Crumbling Edifice  

Sitaram Yechury

(Article In Seminar, November 2002)

"The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things; of cabbages and kings…..". Lewis Carroll would surely have been aghast at seeing the  wonderland of his Alice serving as a reference point for discussing contemporary India.

Indeed, such a time has come.  However, as we shall see later, mere talking will not do. One look around and all that we can see are mainly striking scenes of  degeneration and destruction.  Every facet of our country's life appears to be in a state of disarray.  The economic situation continues to look grim with the country fast moving towards bankruptcy.  The inadequate monsoon after a long span of twelve  successful years will compound the misery of the people further.  Already reports are pouring in of starvation deaths and distress suicides  stalking  rural India. India's social fabric, tenuous as it is, is undergoing serious convulsions. The State-sponsored communal carnage in Gujarat has torn asunder India's secular fabric.   Casteist tensions and  parochial divisiveness continue to wreak havoc.  Political and corporate corruption have risen to such scandalous levels that political morality has touched a new nadir.  India's time-tested foreign policy whose hallmarks were non-alignment  and fraternity with the developing world has been replaced by a servile submissiveness to the USA.  Pre-occupied with a Pakistan centric Kashmir policy, the government has been unable to prevent the  string of  terrorist attacks in the state. Internal security has sharply deteriorated.  Furious attempts are afoot to rewrite Indian history and to communalise the education system.  In short, in every sphere, we see a comprehensive degeneration.

Is this state of atrophy and decay, the product of wrong policies and incompetent governance?  Or, is there a pattern  in this present political and social cacophony? Unfortunately, it is the latter! And, this pattern is to be found in the serious assault being mounted for the conversion of a secular democratic republic of India into a rabidly intolerant fascistic "Hindu Rashtra".

This objective was articulated by none less than the former long serving RSS supremo M S Golwalkar way back in 1939. His chilling fascist articulation of the RSS agenda continues to be the inspiration for the saffron brigade today. He says: "there are only two courses open to the foreign elements, either to merge themselves in the national race and adopt its culture, or to live at its mercy so long as the national race may allow them to do so and to quit the country at the sweet will of the national race….From this standpoint, sanctioned by the experience of shrewd old nations, the foreign races in Hindusthan must either adopt the Hindu culture and language, must learn to respect and hold in reverence Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but those of the glorification of the Hindu race and culture, i.e., of the Hindu nation and must lose their separate existence to merge in the Hindu race, or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu Nation, claiming nothing, deserving no privileges, far less any preferential treatment -- not even citizen's rights. There is, at least should be, no other course for them to adopt. We are an old nation; let us deal, as old nations ought to and do deal, with the foreign races, who have chosen to live in our country."

And how should `old  nations' deal? "To keep up the purity of the Race and its culture, Germany shocked the world by her purging the country of the Semitic Races -- the Jews. Race pride at its highest has been manifested here. Germany has also shown how well-nigh impossible it is for Races and cultures, having differences going to the root, to be assimilated into one united whole, a good lesson for us in Hindusthan to learn and profit by."

Over a decade ago, when we had exposed in detail the dangerous fascist ideology propounded by Golwalkar, in his book "We or our Nationhood defined", written in 1939, an embarrassed RSS and the BJP initially denied the authorship. However, when the authorship was established beyond doubt, they tried their best to wriggle out of their embarrassment by advancing various  excuses.  In the recent debate in the Parliament on the Gujarat carnage, when some of these quotations were read out by an MP, the Prime Minister was prompt in replying  that the RSS had since withdrawn this book.  There has never been any official confirmation to this effect during the last six decades by the RSS.  Even if this was true, the point remains, as proven by the ghastly communal pogroms in Gujarat, that this book lays the ideological  foundations of the fascist vision of the RSS's "Hindu Rashtra".  It is this vision that is unfolding today in grotesque proportions.

It is the same Golwalkar who, while making many deceitful compromises   seeking the removal of the ban on the RSS following Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, had assured the then home minister Sardar Patel that the RSS will refrain from taking part in politics and confine itself as a "cultural organisation". In search for a political outfit, Golwalkar had sent some pracharaks to assist Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who fell out with Nehru and resigned from the union cabinet, to found a political party in 1951. Amongst those sent were the late Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, present prime minister, the deputy prime minister and home minister and the Governor of Gujarat to found the Jana Sangh, the earlier incarnate of the present BJP. One would be living in a fool's paradise if one were to consider the BJP as anything else but the political arm of the RSS.

