A recent statement by right-wing Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat during his visit to the US has created extensive debate in India. Addressing an interfaith event in New York, Bhagwat stated that if any Hindu thinks there should be no Muslims in India, he will not remain Hindu. He stressed that there is no fundamental difference between human beings, regardless of their religious identity.
Bhagwat’s statement has attracted international attention because it comes at a time when India’s religious minorities have increasingly found themselves at the centre of socio-political isolation. Over the past decade, the extremist agenda of Hindutva has been strengthened under the Modi government, while some extremist voices have openly spoken about excluding Muslims from the mainstream Indian society.
His remarks also reminded me of the regional political atmosphere seven years ago, when the Modi government pursued its hard-line agenda and revoked the special status of Occupied Kashmir, dealing a serious blow to India’s long-standing secular identity. At that time, Hindutva was also widely discussed in our media, but unfortunately some confused analysts started criticising Hindu religion under the guise of Hindutva.
In September 2019, I decided to write a weekly newspaper column in which I categorically rejected this confusion. I emphasised that the term ‘Hindutva’ has nothing to do with the Hindu religion. The term has never been found in any ancient epic religious literature, including Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita.
The religion followed by Hindus worldwide is known as Hinduism, Hindu Dharma, or Sanatan Dharma. Like other highly respected religions, Hinduism teaches compassion, humanity, service, and brotherhood. The basic teachings of Hinduism focus on becoming good human beings to help others. Religiously, all Hindu rulers are bound to ensure social harmony, societal tolerance and pluralism under their rule.
The slogan of ‘Hindutva’ was first raised during the British Raj in India. This was the era when World War I ended and British imperialism was promoting nationalism everywhere in order to design a new world order. Colonial rulers exploited differences through the familiar policy of ‘divide and rule’.
The term ‘Hindutva’ was used to show the promotion of religious extremism and nationalism following in the footsteps of Hitler-led Nazi Germany. After Independence, such an extremist attitude eventually targeted Mahatma Gandhi, the founding father of India and a great preacher of the non-violent path of ahimsa.
As a leader of Pakistan’s patriotic Hindu minority, I cannot remain indifferent whenever I read news about violence against religious minorities in India.
Whenever someone raises the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ to express hatred against another vulnerable human being, I ask myself: when did Lord Ram preach such hatred? Anyone who has studied the Ramayana they have found lessons of love, tolerance, brotherhood and service to humanity. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that people may follow different paths to reach one God, yet respect for others remains essential for social harmony.
From a Pakistani Hindu perspective, peace-loving Hinduism must not be confused with the extremist ideology of Hindutva. On behalf of the Pakistan Hindu Council, I therefore welcome Bhagwat’s statement. However, real credibility will depend on how it is translated into equal citizenship and protection for vulnerable minorities in India.
The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council. He tweets/posts @RVankwani
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed in this piece are the writer’s own and don’t necessarily reflect Geo.tv’s editorial policy.
Originally published in The News
