — cultural and constitutional — and to make efforts to bridge
that gulf in its own ideology and its articulation… The Congress must also
examine how it has come to lose the battle of articulation, perception and
practice… There is need for mutual engagement and dialogue. Pranab’s visit
to Nagpur has underlined this.”
It is true that "There is need for mutual engagement and dialogue. Pranab’s visit to Nagpur has underlined this.” I read from the paper, in the same context of Pranab's address to RSS, long back Gandhi-ji too had addressed the RSS. It certainly shows Pranab is a statesman and is willing to dialog. And of course, how there there be doubt that Gandhi was not any politician and that the actually did a lot of dialog process with so many adversaries - be it the British, be it Congress rebels, be it others who questioned him. Gandhi's address earlier to RSS, I understand, stressed on the universality principle behind sacrifices to make it effective and far-reaching (that was prompted due to RSS claimed that it stood for sacrifice of some kind made during Gandhi's visit to address them). Gandhi is today both condemned and admired - I take the view that whatever was good in him and helped in our independence can be accepted for whatever plus in them. As to his faults, one can see them; and yes one need not make anybody a super-hero and Gandhi was not one.
ReplyDeleteAbout the list of laments seen in this blog, What can be done? Yes, there will be silences from people [maybe these are the people who hold the tag 'intellectual' as mentioned in the blog to mean something specific; I get confused with many word usages because they keep on changing implication and manner; sometimes I take too much time to catch up with word usage trends :-( ]. Admittedly silence can surely be symbolic of non-acknowledgement of things worthwhile in opposite camps.
And there will also be loud claims from all sides - which may not actually amount to worthwhile truths often! We live in a world of political and social turmoil, probably more so in the third world at this juncture. Making the law work and making behavior within limits are challenges of the day, at least in India.
I am learning this constantly, these days: What's is the point getting angry with people all around who are not up to the mark - socially, politically? Also, all marks are in gray shade, it is always pointed out anyway. So, I can retain calmness with the idea we have a long way to go in this land - that is for sure. Let's keep taking steps and be patient. Steps should take their effect over time.