Danger of Hindu Nation And Communists
By Nagesh Chaudhari
14 January, 2016
Countercurrents.org
Prakash Karat, ex-chief of Communist Party of India Marxist, in his article, Winning back the people’ (Indian Express, 7th Januaery, ‘16) has taken a different stand on BJP vis a vis RSS. He writes, “There is a common misconception that combating communalism means defeating the BJP in elections. The electoral struggle alone cannot weaken and isolate communal forces. The RSS and its various front organisations are working constantly among various sections of society. Electoral defeats do not necessarily weaken the influence of communal ideology. It is important to wage the battle of ideas to counter Hindutva forces and other band of communalism.”
It is a changed and new attitude of Prakash Karat and if it becomes the stand of the party itself, it will be a new realization. But, this realization has come too late. The Hindu nation concept of RSS is 90 years old. This realization is because BJP has come to power and RSS is dictating the terms. Thus, an organization which is not directly in the electoral politics is controlling the ruling party- BJP.
Why are they so late to realize strength of RSS? Because, they have given stress only to class system and very little to caste system and Hindu nation formulation of RSS.
Actually, political power is secondary to the Hindu nation ideology or socio- cultural hegemony. Hindu nation is not only communalism. Hindu nation formulation by RSS ideologues, mainly, M.S.Golwalkar, the second chief of RSS has been outlined in his book, ‘We or Our Nationhood Defined’ (1939). It is strengthening of Varna-caste hierarchy, dehumanizing Dalits and lower castes and dubbing Muslims, Christians as enemies. Even admission by Karat is not sufficient. Because, communists did not give due importance to the dangerous formulation of the RSS. They did not study all tenets of Hindu nation.
What BJP government is following and implementing is the RSS agenda of Hindu nation. From cow to Sanskrit to calling minorities as enemies, opposing reservations...
But stress of all shades of Communist parties is mainly on class. Some of them give importance to dalit problem - untouchabilty which in effect is the end product of caste system. Hindu nation is brahmanic hegemony in all respects. RSS considers political power-state, secondary to ‘Nation’ (i.e. BJP to RSS or any party's government). During Congress rule too, RSS agenda was in vogue. RSS grew during all parties rules because nobody stopped it from its agenda. It is not countered on its national agenda. There is dire need to counter RSS on its nation agenda and this will not happen by political rule. Complete alternative to Hindu nation can be only answer. Will Communists come forward to take the challenge? Or are their caste backgrounds the impediment?
Casteless, classless ideology will have to be adhered to. And those who realize inhumanity of caste system will come forward for it is more cruel a system than simple poverty.
Writer is editor of Marathi fortnightly, Samatesathi Bahujan Sangharsh, Nagpur. He is active in Satya shodhak Samaj movement pioneered by Mahatma Fule. He has written books in Marathi, Hindi and contributed articles to many English, Marathi journals.