The letter highlights the pivotal role civil servants play in implementing laws and policies, which must be executed impartially to ensure the public’s confidence in government neutrality. Permitting civil servants to associate with political organizations—especially those with a distinct political agenda—risks compromising this essential impartiality. Political neutrality is fundamental to ensure that government actions genuinely reflect the diverse interests of all citizens, rather than aligning with any particular ideology.

Furthermore, the letter underscores that the RSS, through its mission statements and actions, operates as a political entity closely aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The RSS’s involvement in promoting political ideology—particularly the ideology of Hindutva—establishes it as more than a cultural organization. Historical actions, statements by its leaders, and foundational principles reveal active political engagement, making it inappropriate for civil servants to participate as members of this or any similarly positioned organization.

The appeal also raises concerns about the broader implications of allowing political affiliations among civil servants. If the ban is not reinstated, it risks creating a precedent that could see government officials affiliating with other political organizations, undermining the principle of a neutral and independent civil service. Such affiliations could erode the essential separation of state functions from political interests, which is a cornerstone of India’s democratic framework.

The letter reminds us that the Indian Constitution upholds the independence of civil servants, shielding them from political affiliations and retribution to ensure they serve without bias. Articles 309 to 311 of the Constitution reflect this value, aiming to guarantee that public servants operate free from political pressures, serving only the broader national interest. Removing the ban jeopardizes this safeguard, threatening the democratic structure that has held India’s diverse and pluralistic society together.

Additionally, the letter proposes a mandatory “cooling-off period” of three years for senior officials, judges, and regulators following retirement before they assume roles with politically affiliated organizations. This cooling-off period is seen as essential to uphold public confidence in the judiciary and administration and to maintain their objectivity.

In closing, the appeal calls upon the President to reconsider the government’s decision to lift the ban, warning that its continuation could destabilize India’s democratic foundation. By re-imposing the prohibition on political affiliations for civil servants, India would make a critical stand to uphold the values of impartiality, transparency, and unity essential to its democracy.

This appeal has been issued to emphasise the importance of an apolitical civil service and to safeguard the values that make India’s democracy strong and resilient.

The entire text of the letter is below

Date: November 18, 2024

Hon. Rashtrapati ji,

We believe that it is desirable to re-impose the recently revoked ban on the members of the senior civil service from being also formal members of the RSS. In support of our position we would like to bring to your notice the following:

1. The administration is led by the civil services personnel, to further the policies of the government of the day, provided these are consistent with the Constitution of the country, and have their basis in the law, and have the sanction by the legislature. In order to ensure these policies, programmes, measures, interpretations of the law (such as laying out the rules under various laws and provisions), forming and managing organisations for the pursuit of various goals including those of legitimate policy, it is important that the administration is neutral to all its citizens, and appears as such irrespective of the personnel’s own political leanings and position. This cannot happen unless the senior administrators and those in sensitive positions do not engender partisan actions and bias in administration. This follows logically from the design of a democracy. And Indian democracy, as one of the great working democracies, has this provision of not allowing its civil servants (in many sensitive positions, and in authority) to be members of political parties.

2. Civil servants are not elected, and so should not have the power to determine policy, independently of the elected. This is also an important aspect of democracy.

3. If senior administrators are allowed to be members of political parties, they could bias the very working of those entities as much as they could the very orientation of the entity in its working.

4. India being still in the developmental stage has functionally a large role for the state, which means senior administrators and public enterprises have to intervene in society and markets. Partisan bias is clearly an anathema then in a democracy. (See Box 1: India’s Democracy)

5. All the great democracies have provisions that are functionally in line with the requirement stated above (1, 2, and 3 above). But the form of law and action may vary somewhat. Thus, both the UK and the US have provisions that restrict the civil service. India too has such requirement which is what would be violated if the ban on RSS members from being officers/sensitive staff of the government is removed. (See Box 2: The Civil Service in the UK and US)

6. The RSS is de-facto a political entity, a political super-party that is able to hold together its many political entities to the coherent pursuit of its agenda that includes “Hindutva”. (See Box 3: The RSS and its Origins).  The well-established judicial approach of “penetrating the veil (of the form) of an organisation or of a legal person” to expose its real function and identity is important.  That approach would tell us that form apart, the RSS is a political party (or super-party). Thus, consider the “Vision and Mission” on the website of the RSS[1]. We draw your attention specifically to:

i. Involvement in Political Fields: “Sangh-inspired institutions and movements today form a strong presence in social, cultural, educational, labor, developmental, political, and other fields of nationalist endeavor.” This statement highlights the RSS’s involvement in various fields, explicitly mentioning “political” as one of them, suggesting their active role and influence in politics.

ii. Political Movements and Concerns: “Sangh initiated movements—be they social-reformist or anti-secessionist—evoke ready response and approbation from the common multitudes as well as from vast numbers of elite of different shades.” The reference to “anti-secessionist” movements indicates a direct involvement in political activities, particularly those dealing with national integrity and political unity.

iii. Influence in the Political Sphere: “Dr. Keshav Baliram Hegdewar (1889-1940) … anticipated the need for strengthening the foundations of the Hindu society and for preparing it for challenges on social, economic, cultural, religious, philosophical, and political planes.” This shows that the founder of the RSS envisioned addressing political challenges, reinforcing the organization’s political ambitions.

iv. Political Relevance and Advocacy: “Sangh’s alone has been the voice of genuine patriotic concern amidst the cacophonous politically inspired shibboleths of undefined secularism, etc.” This suggests that the RSS positions itself against what it perceives as misguided political ideologies, advocating for its vision of nationalism, which inherently involves political stances. Its antipathy towards socialists and communists makes it an extreme right-wing organization with broad political objectives. The RSS’s journal and the speeches of its leaders are not confined to special interests but are broad and political.

v. Formation of Political Parties and Influence: “With the end of the British Raj, Bharat became a democratic republic with a constitution of its own when the need for a strong political alternative to the ruling party with unalloyed nationalism arose. The Sangh, though it preferred to remain apolitical, was well aware of its commitment to social transformation, including in the political field, based on Hindu values.” The RSS acknowledges its influence in the political field, demonstrating its involvement in shaping political discourse and policies based on its ideological values.

vi. Direct Political Action: “A few senior Sangh functionaries … decided to form the Bhartiya Jan Sangh in 1951 under the presidentship of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.” The formation of a political party, Bharatiya Jan Sangh (which later evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), directly ties the RSS to political activities and aspirations.

7. We could also consider the many actions of the RSS in recent times as well as in the past to support its parties, including the BJP. Today it is the working force of the BJP. It’s cadres, since 1991 if not earlier, have always been deployed to benefit the Jan Sangh, and now the BJP its successor. Many RSS personnel have participated on the side of the BJP (often without another representative of the BJP) in national debates especially on TV. Its leaders and cadres have participated in movements that have created for the  BJP its political capital in Hindutva, through such movements as the Ram Janmabhoomi -Babri Masjid agitations and participation in very localised conflicts and struggles to further the core agenda of the BJP. Indeed, the core agenda of the RSS is Hindutva and it sees the BJP as an important instrumentality, but with little separation de-facto between the two.

8. Many leaders of the BJP are typically drawn from the RSS, and no political leader in the BJP can survive without the concurrence of the RSS. The BJP must be seen as an extended body of the RSS in reality, whatever are the legal forms of these organisations.

9. RSS ideologues, are often appointed to positons of importance (board of directors, “independent directors” etc.) in the governance of public educational and research and public enterprises, whenever not explicitly barred by law, by the BJP when in power.

10. The agenda of the RSS is also not always in harmony with the Constitution [anti-constitutional] and no political grouping [(other than possibly the Naxalites] have an agenda that is so directly anti-constitutional.

11. The agenda of the RSS and by extension of the BJP, its instrumentality, as revealed by the public statements of these very organisations, even if their actions are ignored, reveal that they are prima facie antagonistic to important constitutional provisions of the Republic of India covering the following:

• Equality
• Freedom of religion
• Secularism
• Rule of law and constitutionalism and institutionalism
• Fundamental and human rights
• Justice (in the modern sense)
• Judicial independence

(For details see Box 4: The Contradiction of the Hindutva Agenda of the RSS with the Constitution of India.)

12. The Constitution of India separates the state from the party, even when the party is in power. This is sacrosanct to a democracy. One significant measure to ensure this is through the set of articles relating to the role of the Civil Services (Articles 309 to 311). Through these articles civil servants have to operate independently of political parties. Civil servants are expected to be politically neutral, and the Constitution protects them from political retribution, thus contributing to the separation of state functions from party politics.
13. If the recently lifted ban on civil servants joining RSS is not revoked, it will set an unhealthy precedent to other political parties do likewise, allowing civil servants under their purview to join their own sister political groups, leading to a chaotic situation that cuts at the very root of India’s democratic and Constitutional values, which will not augur well for the nation.
14. Not revoking the ban on the RSS would mean that the government is acting in contradiction to important provisions in the Constitution of India.