In a way, what is happening today is the continuation of the struggle between the three main ideological trends that emerged during India's long  struggle for freedom.  These related to a vision of what should constitute the character of independent India.  The majoritarian stream represented and led by the Congress then reflected the vision of a secular democratic republic whose foundational  pillars were to be secular democracy, federalism, social justice and economic self-reliance.   Distinctly opposed to such a vision was the one articulated above spearheaded by the RSS. Its twin was to be found in the Muslim  League which, from the opposite point of view, articulated the vision of an Islamic State.  In fact, it is none other than Vinayak Damodar Savarkar who first raised the issue of British India consisting of two nations -- Hindu and Muslim.  This he did a full three years before the Muslim League and Jinnah, articulated the two-nation theory.  Savarkar in his presidential address to the Hindu Mahasabha said: "We Hindus are a nation by ourselves ... we Hindus are marked out as an abiding Nation by ourselves'' (see Indian Annual Register, 1939, Vol II). Again later he reiterated, “I have no quarrel
with Mr Jinnah's two-nation theory. We, Hindus, are a nation by ourselves and it is a historical fact that Hindus and Muslims are two nations'' (Indian Annual Register, 1943, Vol II).  Later, he completely agreed with Jinnah and his demand for a separate Muslim State. It is precisely this vision that kept the RSS away from the freedom movement at times collaborating with the British. 

The third vision to emerge during the freedom struggle was articulated by the Left which  sought to  build on the foundations of a modern secular democratic republic and move further towards an egalitarian socio-economic order, i.e., socialism.  

With the achievement of independence and the adoption of the Constitution, many felt that the fascistic vision of a "Hindu Rashtra" had been defeated, never to resurface.  For, after all, it was the majority of the Indian people, whose majority, in turn,  were part of the Hindu faith, who had rejected the RSS vision.  While the majority of those belonging to the Hindu faith may be opposed to the RSS vision even today, to have expected the RSS to abandon its fascist vision was, however, misplaced confidence.  

Just like the US atomic bombing of  Hiroshima and Nagasaki did not end the Second World War (as the fascist armies had surrendered by then) but signalled the beginning of the Cold War, the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi signalled the beginning of a new offensive by the RSS.   After patient work of nearly four decades, exploiting  the growing discontent of the people against the Congress rule, the communal forces mounted the current phase of the aggression during the decade of 1990s.

What we are witnessing today is the  unmistakable march of the communal forces who are leaving no stone unturned to  achieve their objective.  This requires, in the first place, the weakening and the eventual dismantling of all institutions of a modern secular democratic republic.  And, in the midst of the consequent anarchy that would follow, the Saffron Brigade seeks to establish its fascistic "Hindu Rashtra". 

In order to do this,  it is imperative for them to continue to hold the reins of State power. By hook or by crook, by cajoling, bargaining, threatening and  blackmailing, they have to keep this coalition of the NDA going in order to remain in power.  To achieve this, there has not been any deceitful compromise or deal that they have not entered into.  They are willing to support the BSP government in Uttar Pradesh (after having contested against them in elections) in return for the latter's support at the Centre.  In such  sordid political bargaining  and  maneouvring  they have shown absolutely no scruple.

Of late, however, having come to the conclusion that its popular support base is rapidly shrinking because of its disastrous performance and policies, the Vajpayee government has taken recourse to rouse every conceivable  divisive passion amongst the people in order to divert their attention away from its mal-governance.

Over heating the  already boiling communal cauldron is, of course, their  staple diet to achieve  this objective and further their agenda of converting the secular and democratic republic of India into a fascistic "Hindu Rashtra".  Their eagerness to reap electoral profit over the mutilated corpses of thousands of innocent people in Gujarat  chillingly reveals  their sinister methodology. If they succeed in Gujarat, this is the pattern that will be emulated for the rest of the country.  This  would be the  fascistic Modification of India.

Simultaneously, the Saffron Brigade is whipping up tensions  on other issues as well.  In a span of one week, the state of Jharkhand saw four bandhs and the death of over ten people.  The issue was a totally unprovoked circular issued by the BJP state government on the question of reservation of jobs  for the domicile people. The BJP in the state has shed all pretenses in publicly declaring that this issue has been raked up with the sole objective of exploiting it for electoral benefit.

