archive: Tagore, RSS and Hindutva (letter)
Tagore, RSS and Hindutva (letter)
Malkani, New Delhi
The Statesman
May 28, 1999
Title: Tagore, RSS and Hindutva (letter)
Author: Malkani, New Delhi
Publication: The Statesman
Date: May 28, 1999
Explaining why he stayed away from Rabindra Sadan, Calcutta, where the
Prime Minister released a collection of cassettes, books and CDs
featuring Tagore's works, West Bengal's acting Chief Minister,
Buddhadev Bhattacharya, said: "As Prime Minister, he can release any
book or cassette, but I cannot share Rabindranath with a person who
believes in Hindutva and who said RSS is his soul' (21-22 May).
I don't know how much our Marxist friends understand Marx, but they
certainly do not understand Hindutva and RSS, Tagore and Vajpayee.
It was Tagore who, in a memorable ode to Shivaji said that Bengal had
not understood him when he had come to liberate it in the 18th
century, but that now it was wide awake to his role as National
Liberator.
He added: "That day we did not pay you heed. But today we will obey
your command with bowed head. By your dhyanamantra, all Bharat shall
mingle together heart to heart and neck to neck. The rig of the
recluse and the faith of the poor shall we raise as our standard. We
shall stand by your great slogan: "Eka Dharmarajya habe a Bharate"
(Let there be one Dharmarajya in Bharat).
"With the Mahrattas, oh ye Bengalees, say with one voice: 'Jayatu
Shivaji!' With the Mahrattas, oh, ye, Bengalees, get together in
festivity. Today in the same meeting let the east and west, the right
and left, of Bharat enjoy together one glory, one name auspicious."
In the light of the above, would the Hon'ble Buddhadev tell the
difference between Tagore and RSS and Hindutva.
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