Conclusion

Hence, the government should revoke the removal of the ban on RSS members from being officials in government, or government servants associating themselves in the activities of the RSS

Hence, the Supreme Court  should suo motu reverse the decision of the government. [Naxalites who do not believe in the Constitution are both banned and not allowed to hold positions in government.] And the President has avows to his or her ability “..[to] preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the Law..” (Article 60 of the Constitution of India).

The RSS, which is also actively opposed to certain provisions of the Constitution and is also a political party in disguise, should therefore not have its members being part of the administrative machinery of the government.

In our considered view, the ban on government servants joining the RSS should be extended to all public functionaries. We believe that individuals entrusted with statutory responsibilities should remain completely apolitical and neutral.

[However, neither the Naxals nor the RSS should be banned outright, as that would be unconstitutional.]

Additionally, we hold that, in the interest of democracy, senior judges (both High Court and Supreme Court) should not hold party positions. We also believe that democracy in India would be strengthened if senior judges, officials, civil servants, regulators, and public enterprise managers who hold high positions or roles with significant discretion observe a cooling-off period of at least three years, after leaving their positions (whether due to retirement or otherwise), before accepting new appointments.

Otherwise, we would have already lost a great democracy, and India as we all know and love, may cease to exist. We would then have reversed perhaps humanity’s greatest political achievement of the 20th century i.e. the making of India, a country of unity in diversity that is democratic; since democracy is what makes India and holds India together, India with its humongous diversity and variety.

There have been reports of members of the higher echelons of the judiciary taking part in the activities of RSS and joining the BJP immediately upon retirement. Such association with the RSS, or for that matter, with any other body that has political connotations, affects the credibility of the judicial system. We, therefore, appeal to you to arrange for banning such association and imposing a restriction that, within three years from the date of retirement/ departure from government and its parastatals, they should not join any body that has such political connotations

Yours in earnest

Members of the People’s Commission for the Public Sector and Public Services and Concerned Citizens.

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Box 1: India’s Democracy

The world has completely changed since the Age of Enlightenment. The following key ideas and orientations, emanating from that age, guide humanity all over the world. And India as much as the Western world, or China, or any other country or social grouping cannot but accept these. It would be entirely unethical to hold any other position:

• All humans, being moral persons, are equal. Therefore, nationalism is necessarily inclusive. (Past divisions and conflicts have to be actively forgotten, with the state playing a major role in inclusion. This is nation-building).
• Only a democracy can be ethical. Democracy is not just “rule of the people by the people and for the people” but constitutionalism, institutionalism, and rule of law where every person is held equal under the law in both design and practice, ensuring the freedom of every person subject only to the need for the freedom of other persons. From here arise laws that restrain human behavior, as well as human rights, and habeas corpus.
• As a corollary, the autonomy of universities, think tanks, and the media follow; and the role of the state, besides governance, includes active inclusion (as in India’s Directive Principles) and tolerance for political dissent.

India becoming independent as a constitutional democracy is perhaps the greatest political achievement of the 20th century. History will vindicate this if India remains democratic and united. India’s achievements, despite some correctable flaws, are uniquely humanistic. Constitutional democracy that is based on the three principles above, have the potential to make us a great nation, drive the economic transition to a developed and modern society, and liberate us.

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Box 2: The Civil Service in the UK and USA

UK

In the UK, civil servants are generally expected to remain impartial and neutral in their roles, and they are discouraged or even barred from engaging in political activities or joining political parties, especially when in positions that involve high levels of responsibility. This principle is a cornerstone of the British Civil Service, ensuring that civil servants can serve successive governments regardless of the political party in power. The Civil Service Code lays out clear guidelines regarding political impartiality. It states that civil servants must not act in a way that is determined by party political considerations or allow personal political views to influence the decisions they make in their work. Furthermore, the code emphasizes that certain civil servants are subject to stricter rules on political activity. For example, those in senior or “sensitive” positions are prohibited from taking part in national political activities such as campaigning or running for office.

The Civil Service Management Code (Section 4.4) also details restrictions on political activity for civil servants, stating that they “must not engage in any activity that could conflict with their official duties or bring the Civil Service into disrepute.” Civil servants who wish to engage in political activities must seek permission, and certain grades of civil servants are not allowed to engage in political activities at all. These rules help maintain the political neutrality that is essential to the functioning of the Civil Service.[2]

USA
In the United States, civil servants are similarly restricted from engaging in certain political activities to maintain impartiality and prevent conflicts of interest. The primary legislation governing these restrictions is the Hatch Act of 1939. The Hatch Act imposes strict limits on federal employees’ involvement in partisan political activities, though it allows some participation in nonpartisan politics. Recently, the same outright restriction has been removed, but functionally there are many barriers against the membership of political parties.

All political participation is subject to approval by the OSC (Office of Special Counsel). And in certain sectors, and at higher levels , and in positions that involve discretion, participation continues to be banned altogether.
According to the Hatch Act, federal employees are barred from:

• Running for partisan political office.
• Using their official authority or influence to interfere with or affect election results.
• Soliciting, accepting, or receiving political contributions, especially in connection with a political party, campaign, or partisan political group.
• While federal civil servants can join political parties as private citizens, they are discouraged from publicly engaging in partisan political activities such as organizing campaigns, making political speeches, or distributing party materials, especially while on duty or in an official capacity.

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which enforces the Hatch Act, explains that while federal employees are permitted to express opinions on political subjects and participate in political activities outside of work, those in certain roles or higher positions (such as those in the Senior Executive Service) face even stricter limits. The OSC’s official guidelines make it clear that political impartiality is essential to ensure the civil service remains dedicated to serving the public interest rather than partisan interests.

For further reading, the Hatch Act and the OSC’s guidelines are available on the Office of Special Counsel website and on official government portals.[3]

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Box 3: The RSS and Its Origins

The Rashtriya Swayam Sevak (RSS) is an organization born as a reaction to colonization.[4] The counterpart of this reaction was the very progressive reform of society to which many Indians—Dadabhai Nowroji, Gandhi, Tagore, Naicker, Shree Narayanaguru, Rammohan Roy, Ambedkar, Nehru, Ranade,  Phule, and so many others—contributed, resulting in the modern democratic and inclusive India that we know and live in.

The RSS, while in some ways advocating the reform of Indian society, has a core orientation that is reactionary and anti-minority[5]. Thus, the militarization of Hindu youth propagated by the RSS arose out of the false understanding that India was dominated by colonialism because of Indians being unarmed. Similarly, the value it placed on an “organization” to guide Hindus arose from the perceived “deficiency” of Hindus in not having a church or being in control of the state.

Anti-Muslimism as Essence
The RSS, while focused on Hindus and their organization, came under the influence of the Hindu Mahasabha, which became explicitly communal from about 1910 under the leadership of Veer Savarkar with its Hindutva ideology. Savarkar, a great patriot until his incarceration in the Andamans, was subject to inhuman torture by the British, but the actual torture was carried out by Muslim Pathan guards. The British had a particular knack for using one group—caste, language group, or religion—to divide and rule over India, and this practice of using Muslim Pathans guards over political prisoners was one element of their approach. Unfortunately, Veer Savarkar was psychologically broken and, since his incarceration, saw Muslims as the ‘natural’ enemy of Hindus[6].  This is the core of his thesis of Hindutva. Since then, Savarkar lived only to hate Muslims and to organize Hindus against Muslims, even if it meant collaborating with the British.

The original anti-Muslimism of the RSS was strengthened with the agenda that, over the longer term, the only choice available to Muslims (and Christian minorities) was to reconvert or accept their second-class status and not full citizenship, which would be available only to Hindus (including Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists)[7]. This aspect of the agenda of both the RSS and the Hindu Mahasabha was strengthened after independence with the creation of Pakistan.

Hindutva
The essence of Hindutva can be stated as[8]:

• Religion as a driver of human identity, and in the face of conflict between religious and national identity, the religious identity would hold strong and the national give way.
• Only the followers of religions that are born in India can, therefore, be completely loyal to India considered as a geographical entity.
• Hence, only Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs (HJBS), besides Indian animists, can be considered as true Indians.
• To the ideologues of Hindutva, true independence is only when India establishes Hindu Rashtra, i.e. where all non-Hindus – Muslims and Christians-  whose religions arose outside, are evicted, or become subservient relative to the citizens who belong to the HBJS religions. As such it does not recognize the rights of minorities to be free and equal citizens.

The first two premises are completely wrong in the modern world. There is ample evidence of both kinds: some HJBS have been disloyal to India as a modern nation, and many Muslims and Christians have been patriots.