Apart from the obvious political maneouvre employed by the Railway Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, to safeguard his portfolio in the Cabinet reshuffle, the decision to create new railway zones is also being exploited to rouse parochial passions.  The Indian Railways is one of the few institutions and networks which plays a  significant role in uniting and integrating our vast country.  Its pan Indian national character is one of India's biggest assets. To compartmentalise this institution within various states is fraught with grave consequences. 

It is India's tragedy that we have a government that while  advancing the RSS's fascistic communal agenda resorts to whipping up divisive passions for the sake of continuing to remain in office.  In the process,  it is the people and the country who continue to suffer.

This can be seen, as noted earlier,  in all spheres of the country's political, economic and social life.  The more dangerous tendency is the attempt to try to channelise  the  patriotic nationalism of the Indian people into fascistic jingoism. Beginning with the nuclear tests in Pokhran, such belligerent  jingoism has become the order of the day.  The  thunderous speeches declaring that henceforth  there shall be peace since no one  would dare to touch India  because of the nuclear weapons soon evaporated with Kargil. Far from reducing tensions, the so-called nuclear  deterrence has produced a period of continuous tensions and conflict.  Currently, nearly eight lakh soldiers are standing at full alert guarding the LoC with Pakistan.  This makes it the largest peacetime mobilisation anywhere in the world. 

The last few years have seen some of the worst terrorist attacks on the already beleaguered  people of Jammu & Kashmir.  The policies and approach adopted by this government have virtually given the de facto role of a mediator to the USA.  Concentrating only on cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan, this government has virtually ignored the all important political  process  required to reverse the process of alienation of  the people of Jammu & Kashmir.  Holding of elections without seriously addressing this issue, unfortunately, may only fester the wounds of alienation. While the democratic process can never be underemphasised, the circumstances in which it takes place  is all important. 

Such alienation can be addressed only if the government sincerely discusses the issue of autonomy under Article 370 of our Constitution with the political forces in Jammu & Kashmir.  But then, the RSS and the BJP seek the abrogation of this Article. Hence any motions of a dialogue  that they may undertake on this issue, under the compulsions of the NDA coalition, can only be cosmetic and meant for public consumption. In other words, with this government in office, a meaningful political process to restore normalcy in this  strife-driven state cannot be expected. 

Worse is the fact that the RSS is publicly campaigning for a communal trifurcation of the State. This dovetails to the devious Dixon plan advanced by US imperialism four decades ago.  Its strategy was to separate Jammu and Ladakh regions from the Kashmir Valley. Then, alongwith Pakistan-occupied territories to establish an independent country of Kashmir  under US tutelage.   The tremendous geo-political strategic advantage this tiny country would have, bordering Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China and providing a gateway to central Asian republics will immensely further USA's global hegemonic drive. If the RSS's plan succeeds, then the very unity and integrity of India would be perilously  jeopardised.

What we have today is the lethal combination of a fascistic ideology, fascistic propaganda methodology, in the hands of unscrupulous elements  who control State power and who are willing to trample upon every known value and norm of modern  civilisation. 

If all the aspects of the present situation are clubbed together, then what emerges is a grave and a grim scenario for the future.   The economy is continuously being mortgaged, all sectors have been thrown open  for foreign capital, public assets built by the sweat and labour  of the Indian people over half a century are being sold  literally for a song.   By unhesitatingly adopting the economic agenda dictated by foreign capital, this present government, in turn, receives the political support of imperialism and foreign capital. By adopting domestic economic policies which over these few years granted heavy subsidies for the rich while mounting burdens on the common people, this government seeks, in turn, the  political  patronage of domestic capital.  Meanwhile, alongside the government  relentlessly pursues the RSS's  fascistic  communal agenda which is not only anti-secular, but inherently anti-democratic.  We, thus face a situation where a  metamorphosis  of India is likely  to take place, if this government continues to remain in office.

What may emerge out of this can be called the Saudi Arabianisation of India.  Saudi Arabia, a religious fundamentalist feudal monarchy that follows in practice archaic social laws and  political institutions  is a firm ally of US imperialism.  As long as imperialist interests are served, no questions arise about human rights, democracy, religious fundamentalism etc.   Under the present dispensation, India faces the danger of being converted  into a modern  Hindu variant of Saudi Arabia. 

