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A section of the media, particularly Punjabi language newspapers, played no mean role in spreading misinformation. A quarterly paper with a miniscule circulation and notoriously separatist in approach came out with outrageous writings. Swayamsevaks may not know but this “knowledgeable” magazine came out with what it claimed to be the “RSS ideology”. It claimed that the RSS has a long list of Hindu sites desecrated by Muslims like Babar and went on to make the preposterous statement that the latest additions to the list of shrines was the Golden temple and the holy Sarovar at Amritsar! As if it was not a big le to satisfy the urge to tell the biggest lie of the century, the magazine went on to describe the RSS approach towards the Mahatma in the following words:
“The RSS was initially opposed to Mahatma Gandhi. In fact his killer Nathu Ram Godse was a proud of the same Hindutva. Now since Gandhi’s anti-Dalit face having been unveiled, RSS’s stand on Gandhi becomes confused and they maintain silence on him (sic)”.
It was obnoxious elements like the author of the above mentioned piece that vitiated the social and political climate of Punjab and caused deep concern to those who are committed to national unity and territorial integrity of the country. Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and other “moderate” Akali leaders kept their cool but their detractors within the ruling party and outside exploited the issue to embarrass him. Their obvious aim was to target the Chief Minister, confusion in Akali ranks and sow seeds of discord between the Akali Dal and the BJP that are running coalitions at the Centre as well as in Punjab. They charged the Chief Minister with cowardice and blamed him for not coming out strongly against the “RSS conspiracy” to save his Government.
The Sikh community is passing through a difficult phase. There are internal contradictions in the community on numerous religious issues. Those who are bent upon distancing the Sikhs from the rest of the Punjabi community made a determined attempt to introduce a “Nanaki calendar” in place of Vikrami Samvat according to which all Sikh religious festivals are celebrated. This has been opposed by Jathedars of Akal Takht and other Takhts. Similarly the community is badly divided over the status of “Dashm Granth” authored by Guru Govind Singh. While a section of Sikh scholars believe that the Dasham Granth should be given due regard, those who want to give a narrow interpretation to Sikh identity are opposed to it.
The internal contradictions in the Sikh community may be traced to the British policy of divide and rule. The Britishers made a determined and well-planned effort spread over decades to distort the concept of Sikh identity and to narrow down its spiritual and territorial boundaries. The British did succeed to a certain extent in alienating the Sikhs from their historical and territorial milieu and to persuade a section of Sikh scholars to give a narrow interpretation of Sikh identity. That is at the root of the present controversy.
There is no question that Sikhism is a religion in its own right. It has its prophets, its holy book and a distinct school of rituals and religious traditions. It is no one’s case that Sikhs are not a separate religious community. They have a strong identity as a brave ‘and courageous community. They have always remained in the forefront to protect India’s national unity and integrity. They made a glorious contribution during the freedom movement. Sikh soldiers are second to none and have fought and fought with distinctions in all the wars thrust upon us since 1947.
Having said that one must condemn in the strongest possible terms the nefarious designs of separatists who seek to deny Sikhs their roots and their history. The misinformation campaign that the RSS was trying to destroy the Sikh identity must be exposed. There is no question of converting any Sikh into Hinduism for Hinduism is no religion. Encyclopaedia Britannica defined Hinduism thus: “...In principle, Hinduism incorporates all forms of belief and worship , without necessitating the selection of elimination of any. The Hindu is inclined to revere the divine in every manifestation, whatever it may be, and is doctrinally tolerant leaving others, including both Hindus and non-Hindus, whatever creed and worship practices suit them best. A Hindu may embrace a non-Hindu religion without ceasing to be a Hindu, and since the Hindu is disposed to think synthetically and to regard other forms of worship, strange gods, and divergent doctrines as inadequate rather than wrong or objectionable, he tends to believe that the highest divine powers complement each other for the well being of the world and mankind .... The core of religion does not even depend on the existence or non-existence of God or on whether there is one God or many. Since religious truth is said to transcend all verbal definition, it is not conceived in dogmatic terms. Hinduism is then both a civilization and conglomerate of religions with neither a beginning, a founder, nor a supreme authority, hierarchy or organization......”
Hindutva has been accepted as a way of life of Indian people related to their culture and ethos by the Supreme Court in a number of judgements. It will be pertinent to recall what the apex court held in what is known as the Bal Thackeray case. The Court observed: “Thus, it cannot be doubted, particularly in view of the Constitution Bench decisions of this Court that the words “Hinduism” or “Hindutva” are not necessarily to be understood and construed narrowly, confined only to the strict Hindu religious practices unrelated to the culture and ethos of the people of India, depicting the way of life of the Indian people.....”
Those who have an open mind cannot but accept the postulate that Hindutva is not a religion but a dharma, a way of life and a commonwealth of religions. No one doubts the identity of Sikhs as a separate religion but no one need question the motives of those who believe that all religions born in India and having faith in the maxim ekam sadvipraha bahudha vadanti (Truth is one, wise men tell it in different ways) belong to that great commonwealth of religions that is known as virat Hindu samaj.
The RSS saw through the game of the mischief-mongers and separatists and foiled their attempt to arouse communal passions and divide the Punjabi community by reiterating its commitment to diversities of our society and its pluralistic structure. Its official spokesman M G Vaidya told the Minorities Commission last week that the RSS regards Sikhism as a separate religion but believes that the Sikhs belong to our “samaj”. In a written submission to the Commission the RSS clarified that while regarding Sikhs as a part of the great Hindu samaj, it does not deny the existence of their separate religion and beliefs. The basic postulate is that Hindutva is not a religion but a way of life or more precisely a certain value system and a culture. One of the basic tenets of this value system is to accept the validity of all faiths and religions. If the RSS were to deny this plurality, it would cease to be Hindu.
This should bring to an end the
unseemly controversy kicked up by fanatics, Communists and the secular
brigade. The Minorities Commission has publicly expressed its satisfaction
over the RSS clarification and so have moderate Sikhs. Former Advocate
General of Punjab, G S Grewal, described the RSS stance as a step in the
right direction. All is well that ends well but those who are committed
to the unity and integrity of the country must learn a lesson from the
disturbing experience in Punjab. One must think twice before making any
observation that can be misconstrued by a common man or can be exploited
by those who are out to dismember the country. Always remember CPM leader
Harkishen Singh Surjeet’s confession that he raised the demand for Khalistan
because certain Muslim Communists had supported the demand for Pakistan.
And the Communists claim to be the champions of secularism in India.
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