The Hindutva position glosses over the deep retardation of Indian society that caste brought about over many centuries: hardly any innovation, genetic weaknesses due to endogamy and the high levels of homozygosity that it has brought about,  fighting for the nation being limited to a caste (which allowed many invasions to take place); inhuman treatment of the lower castes; a belief that man was unequal, very low levels of learning and literacy, little marriage of thought with production technology.

Most importantly, it is evident that no nation whose core identity is based on religion has successfully modernized. The Western world experienced a prolonged battle between the church and the state for over 600 years, which ultimately saw the state prevail. This victory was a prerequisite for modernization and the Age of Enlightenment. In contrast, the primary burden of many countries in West Asia, the Middle East, and Pakistan is that they have chosen to define their identity and nationhood in religious terms. This choice has condemned them to remain underdeveloped, regardless of any other advantages they may possess.

The RSS’s Beliefs
The contrast between the RSS’s beliefs and modern democracy cannot be sharper. Thus:

• Hindu Rashtra, by definition cannot be inclusive nor can it be democratic in the modern sense. Therefore, the RSS is, by definition, a organization that does not accept modern inclusive India.
• Hindutva takes the essential form of antagonism (hate) against minorities, especially Muslims, because they are the largest minority, and many invaders in historic time professed that religion. [The reality, though, is that many others who invaded—Yavanas, Yuechi, Shakas, Hunas, etc which happened earlier—merged into Indian caste society with the invaders occupying relatively upper caste positions). The Muslim invaders, though, with their monotheism, retained their identity as a different religion. But the invaders, including Muslim, have become part and parcel of Indian society. The Indo-Saracenic tradition in architecture, in the arts and crafts, and in so many aspects of life created Indian society as it is today. What we recognize as Indian culture and being is an amalgam and mutual co-existence of pre-Islamic Indian (Buddhist, Jain, and the many Hindu orientations, animist tradition) with the Islamic and Christian, and since colonization, of an orientation informed by the “Age of Enlightenment” and its universalization. Moreover, newer Islamic traditions emerged in India, and syncretism too found expression. Hinduism itself was immensely influenced by Islam with both reactionary trends and trends that involved accommodation and adaptation. Thus, many anti-caste movements, including those that ultimately morphed into sects or altogether new religions, emerged as well. There is nothing Hindu about Hindutva; only the hate for Muslims defines Hindutva].
• The RSS believes that antagonism is the only way to “unite Hindus,” given the existing caste divisions. This indirectly suggests that the RSS has a pessimistic view of caste ever being overcome or of any meaningful positive reform taking place in Hindu society. As a result, they see creating a common “other” as the only way to unite Hindus.
• Similarly, the RSS does not believe in a settling date before which our divisions and contestations are forgotten and underplayed in the task of building the nation. Thus, in its antagonism with Islam, it actively encourages the reopening of past conflicts, some of which go back more than a millennia. Conflicts over mosques that may have been the sites for temples are its favorite ways to further its agenda of hating Muslims with the hope that this would unite Hindus. [All successful modern nations have a forgetfulness of the past conflicts that have the potential to divide, and look forward to democracy, humanism, and progress as values to which the state and people commit themselves. Thus, the French actively forget the past conflicts between Franks and Anglos, the Catholics and Protestants; the US, the conflict with the Native Americans (being officially apologetic about their decimation)][9].
• The RSS also does not exclude violence in the pursuit of its agenda. [It has provided support to the Hindu Mahasabha and other groups that include violence as part of their action set. For example, Savarkar argued for violence in the fight against Muslims even after India had become independent and a constitutional democracy that, besides the channel of elections, clearly provides for peaceful methods for protests and the expression of political aims].
• The RSS also does not recognize India as being politically independent. It hankers for an “independence” when the country is free from Islam and its impact. [The idea is so utterly inane and destructive of the country as is the belief that removing the weft of a cloth would allow the cloth to exist].
• It believes that a “religion”—what it calls the “Hindu Political”—which is under construction can and should guide the country and its state. [Even if India had only one “religion,” the very idea of religion guiding the construction of the state and society is antithetical to everything modern and progressive].
• The above positions are negative and hurtful not only to minorities but to the vast majority of Hindus as well since hate cannot sustain a society, and as it unfolds it can be self-destructive. There ought to be modernism and democracy in its true sense for people to be free and prosper.

However, Indian democracy has to be tolerant and allow all kinds of ideologies to exist, including those who do not believe in democracy. This would mean that Indian democracy cannot and should not ban the RSS as a political party.

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Box 4: The Contradictions of the Hindutva Agenda of the RSS with the Constitution of India.

The idea of Hindu Rashtra and the agenda of the RSS are also in deep contradiction with the Constitution of India. This is obvious but needs reiteration by reference to the ideologues and leaders of the RSS.

Equality
The Constitution of India provides for (1) under Article 14: Equality before the law and equal protection of the laws. (2) Under Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.

• In his “Bunch of Thoughts”, S. Golwalkar, a key RSS ideologue, says that the true identity of an Indian is tied to being Hindu. He wrote that Muslims and Christians 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.  K. S. Sudarshan, former RSS Chief, argued that the Indian nation is rooted in Hindu culture, and while other religions are welcome, they should align with the Hindu cultural ethos.  He in his discussions with religious leaders of minorities mentioned that they “should earn the goodwill of the majority”[10], perspective that contrasts with the constitutional guarantee of equality for all. This only reiterated the long held position of the RSS that minorities need to conform to the majority’s (Hindu) cultural norms.
• In contrast, the RSS’s advocacy for unity and inclusion among Hindus focuses more on social harmony across different castes and communities within the broader Hindu identity, with non-Hindu populations being less than equal. The RSS has explicitly avoided the idea of absolute equality in terms of universal rights and individual liberties even among Hindus, leave aside among all Indians.
• The idea that India is inherently a Hindu nation with a common Hindu culture contradicts the constitutional principle that no citizen should face discrimination based on religion. The RSS’s approach suggests that being Hindu is normative, potentially marginalizing non-Hindu citizens.

Freedom of Religion
The Constitution of India provides for (1) under Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion. And (2) under Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs.

• In contrast, M. S. Golwalkar in his “Bunch of Thoughts” (op.cit.) was critical of conversions, particularly those involving Hindus converting to other religions. He viewed conversions as a threat to national unity and integrity. Golwalkar’s writings express a clear opposition to the right to propagate religion, which is constitutionally guaranteed. His call for a ban on conversions suggests restricting this fundamental right. Similarly, Mohan Bhagwat, Current RSS Chief, in his various speeches has reiterated the need for laws to prevent “forced” or “induced” conversions, which he argues disrupt social harmony.
• Although framed as opposition to “forced” conversions, the emphasis on restricting conversion activities reflects a broader resistance to religious propagation, a constitutionally protected right.

Thus, while the Constitution guarantees the freedom to propagate one’s religion, including the right to convert, the RSS’s opposition to conversions and advocacy for anti-conversion laws suggest a desire to limit this freedom. This stance is at odds with the Constitution’s commitment to religious freedom.

Secularism
The Constitution of India provides for (1) a secular and socialist republic as in the Preamble: “India is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.” (2) Article 27 prohibits the use of state funds for the promotion of any religion.

• S. Golwalkar, in his “Bunch of Thoughts”, criticized secularism as a “borrowed concept” and contended that India should be a Hindu Rashtra. Golwalkar’s rejection of secularism reflects the RSS’s vision for a Hindu Rashtra where Hindu culture forms the basis of national identity and governance.
• Mohan Bhagwat’s Speech on Hindu Rashtra frequently articulated that while the RSS respects all religions, India’s identity is fundamentally Hindu. This perspective suggests a preference for Hindu cultural hegemony, which could challenge the secular nature of the state as mandated by the Constitution.
• The Constitution’s commitment to secularism requires the state to treat all religions equally and not endorse any particular religion. The RSS’s concept of a Hindu Rashtra, where Hindu culture is the dominant national identity, is fundamentally at odds with the constitutional vision of secularism.

Rule of Law and Constitutionalism
The Constitution of India (1) in Article 13 states that the state cannot make laws that contravene fundamental rights. Similarly, Article 32 provides for the Right to constitutional remedies for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

• From the RSS’s Vision and Mission Statements (referred to earlier): “Expressed in the simplest terms, the ideal of the Sangh is to carry the nation to the pinnacle of glory, through organising the entire society and ensuring protection of Hindu Dharma. Having identified this goal, the Sangh created a method of work in consonance with that ideal. Decades of functioning have confirmed that this is the most effective way of organising the society.”. This vision reflects a desire to align laws and governance with Hindu values, potentially at the expense of constitutional norms.
• The Constitution establishes the rule of law and constitutionalism, emphasizing adherence to its provisions as the supreme legal framework. The RSS’s view that the Constitution should reflect Hindu cultural values suggests a willingness to override constitutional principles to impose a specific cultural identity.