India, under this Vajpayee government, has emerged as the most faithful accomplice and steadfast ally of the USA.  This can be seen in all spheres -- political, economic and military.   India was prompt to declare its support to the USA's unilateral abrogation of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty and its Nuclear Defence Missile (NMD) programme (a more dangerous variant of the earlier Ronald Reagan's "star wars" plan).  This  unsolicited support was  extended even while USA's staunchest European allies like Britain were hesitant and skeptical. India  has today elevated its  military cooperation with the USA to strategic levels, leading to joint military exercises. Now, such exercises normally are conducted by countries that  perceive a common enemy.  Who can that  common enemy be of both India and the USA?  That Pakistan continues to remain USA's closest ally especially during its so called "war against  terrorism" only underscores this Vajpayee government's servility.

One need not catalogue the series of policy measures implemented by this government in the economic sphere that  undermine perilously India's economic sovereignty.  Suffice to note that even some RSS frontal organisations who cling on to the apron strings of "Swadeshi" are patently appalled. But they dare not go beyond verbal denouncements,  lest they upset the apple cart.  The conversion of modern India into a fascistic "Hindu Rashtra" requires the control of State power and cannot brook opposition to USA. On the contrary, if required, India will be made to prostrate as long as USA will not interfere in the Saffron Brigade's domestic agenda. 

The foreign policy capitulation can also be understood only in this perspective. Many have detailed, more competently, this surrender to USA's political objectives.  Suffice to note one  abject manifestation of such a shift: the virtual silence of India and its refusal to condemn Israeli atrocities and against the Palestinians. India today has  virtually reneged on its commitment, which goes back to years before independence, to the inalienable right of the Palestinians for a homeland. 

Therefore, on the one hand, we see such servile  subservience to US imperialism. On the other, we see domestically, an aggressive assault on everything that is modern and progressive.  Thus, they negate the very Constitution that sanctifies the character of the modern Indian Republic.  The VHP and Bajrang Dal with their motley  crowd of sants, declaring themselves as the sole custodians of the Hindu faith, with arrogant impunity thunder that they shall not accept the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya dispute, if it goes against their interests. Not to be left behind, the Prime Minister Vajpayee himself declares in the Lok Sabha that the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya is the reflection of the "national sentiment". If any reconfirmation was  even needed to establish that Golwalkar's fascistic analysis of equating Hindu as National at the expense and exclusion of all others, here it is.

In the meanwhile, the country is forced to debate this government's obsession with its communal fascistic  interpretation  of ancient Indian history. Indian history is being rewritten to establish that Aryans originated in this land.  This is crucial and central to their thesis.  If the Aryans came to this land from elsewhere, then the claim of the Hindus to this land is as legitimate as the claim of those  owing allegiance to other religions such as Islam and Christianity.  Refuting all available researched historical evidence, Indian history is sought to be rewritten to establish this.  Even Hitler, who imposed the inhuman Nazi fascism in the name  of Aryan superiority, the RSS would claim, had migrated from India!  Likewise, the educational syllabus would have to be distorted to create a consciousness negating the strength of Indian civilisation -- the assimilation of various influences to give us the present strength of character -- and in its place, create a fascistic intolerance of all influences other than the so called "Hindu".

To achieve such a fascistic order, the polity would also have to be changed.  Accordingly, the agenda of public discourse, what films  can be seen (eg: water etc), what paintings (eg: M.F. Hussain), what sport (eg: Pakistan cannot play cricket in India) is being set.  Anyone daring to oppose this irrationality can be arrested under POTA!

Can India survive this?  The unity and integrity of a country of such vast diversity -- not only religious but linguistic, traditions, customs etc -- can only be maintained by strengthening the bonds of  commonality  amongst this diversity. By imposing a  uniformity, this unity will be  shattered.  This is precisely what the communal fascist forces seek.

Thus, if India, as we know of it today, has to be saved from such a metamorphosis, then this communal fascistic juggernaut has to be stopped  in  its tracks.  This requires the unity of all Left, secular and democratic forces who cherish India, i.e., Bharat.  Given the fact that some regional political parties who succumb to both political opportunism and the enticement to share the spoils of office continue to prop up this fascistic project, only a popular people's movement to defeat these forces politically can save the  situation.

As we said at the outset, merely talking about what is happening around us will not do.  The time has come to act.  Recollect the age-old wisdom which filters down to us, "for the evil to succeed, the good only has to be silent".