Fundamental and Human Rights
(1) Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession. Similarly, (2) Article 21 the Right to life and personal liberty.

• Golwalkar and other RSS leaders have often criticized free speech when it is used to critique Hindu culture or advocate for minority rights in ways that conflict with Hindutva ideology. They have often stated that there should be restrictions on expressions that are anti-national or against the cultural ethos of the majority. This position implies a conditional approach to free speech, prioritizing cultural and national unity over the unfettered right to expression. The issue of constraints on free speech can be debated. However, to constrain the same in terms of whether or not the aggrieved group is the minority or majority is a clear way of being anti-democratic and purely majoritarian.
• The Constitution guarantees broad freedoms of speech and expression without imposing restrictions based on national or cultural unity. The RSS’s stance on limiting expressions deemed anti-national or culturally divisive contradicts this constitutional protection.

Justice
The Constitution of India in (1) Article 39A: Directs the state to provide free legal aid to ensure justice is not denied to any citizen due to economic or other disabilities. (2) And in Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty.

RSS Stance on Minority Rights and Justice: The RSS has often been critical of sensitivity to minorities and has instead sought to bring them to accept the practices of the majority, even when these are intrusive on public spaces. But more importantly, in glorifying Sanatan Dharma, it has not made its stand clear on the ancient discrimination that is caste and the jati system. It has never been supportive of Hindu reform that seeks to actively hasten the decline of caste in India. In contending that Sanatan Dharma should rule India’s justice system, it is arguing for a retreat from the modern idea of justice, which is enshrined in the Constitution.

Judicial Independence
Article 50 of the Directive Principles of State Policy mandates the separation of the judiciary from the executive. This ensures that the judiciary remains free from the influence of political parties, preventing political control over the justice system. Over its evolution, this provision has been strengthened, and Indian democracy has marched ahead. In contrast, the RSS/BJP, by their very anti-institutional approach, their promotion of judges who are Hindutva-oriented, and the tilt of these judges in basing their judgments on “Hindu” and “Islamic” principles, not only undermines the institutional basis of governance but also its secular fabric.

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The Peoples’ Commission on Public Sector and Services includes eminent academics, jurists, erstwhile administrators, trade unionists and social activists. PCPSPS intends to have in-depth consultations with all stakeholders and people concerned with the process of policy making and those against the government’s decision to monetise, disinvest and privatise public assets/enterprises and produce several sectoral reports before coming out with a final report. Here is the first interim report of commission- Privatisation: An Affront to the Indian Constitution.

[1] Vision and Mission (of the RSS).(https://www.rss.org/Encyc/2015/3/13/Vision-and-Mission.html ).

[2] Civil Service Code, UK Government. Available at: gov.uk.; Civil Service Management Code, UK Government. Available at: gov.uk.

[3] The Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326). Available at: osc.gov; Office of Special Counsel, Political Activity and the Federal Employee. Available at: osc.gov.

[4] Golwalkar , M.S. (1968) Bunch of Thoughts, Vikrama Prakashan, Bangalore.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Purandhare, Vaihav (2019), Savarkar –The True Story of the Father of Hindutva, Juggernaut Books, New Delhi.

[7] Cf. Golwalkar, M.S.(1939) We or Our Nation Defined, Bharat Publications; Savarkar, V. D. (1923) Hindutva – Who is a Hindu?, Savarkar Prakashan; Golwalkar, M.S. (1968) op.cit.

[8] The presentation of Hindutva here follows Savarkar, V. D. (1923) op.cit.

[9] Renen, Ernest (2018) What is a Nation? And Other  Political Writings. Translated  and Edited by M.F.N, Gigilioli, Columbia Univ. Press. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/rena17430).

[10] Cf. “RSS Repeats Safety Sermon for Minorities”, The Telegraph Online (2002), https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/rss-repeats-safety-sermon-for-minorities/cid/899500).

_____________________________________________________________________

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The post Uphold integrity of civil services, re-impose ban on Govt officials associating with RSS: Open letter to President Draupadi Murmu appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Text of the Open Letter:

“Open Letter from ALIFA to dear Gauri Lankesh, marking 7 years of her cowardly killing: 

Long Live the Eternal Feminist, Anti-Fascist Fire and Flower Gauri!

Gauri, dear sister, dear comrade!

‘It has been seven years. We still remember the day, the night! September 5, 2017 – in fact the very moments – when the ‘news’ hit us. Gauri Lankesh shot in cold blood. Details poured in. Number of bullets. At your residence. By two men. We reeled with shock under immeasurable grief, loss and helplessness. Abandoning so many unfinished conversations, you left a void in all our hearts, the shape and size of a star!

‘Soon the city, the state, people from across the country joined in this mourning of the many, many Gauris we knew, admired, debated with, and loved. Loved dearly, fiercely. Not just the strong feminist, the fearless anti-fascist journalist, the inspirational mentor, the bold publisher and the fearless activist. But also, the vibrant, witty, unconventional, strong yet vulnerable woman you were.

‘We write today to not remember that one dreadful moment of your death, but celebrate the vital life force you were and continue to be – inspiring all who knew and those who did not, to continue resisting those lifeless forces that took you away from us. We write also to condemn the release of eight of the accused just a day before the seventh anniversary of your murder – indicative of a State machinery that is becoming increasingly communalised and callous at worst, and inept at best while legitimising impunity and injustice at the highest levels.

‘We were relieved when the law-and-order system actually did its job, investigating and arresting 17 people including the two assassins, Parashuram Waghmore, 26, a former member of the Sri Rama Sena in Bijapur, and Ganesh Miskin, 27, a right-wing activist from Hubbali. The trial too began in July 2022. All were linked to extremist Hindutva groups who created a syndicate to carry out killings and attacks on its critics – primarily in Karnataka and Maharashtra, between 2013 and 2018. This included the equally remarkable and inspiring Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi who lived and died defending the faith of freedom, justice and rationality.

‘The members of this organisation targeted persons who they identified to be inimical to their belief and ideology. The members strictly followed the guidelines and principles mentioned in Kshatra Dharma Sadhana, a book published by Sanatan Sanstha,” the SIT said after it filed a chargesheet against the accused in the case on 23rd November, 2018.

‘Many of your friends, family and comrades went and sat in the Courts on the days of the trial to look at the accused in their faces and show them that your spirit of defiance still lived – fearless and free. They sat there to show up how shallow the convictions of your killers were. And how frivolous their desperate attempts to prove the ‘kshatra’ or ‘masculinity’ of their fight by killing a spirited woman like you. With the last of the veils dropped, exposing the murderous monstrosity that drove your killers, it has only been made clear how low they can stoop. Their project of Hindutva fascism, the framing of you, Gauri Lankesh, as a ‘Durjan’, turned around in their faces, in the cheapest slapstick way. You would agree – the joke is on them!

‘We could see you too sitting in the trial, lighting up your cigarette and laughing out at their cowardice! For don’t forget we loved you also for your happy irreverence. We delighted in learning from you that political humour was always more nuanced than a simple struggle between repression and resistance. Like Serge said, “Repression can only live off fear and only intimidates the weak. It exasperates the best and tempers the resolution of the strongest!”

‘And you were anything but weak. You remained strong in life and after life. For what has lived on despite their attempts to kill you is your indomitable courage. Despite the threats, the imminent possibility of death, the continual attempts to silence you and everything you represented, you knew where you stood and always had the courage to stand your ground. You continued to create spaces for asking ‘uncomfortable, irreverent’ questions and holding that space courageously for all of us. 

‘You used to say, “I will do what I can and I will say what I should. These intolerant voices find strength in our silence.” You did just that. There was no silencing you then and even now.  

‘Like Anais Nin said, “One’s highest mission in life can only be to try and be at peace with one’s self.” Can’t be truer than of you! The complete sincerity with which for decades you fought the forces of gendered, caste and communal discrimination, much like Basavanna the founder of the faith you were born into. Like you said when fighting even those forces within the community who were failing him, “Basavanna not only protested these (Vedic texts, caste and gender discrimination), he offered an alternative that is an anti-thesis of sanatana dharma.” The conviction with which you spoke truth to power and damn the consequences! 

‘The camaraderie that your forged – across different movements, be it that of the Adivasis, Aambedkarities or Transgender, Queer Assertions; within the progressive circles that you felt was getting fragmented; with younger activists, students hounded by the right-wing regime and who you joyously embraced as your children. Your unflinching solidarity with persecuted Muslims and minorities of all hues. The pain and passion with which you stood for Rohith Vemula, another star! The courage with which you made the transition from English to Kannada media, taking on the powerful legacy of a legend like your father and becoming a legend yourself! We loved the Lankesh Patrike. 

‘We loved the Gauri Lankesh Patrike and we loved the relentless and thousand ways in which you spoke out for a just, fair and compassionate society. 

‘Salute Gauri to the organic, authentic and genuine intellectual and activist that you were.

‘In commemorating your death and in condemning the release on bail of the eight accused, a move meant to embolden criminals of the worst kind, we reiterate the need to recast ‘the murder of Gauri Lankesh’ as a hate crime against humanity. We reiterate our resolve to defend Democracy, Pluralism, Egalitarianism. We reiterate our resolve to defend Free Speech and Reason. We reiterate the need for questioning the state’s complicity and the judiciary’s failure in upholding our basic civil liberties and democratic rights as citizens. But more than anything else, we reiterate our collective determination to not be silenced.

‘Like Angela Davis said, “One has to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world and one has to do it all the time.” You did and we shall too, for it was always a collective battle and always will be. And in this battle, we wish for ourselves not only your courage and political commitment, but also your lightness of being and your radical humanity that radiated through all those relationships big and small that you forged in and beyond your time, ensuring that you will never go away.  

‘As the inimitable Basavanna said, “things standing shall fall, but the moving ever shall stay”. You move through the millions fighting for justice. You live on. In our hearts, In our hopes. Long Live Gauri! The Fire and Flower!’ 

In profound solidarity, salutes and deep love,

All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA – NAPM)

Related:

Gauri Lankesh assassination: 6 years down, no closure for family and friends, justice elusive

Gauri, a film on journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh wins international award: Montreal 2023

Gauri Lankesh Assassination: Accused denied bail by Aurangabad HC

Remembering Gauri Lankesh, Renewing A Pledge

Five years since we lost Gauri Lankesh

The post Murder of Gauri Lankesh a hate crime against humanity, condemn release on bail of 8 accused: ALIFA Open letter appeared first on SabrangIndia.

“The scheme’s shortcomings are obvious. No amount of money can be a substitute for the land required for our forests, and for our biodiversity and wildlife to thrive. Yet the government is trying to make it easy for entrepreneurs and industrialists to acquire forest land by permitting them to offer, in exchange, money (in the form of green credits), instead of land for land as was the case so far,” said the former civil servants under the banner Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), a group that ensures the upholding of the Constitution

The CCG added that, when entrepreneurs can easily obtain forest land, it does not take much imagination to realise that the extent of land legally classified as forests will steadily shrink until there is virtually nothing left. “A new set of Green Credit invaders may ask for diversion of some of our densest and best-protected forests for commercial purposes like mining, industry, and infrastructure,” the CCG said in the open letter.

The Union environment ministry issued a notification last month saying corporations and other private entities can take up plantations on degraded land, including open forest and scrubland, wasteland, and catchment areas, under the administrative control of states to help generate green credits. The credits can be traded and used as a leadership indicator under corporate social responsibility.

State forest departments are required to identify all sparsely covered forest lands within their jurisdiction to be offered to private agencies/investors for funding to support plantations. The forest department has to complete afforestation within two years after receiving money from investors.

CCG said the government seems to have issued the rules in the belief that plantations absorb more carbon than natural scrublands. “This is not true. Plantations are usually fast-growing monocultures and it is a scientifically proven fact that they are poor at carbon sequestration when compared to natural ecosystems. Compensatory afforestation plantations already undertaken in our country are known to have dubious success rates.”

GCC underlined the importance of recognising that green credits as a concept is anachronistic. It added the idea has been seen as a tool for monetising the natural environment and handing it over to corporates for exploitation.

“To allow transfer of pristine forest lands to corporates, in exchange for green credits earned by them, by getting them to fund the forest department to plant degraded forest lands, is shocking indeed. More so, because the ecological values of these lands can be restored by the forest department itself, with the funds already at its disposal. This is a transaction weighted heavily in favour of Big Capital,” the CCG said.

In July 2023, CCG wrote another open letter critiquing the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, which allows the diversion of forests for defence/security infrastructure.

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy led (climate and ecosystems) Debadityo Sinha last month said the rules are unscientific and completely ignore the ecological aspects of forests. “Referring to open forests, scrubland, and catchment areas as ‘degraded’ land parcels is vague… incentivising industrial-scale plantations in such areas will irreversibly alter soil quality, replace local biodiversity, and might be disastrous for local ecosystem services.”

The entire text of the communication may be read here:

The post Over 90 former civil servants have strongly opposed “Green Credit Rules” making corporate access to forests easy appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Nearly 10 days after Prayagraj (Allahabad) police illegally arrested local activist Javed Mohammad, Naini Central jail authorities on June 20, 2022 denied his presence in the institution to his family. Wife Parveen Fatima wrote an open letter condemning authorities for failing to notify kin about his transfer.

“We have been hearing rumours from the media and others that several inmates of Naini Central jail, including my husband, have been transferred to several jails across UP, and that my husband may have been transferred to Deoria jail, but no official confirmation has been given to us or our lawyers. My children and I are concerned about his safety and health,” said Parveen in her letter.

Jail authorities and district administration have denied presence of my father, Janab Javed Muhammad, in the Naini Central Jail where he was kept following his arrest. We are concerned about his safety and health! pic.twitter.com/C9bIfsRuQY

— Afreen Fatima (@AfreenFatima136) June 20, 2022

As per sources, local jail authorities failed to intimate family members about Mohammad’s transfer to another jail. Jail regulations clearly state that the family of an accused should be notified if a person is shifted to another place.

According to the Hindustan Times, 10 accused were transferred on administrative grounds. Senior police superintendent Ajay Kumar told the publication that authorities feared the group would create trouble in the central jail. This was done based on the recommendation of the district administration. While Mohammad was to be taken to Deoria jail, others were to be transferred to prisons in Kanpur, Gautam Budh Nagar, Fatehgarh, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Agra, and Jhansi. Sources, now tell SabrangIndia that Parveen is going to meet her husband in Deoria Jail today.

Overall, more than 400 people were arrested for the anti-Nupur Sharma protests. Economic Times reported 100 arrests in Howrah and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal. In Jharkhand, the Ranchi police registered 25 FIRs against ‘thousands’ of people after clashes that resulted in two deaths and injuries to scores of people. Uttar Pradesh alone report at least 325 arrests in 13 FIRs.

Charges against Javed Mohammad

Mohammad was accused of being the “mastermind” of the June 10 Atala violence where some people engaged in stone pelting during the anti-Nupur Sharma protests. These were protests condemning the hate speech spewed by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma against Prophet Mohammad and Islam. Parveen has called the claims against her husband as “cooked up allegations and false charges”.

On the intervening night between June 10 and June 11, Javed, Parveen and their younger daughter were detained by the police without an arrest warrant. Police also tried to take away their oldest daughter and anti-CAA activist Afreen Fatima and her sister-in-law, but the two resisted. Finally on the next day, their house was demolished by the Prayagraj administration. Authorities produced a document accusing Mohammad of building a house on encroached land. However, as later stated by the family, the house was built in Parveen’s name.

Worse still, the the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) identified 40 houses in Atala region by June 15 that allegedly built on encroached land. Most of these were houses of those people accused of violence during the Friday protests.

The listed nowadays run from pillar to post trying to gather documented evidence of their residence. Indian Express quoted one family to be fearing the time when a bulldozer will appear before their house.

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The post Naini Central jail fails to notify kin on Javed Mohammad’s transfer appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Dear Professor Sibaram Khara Saheb,

Namaskaar! According to your esteemed University’s portal, “The name of University, ‘Sharda’ is synonymous to ‘Goddess of knowledge and learning-Saraswati’. She is identified with ‘veena’ an Indian musical instrument and the ‘lotus’ where she resides. The lotus in our logo symbolizes the seat of learning that the University is created for. Variety of colours signify the variety of disciplines the university offers and the overlap between petals creating new colours demonstrate the ethos of collaboration between students and teachers of different programme, nationality, creed and colour working towards creating new knowledge…the University’s cherished mission to provide education beyond boundaries and to facilitate the students and faculty to achieve pinnacles of success throughout the world!”

The web-site of School of Humanities & Social Sciences states, “The courses have been designed methodically to provide rigorous knowledge of subjects to students as well as to enhance their critical and analytical abilities”.

I am sorry to write that Sharda University by dropping the question, “Do you see find any similarity between Nazism/Fascist and the Hindu right-wing (Hindutva)?” in the first-year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) political science paper (2022) has violated the above-mentioned noble mottos. The unfortunate saga did not stop here. According to leading English daily,a three-member committee of senior faculty members was constituted to look into the possibility of bias in the questions asked and pending this inquiry, the university suspended the faculty member concerned. The university regrettedthat such an incident took place that “may have the potential for fomenting social discord” and stated that university authorities were “totally averse to any line of thought which distorts the great national identity and the inclusive culture inherent in our national ethos”. The University also ordered that the specific question found prime facie objectionable, would be ignored by the evaluators for the purposes of an award of marks to the students.[i]

The University Grants Commission which is not supposed to intervene in day-to-day functioning of the universities and remains mute spectator to the countless incidences of violence against teachers and students perpetrated by the organizations connected with the ruling party in many universities was quick to intervene and declared: “It has been observed that the students objected to the question and lodged a complaint with the university. Needless to say, that asking students such a question is against the spirit and ethos of our country, which is known for inclusivity and homogeneity and such questions have not been asked.”[ii]

Dear Sir, I believe that your esteemed University is a serious place for sharing, learning and development of academic ideas; that is, in fact, the purpose of any educational institution. I am afraid that by discarding the question on Hindutva’s linkages with Fascism/Nazism and penalizing the teacher who set the said question paper, the contributions of the 3 most prominent of prpounders and developers of the theory, Balakrishna Shivram Moonje (1872-1948), Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883-1966) and Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar (1906-1973), regarded as Fathers of Hindutva, have totally been ignored. Even a casual perusal of their writings (and activities) would make it clear that Sharda University has succumbed to extra-academic-mobocracy totally disregarding even the records available in the Hindutva archives.

All three Fathers of Hindutva unwaveringly fell in love with Fascism/Mussolini and Nazism/Hitler and strongly advocated to emulate these totalitarian European ideologies in India; a prerequisite for turning India into an exclusive powerful Hindu nation and solving the minority “problem”. I am reproducing the ORIGINAL WRITINGS of Moonje, Golwalkar and Savarkar in the following so that your University rectifies its serious act of misconduct.

Moonje had personal audience with Mussolini and spent his life trying to emulate Fascism in India

Moonje led the Hindu nationalists (who believed India to be a land for Hindus only, saw Muslims and Christians as foreigners and Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism not independent religions, but branches of Hinduism) in establishing concrete relationship with Fascist Italy led by Benito A. A. Mussolini (1883-1945). He has left detailed accounts of his visit to Italy, Fascist military institutions, personal meeting with Mussolini and emulating Fascism in India in a diary which are available with Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Delhi. 

The Italian researcher, Marzia Casolari has done pioneering work in making public the direct linkages between this Hindutva ideologue and Mussolini based on Moonje’s diary. Moonje, a politician openly related to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had man-to-man meeting with Mussolini on the evening March 19, 1931 at Rome. According to Moonje’s own diary, he told Mussolini that

“I just saw this morning and afternoon the Balilla [Italian Fascist Youth Organisation which specialized in killing opponents of Fascism and Jews] and the Fascist Organisations and I was much impressed. Italy needs them for her development and prosperity…Every aspiring and growing Nation needs such organisations…’Signor Mussolini–who appeared very pleased–said–Thanks but yours is an uphill task. However, I wish you every success in return.’Saying this he [Mussolini] got up and I also got up to take his leave.”

According to Moonje’s diary immediately after his return from Rome he called upon prominent Hindu nationalist leaders to

“Imitate the youth movements of Germany and the Balilla and Fascist organisations of Italy. I think they are eminently suited for introduction in India, adapting them to suit the special conditions. I have been very much impressed by these movements and I have seen their activities with my own eyes in all details”.

On March 31, 1934, Moonje, Hedgewar and Laloo Gokhale had a meeting, the subject of which was again the military organisation of the Hindus, along the Italian and German lines. Moonje called upon the gathering that they should work for

“standardisation of Hinduism throughout India…But the point is that this ideal cannot be brought to effect unless we have our own swaraj with a Hindu as a dictator like Shivaji of old or Mussolini or Hitler of the present day Italy or Germany… But this does not mean that we have to sit with folded hands until some such dictator arises in India. We should formulate a scientific scheme and carry on propaganda for it…”

Moonje publicly admitted that his idea of militarily reorganizing Hindu society was inspired by the “military training schools of England, France, Germany and Italy” His ‘Preface to the Scheme of the Central Hindu Military Society and its Military School’ declared at the outset:

“This training is meant for qualifying and fitting our boys for the game of killing masses of men with the ambition of winning victory with the best possible causalities of dead and wounded while causing the utmost possible to the adversary.”

Moonje’s diary expresses overgenerous love for Mussolini and Fascism and his boundless commitment to emulate their principles in India while organizing Hindus. He wrote:

“The Balilla institutions and the conception of the wholeorganisation have appealed to me most, though there is still no discipline and organisation of high order. The whole idea is conceived by Mussolini for the military regeneration of Italy. Italians, by nature, appear ease-loving and non-martial, like Indians generally. They have cultivated, like Indians, the work of peace and neglected the cultivation of the art of war. Mussolini saw the essential weakness of his country and conceived the idea of the Balilla organisation…Nothing better could have been conceived for the military organisation of Italy…The idea of fascism vividly brings out the conception of unity amongst people…

“India and particularly Hindu India needs some such institution for the military regeneration of the Hindus: so that the artificial distinction so much emphasized by the British, of martial and non-martial classes amongst the Hindus, may disappear…Our institution of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of Nagpur under Hedgewar is of this kind, though quite independently conceived. I will spend the rest of my life in developing and extending this institution of Hedgewar all throughout Maharashtra and otherprovinces.”[iii]

Golwalkar penned a book in praise of Fascism and Nazism

The most prominent ideologue of the RSS, MS Golwalkar (known as Guru Ji in the RSS circles) authored We Or Our Nationhood Defined in 1939 which justified cleansing of Jews by Mussolini and Hitler and demanded the same treatment for Muslims and Christians of India. This book, a Holy book for the RSS cadres stated:

“If, as is indisputably proved, Hindusthan[sic] is the land of the Hindus and is the terra firma for the Hindu nation alone to flourish upon, what is to be the fate of all those, who, today, happen to live upon the land, though not belonging to the Hindu Race, Religion and culture.”[iv]

For Golwalkar there was no confusion on this issue. It would be like what Jews faced under Hitler and Mussolini. Thus, Golwalkar glorified the Holocaust in the following words:

“German Race pride has now become the topic of the day. 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.[v]

Golwalkar, following into the foot-steps of Hitler, arrived at the following solution for the minority “problem” in India; Muslims and Christians who were declared as foreign races,

“From this stand point, 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.[vi]

When Hitler’s armies were devastating neighbouring countries and cleansing Jews, it was Golwalkar who came forward unfalteringly in defence of ‘ethnic cleansing’ by Nazis in the followingwords:

“The other Nation most in the eye of the world today is Germany. This Nation affords a very striking example. Modern Germany strove, and has to a great extent achievedwhat she strove for, to once again bring under one sway the whole of the territory, hereditarily possessed by the Germans but which, as a result of political disputes, had been  portioned off as different countries under different states…German pride in their Fatherland for a definite home country, for which the race has traditional attachments as a necessary concomitant of the true Nation concept, awoke and ran the risk of starting a fresh world-conflagration, in order to establish one, unparalleled undisputed German Empire over all this ‘hereditary territory’. This natural and logical aspiration of Germany has almost been fulfilled and the great importance of the ‘country factor’ has been once again vindicated even in the living present.”[vii]

Golwalkar equally praised the Fascist ally of Hitler, Italy led by Mussolini for enslaving Ethiopia and Libya as part of his project of building a Roman Empire in Africa and the Balkans. Golwalkar justified enslaving of nations by Mussolini glorifying “depredatory ancestors” in the following words:

“Look at Italy, the old Roman Race consciousness of conquering the whole territory round the Mediterranean Sea, so long dormant, has roused itself, and shaped the racial-national aspirations accordingly. The ancient race spirit which prompted the Germanic tribes to overrun the whole of Europe has… [arisen again] in modern Germany, with the result that the nation perforce follows the aspirations predetermined by the traditions left by its depredatory ancestors.”[viii]

Savarkar’s profuse love for Nazism & Fascism

Savarkar, the originator of the term ‘Hindutva’ who penned a book with the same title in 1923 too had great liking for Hitler’s Nazism and the Fascism of Mussolini. Savarkar went on to support Hitler’s anti-Jewish pogroms and on October 14, 1938, he suggested the same solution for the Muslim problem in India:

A Nation is formed by a majority living therein. What did the Jews do in Germany? They being in minority were driven out from Germany.[ix]

While delivering the Presidential address to the 22nd Session of the Hindu Mahasabha at Madura in 1940 he declared,

“There is no reason to suppose that Hitler must be a human monster because he passes off as a Nazi or Churchill is a demi-God because he calls himself a democrat. Nazism proved undeniably the saviour of Germany under the set of circumstances Germany was placed in…”[x]

Savarkar rebuked Jawahar Lal Nehru for opposing Fascism and Nazism in the following words:

“Who are we to dictate to Germany, Japan or Russia or Italy to choose a particular form of policy of government simply because we woo it out of academical[sic] attraction? Surely Hitler knows better than Pandit Nehru does what suits Germany best. The very fact that Germany or Italy has so wonderfully recovered and grown so powerful as never before at the touch of Nazi or Fascist magical wand is enough to prove that those political ‘isms’ were the most congenial tonics their health demanded.”[xi]

Savarkar not only had devotional attachment towards racist and totalitarian political project of Fascism but also praised its male chauvinist attitude towards women as an ideal to be emulated by Hindus. In an essay titled ‘Madam Mussolini’ which he wrote in praise of the wife of Mussolini, Rachele Mussolini he stated that she was worshippable because 

“She is a simple, rich house-wife who never comes out of home…she believes that domestic chores, bringing up children, serving husband, managing family and slaves are the primary and fundamental duties of a woman. This is her commitment and interest. Mussolini’s wife is achieving real great status as a house-wife.”[xii]

Dear Vice-chancellor, I am immensely sad to write that Sharda University’s total ignorance of the original writings of Fathers of Hindutva which prove inalienable fraternal linkages with Fascism and Nazism led to a situation that a teacher who had real knowledge of the facts is being penalized. The anti-academic attitude of the University has created a situation that the above-mentioned question is being presented as attack on Hinduism by those who know more about Hindutva then Moonje, Golwalkar and Savarkar.

Since, paper setter happened to be a Muslim the Hindutva eco-system communalised the whole debate. A leading Hindutva news-portal joined the hate mongering by stating, “It is worth noting that Waqas Farooq Kuttay also attended Jamia Millia Islamia University. He had passed the JRF and NET (National Eligibility Test) exams. He continues to write articles targeted toward nationalists.” It also carried the following tweet by one Vikas Pritam Singh targeting Muslims in general.

यूनिवर्सिटी का नाम’शारदा’ पर कृत्य देखिए कि परीक्षा में छात्रों को’हिन्दुत्व’ को अनिवार्यरूप से फासी और नाजीवाद के समकक्ष सिद्ध करने के लिए कहा जा रहा है। यह प्रश्नपत्र कथित रूप से किसी मुस्लिम शिक्षक द्वारा बनाया गया है. (Q no. 6)

[The name of the University is Sharda but see the act that the students are being asked in the examination to prove ‘Hindutva’ as essentially equivalent to Fascism and Nazism. This question paper is allegedly made by a Muslim teacher.][xiii]

Sir, the trolls are targeting his name, his upbringing, his family and religion. Shockingly Sharda University helped this Islam-o-phobic witch-hunting by declaring the question having potential to “foment social discord”. Without looking into the writings and deeds of Moonje, Golwalkar and Savarkar your University came out in defence of Hindutva declaring it as “great national identity”. The University seems to be totally oblivious of the fact that those criminals who assassinated Father of the Nation, Gandhiji, identified themselves as Hindu nationalists and believers in Hindutva.

Professor Sibaram Khara Saheb, ignorance should not be bliss for any sensible person or institution specially an educational institution and those running it. I would make a humble request that the individuals or committees of Sharda University which took atrocious decisions on this issue must read the original writings of three Fathers of Hindutva. I can gift these to the University. If University and UGC want to censure those who established linkages of Hindutva with Fascism/Nazism, Moonje, Golwalkar and Savarkar have to be investigated and censured, not a poor teacher whose only fault was that he had read them and asked a genuine question!

I hope University under your guidance will not betray the TRUTH!

*Views expressed are the author’s own.

References:

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Delhi University must not only reinstate recently deleted texts of writers Bama, Sukirtharani and Mahesweta Devi but also apologise to them, said Dalit Intellectual Collective in an open letter to Vice Chancellor P. C. Joshi. Backed by professors, students, activists and journalists across India, the letter condemned the select removal of three women writers (two Tamil and one Bengali) from the English literature syllabus of the university.

“The exertion of Brahmanical, patriarchal, communal prejudice and domination in higher education once again becomes painfully visible. These authors’ writings accentuate the life-narratives of Adivasis, Dalits, marginalised women and minorities,” said the Collective.

Members expressed shock that the University removed selections from the novel Sangati (Events), two poems “Kaimaru” (Debt) and “En Udal” (My Body), and the short story Draupadi, as per recommendations of the Oversight Committee, despite opposition from at least 16 Academic Council members.

Although literature has historically told stories of state-oppression on Adivasi women, the discrimination faced by Dalit women in caste-infected Indian villages, and manual scavenging, the Oversight Committee claimed that these texts “hurt sentiments” and “(are not) inclusive in nature to depict the true picture of the society”.

The Dalit Intellectual Collective asked, “Whose sentiments were hurt by these texts? Surely not the sentiments of those whose oppression was portrayed here! Must the sentiments of the privileged always shape academic programs?”

Members pointed out that women’s studies and Dalit studies in academia changed the literary scene in India in the past few decades, enriching the Social Science disciplines. The three women writers belong to this group of protest literature.

Rather than excluding these women, the group called for the inclusion of many more such voices from different regions and languages across India.

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As images of chaos and panic show hapless Afghan citizens feeding for their lives as the Taliban took over Afghanistan’s  capital Kabul on Sunday, over 1,200 Afghan and Iranian women and civil society activists have signed an open letter demanding “an immediate ceasefire as well as protections for Afghan civilians”. They emphasise that the women of Afghanistan are equal citizens and demand “that the protection of women’s rights be a prerequisite to any future peace talks.”

Coming together as “true friends of Afghanistan”, the signatories of this open letter have declared their support for “Afghan women’s demands.” They have joined Afghan women to “call on the United Nations, the government of Afghanistan and national and international actors to fulfill their obligations and undertake responsible measures that would lead to a just peace that protects the interests and rights of all the people of the country.”

They stated that the women of Afghanistan have suffered “through ruinous wars for more than 40 years”. A crucial point raised here is that the lives of women have been “impacted by a war in which they have played no role.” This, apart from the loss of lives of family members has “resulted in the loss of their human dignity.” The women there have suffered not just the endless violence of war, but also “sexual apartheid, kidnapping, rape, slavery, absolute poverty and injustice”. They and their children are most vulnerable as many have had their houses destroyed and have lost their spouses and parents. “Several generations of our people have been displaced in their own land, as well as in the regional states and the world-over,” stated the open letter.

This suffering has been most intense for the women of Afghanistan, who “have been deprived of all human rights, of basic living facilities, security, health, education and employment, social, political and cultural activities, and the growth and development of an independent civil society,” stated the activists.

Some hope for a better life, that seemed to have risen in recent times even though there was “continuous political turmoil,” they write, addin that all that has yet again been destroyed with war and occupation. They mince no words and hold the United States of America responsible. The signatories state that “flames of war have been reignited throughout the country and the Taliban has reemerged as a result of America’s irresponsible departure, the weakness of the central government and inaction or support for the Taliban by neighboring countries.” These factors they state have now put “the future and lives of women under serious threat once again.” 

The Taliban’s systematic violence against women

The activists recalled Taliban’s systematic violence against women, and its commission of war crimes, including “rape, forced marriage, sexual and gendered violence and egregious human rights violations,” and warn that all of that now points towards “a dark future for the women of Afghanistan.” They alleged that even the “peace talks move in the direction of legitimising numerous perpetrators of war crimes and human catastrophes in Afghanistan.”

The open letter reminds the world how  “voices of independent Afghan society and the women who are being lashed, stoned and forced to marry the Taliban combatants are not being heard during the peace talks.” The peace negotiations the women activists state “do not include much on peace and appear more as bargaining for a power grab.” They have demanded that “women of Afghanistan are equal citizens, and the protection of their rights should be a prerequisite, a unanimously agreed guarantee of all parties during any peace talks.”

The open letter has asked the United Nations Security General, the UN Human Rights Council, international human rights organisations and the international community to pay heed “before the country becomes an even greater disaster for women, and intervene to protect the rights of Afghan people.” The activists have demanded that:

• All parties to the war immediately adopt a ceasefire while accepting and implementing all binding international humanitarian laws and conventions.
   
• The Government of Afghanistan refrain from using military tactics and strategies that endanger the lives of civilians.
   
• Any change of political order or the constitution happen through elections and by the will of the people of Afghanistan, not through war and military intervention.
   
• Warring parties, including the Taliban, armed opposition forces, international forces and government forces, are forced to accept responsibility and be held accountable for past and current war crimes and atrocities.
   
• The UN Secretary General, the UN Special Representative in Afghanistan, the UN Human Rights Council and other international organizations use all their authorities and mechanisms at their disposal to end this war.
• Given the failure of the Doha agreement and the Taliban to uphold international obligations, the Human Rights Council establish a fact-finding mission to investigate and follow up on human rights violations and atrocities (crimes against humanity?) by the Taliban and other insurgent forces.
   
• The Government of Afghanistan, the international community and human rights agencies cooperate to prevent the Taliban’s organized atrocities and prosecute the perpetrators in international criminal courts to break the cycle of impunity and end the violations.
   
• The international community, in particular all the countries that have invested in Afghanistan in recent years, as well as the United Nations, ensure the peace talks are real and in compliance with universal humanitarian principles and values during all stages. Such principles and values have been achieved as a result of endeavors and sacrifices of tens of thousands of men and women during more than two decades, and are not negotiable.
   
• The rights to life and security, equality in rights, the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women, freedom of expression and political, economic and social activities of women, ethnic, religious and sexual groups shall be ensured.
   
• Equal access for all children to education, including higher education, shall be ensured in all provinces, districts, cities and villages of Afghanistan.
   
• The right to work and participate in all social and political aspects of life shall be ensured for all citizens of Afghanistan, in particular women, as a non-negotiable right.
   
• Drafting, legislating and implementing the civil and penal laws shall be based on the Constitution of Afghanistan, the national parliament shall be the sole legislating body, and the creation of any non-elected body, including the Supreme Theological Council of the Taliban, and the practicing of any unconstitutional power shall be outlawed

The full statement may be read here: https://femena.net/campaigns/demanding-an-immediate-cease-fire-in-afghanistan

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A retired District Judge, Ramesh Chandra has written an open letter regarding his wife’s demise due to Covid-19 in Lucknow, highlighting the inept healthcare facilities in Uttar Pradesh.

The letter, according to Bar & Bench, reads, “My wife, Madhu Chandra died due to the administration’s negligence. The present situation is so bad that there is nobody to pick up the dead body. Please help!”

As per the former Judge’s letter, both of them had tested positive for Covid-19 and were under home quarantine. “Since yesterday morning, I have been trying to call everyone, but no one is attending my calls, even the basic home isolation (Covid -19 medicines) was not delivered on time”, reported Bar & Bench.

Reacting to this, Advocate Haider Ali, a relative of the Chandra’s, told Bar & Bench that Madhu Chandra had received both rounds of the vaccine. “Today the mother of a close friend died because of covid. She didn’t even get a bed in the hospitals. Her husband is a retired district judge, he kept trying to somehow get his wife admitted in a hospital but the situation is so pathetic and dreadful that she was not even sent medicines. Also, she was vaccinated (taken both the shots of vaccine)”, he said.

Uttar Pradesh has over 95,000 active infection cases with several people complaining of ambulances not reaching them in time, unavailability of hospital beds, shortage of medicines, etc. A letter written by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet minister (law), Brijesh Pathak states the collapse of the healthcare system in the state, especially the worsening condition in Lucknow.

The letter which went viral on social media, was a confidential one and was addressed to additional chief secretary, medical health, Amit Mohan Prasad and principal secretary, medical education, Alok Kumar. The minister wrote, “I am shocked to find that while government hospitals and labs are taking around 4-5 days to give the test reports, private laboratories have been asked to stop Covid testing.”

He also reportedly mentioned the paucity of test kits and testing facilities in the state capital, an issue that other citizens too have been raising. He wrote that there was a need for at least 17,000 coronavirus test kits a day but barely 10,000 were available in Lucknow.

At present, CM Adityanath and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav have both tested positive for Covid-19. As per a report in The Indian Express, the state’s recovery rate has reduced to 85 per cent from around 98 per cent at the end of March. Overall, India has recorded its highest number at a staggering 2,17,000 cases in the last 24 hours.

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Former Chief of the Naval Staff L. Ramdas penned an open letter to President Ramnath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 29, 2021 his deep concern and anguish regarding the turn of events on Republic Day.

Among a slew of grievances, the distinguished retired Admiral lamented the manner in which the peaceful and orderly farmers procession, comprising 90 percent of the protestors, was almost totally unreported in mainstream media on January 26 and January 27.

“What was reported and repeatedly shown on channels and in the print media too, was the incident of a flag being hoisted after the ‘occupation’ of the Lal Qila, by a small group of young men apparently led by one Deep Singh Sidhu. There were also false reports about the tricolour being brought down and displaced by a ‘religious’ flag,” said Ramdas in the letter.

As a service officer, Ramdas said he is aware of the adequate security arrangements at the Red Fort especially on days like August 15 and January 26. He argued that it is by no means easy or possible for any unauthorized person or group to climb right up to the space just below the ramparts. There are many barriers and gates to be negotiated on the way in which are kept locked.

“The Army battalion which is normally housed inside the Fort appeared to be missing ? Clearly this was a major security lapse and this needs an immediate and thorough inquiry to establish reasons for this serious breach of security,” he said.

He also blamed the media and certain government sources and political leaders for the one-sided narrative that resulted in open accusations of protestors insulting the Nation and the National Flag, inciting and indulging in violence, being anti-national and anti the Republic.

Ramdas expressed distress at the fact that a large number of FIRs were registered by the Delhi police against farmers, farmer leaders, well-known journalists and others on serious charges such as sedition.

The letter also acknowledged reports of apparent collusion by security forces, a small rebel farmer group and some individuals with high-level political connections to disrupt the farmers parade are serious security lapses. However, rather than blaming the farmers, Ramdas defended them.

“In an earlier message, I have also pointed out that in almost every Kisan home there is a Jawan, who guards the frontiers and returns to the land after his tour of duty. This relationship should never be forgotten. Antagonizing kisans and therefore jawans, can have serious fall outs and the implications on national security cannot be overlooked,” said Ramdas.

He stated that farmers are only requesting due consultations in matters concerning their livelihood; a consultation that was not done while making the three new farm laws. Moreover, he pointed out that farmers and agricultural experts alike, fear that the laws in their current form will favour corporate interests and go against the interests of the farmers.

As such he argued that the situation called for utmost sensitivity while listening to farmers demands regarding Minimum Support Price (MSP,) Mandi system and unfair pressure from very large private interests.

“Mr. President, as my Supreme Commander, I urge you again to kindly take note of the issues raised in this letter and to take action urgently on a matter which deserves utmost priority. Already over 170 farmers have laid down their lives for this cause over the last two months. “They have truly awakened the entire Nation,” he said.

Ramdas said that the official’s unique position allows him “to stem the tide of this terrible divide between kisans, jawans and our people” and so he should use his title to bring back justice and peace as a “great service to the people of this land and beyond.”

The complete letter may be viewed below:

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Over 800 women farmers and university students expressed shock and dismay in an open letter to the Chief Justice of India S. A. Bobde on January 14, 2021 for his comments that allegedly undermined women’s participation in the farmers movement.

All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) and ASHA member Kavitha Kurunganti called the Supreme Court’s hearings and orders “controversial, unacceptable and unaccepted in various ways.”

They were upset by the Court’s comments on January 11 and January 12 stating that women and old people should be sent back and not have to participate in present protests.

The women farmers and leaders said that the Court, in saying this, was disrespectful of the fact that women are major stakeholders in agriculture. They said the comment denies women their agency and mocks the long-standing struggle of women engaged in farm work to be recognised as farmers.

“One of the important points of concern is the paternalism and patriarchy reflected in observations/orders with regard to women farmers. We urge the respected institution of the Supreme Court to recognise and appreciate the agency of women in this matter,” said Kuruganti who also leads the farmers’ Unions delegation on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) issue.

Similarly, MA student and Youth for Swaraj National Council Member Amandeep, said that women are the heart and soul of the Kisan Andolan and undermining their role and agency is extremely disgraceful. As a person working on-ground in the protest from early days, Amandeep said women are actively involved in organising speeches, meetings, conducting press briefings, arranging and providing medication and cooking along with their male counterparts at the protest sites.

“[They are also] taking care of farms and their households in villages, providing the protest sites on borders of Delhi with the logistical support – rations, blankets and other required commodities and also managing and running hundreds of protest sites within their states,” said Amandeep.

Further, Youth for Swaraj National Cabinet member and Critical Thinking and Liberal Arts Diploma student Jahanvi said that the protest site has emerged as a space representing gender equity and empowerment rather than simply a space of resistance and dissent against the farm laws. Jahanvi has been virtually supporting and mobilising support for the Farmers’ Protest.

“Such comments are completely unacceptable. It will be deeply appreciated if the august institution of the Supreme Court is not a witness to such remarks,” she said.

The full letter written by women leaders and students may be viewed below:

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