Mahatma Ganghiji, global icon of Truth and Non-Violence.
NewDelhi/Bangalore January 30, 2013: Tushar Gandhi is another name to the list of RSS baiters in this January. On Martyrs Day, when entire nation salutes Mahatma Gandhiji today, Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma’s grandson has tweeted claiming ‘RSS was celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s Assassination’.
RSS strongly condemned the remarks made by Tushar Gandhi. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya said “Tushar Gandhi’s remarks are unacceptable. We condemn it. Its a falsehood propaganda. Vandaneeya Mahatma Gandhi wrote book as ‘Satya Ka Prayog‘, but Tushar is spreading lies, he is propagating ‘Asatya Ka Prayog‘. RSS always respected Mahatma Gandhiji, his life and concepts. Tushar’s remarks on RSS, are nothing but an attempt to spread falsehood.”
On 30 January 1948, the then RSS Sarasanghachalak MS Golwalkar, (popularly known as Guruji) sent a Telegram to Pandit Neharu, Sardar patel and Devdas gandhi. The text is as follows: Shocked at the news of cruel fatal attack and tragic loss of greatest personality. Country’s loss unbounded in these critical times. God help shoulder responsibilities grown heavier and fulfil the void caused by the loss of incomparable unifier. M. S. Golwalkar. The detailed text is available in Sri Guruji Samagra. (Volume -10, in Chapter the During first ban on RSS)
Earlier this morning, Tushar Gandhi tweeted as “Nationwide the RSS was celebrating Bapu’s murder by distributing ‘Mithai’ even before AIR made announcement.”
Media persons slams Tushar Gandhi:
Interestingly, other than men on Social media , few noted media persons criticised Tushar Gandhi’s remarks. Chief Editor of CNN-IBN, Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted, “On Bapu’s death anniversary, surely twitter shouldn’t be used to spread hate, abuse, half truths?”, indirectly criticizing Tushar Gandhi.
VSK Analysis:
This not the first time that the allegation of ‘RSS was behind Mahatma Gandhiji’s assassination” All such claims proved false and baseless. Even from the time of Nehru, RSS was victim for such fasle propaganda. During Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, RSS was banned by Nehru govt. Many prominent leaders of the RSS were arrested and RSS as an organization was banned on 4 February 1948.
A Commission of Inquiry into Conspiracy to murder of Mahatma Gandhi was set and its report was published by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs in the year 1970. Accordingly Justice Kapur Commission noted the following:
…RSS as such were not responsible for the murder of Mahatma Gandhi, meaning thereby that one could not name the organization as such as being responsible for that most diabolical crime, the murder of the apostle of peace. It has not been proved that they (the accused) were members of the RSS…—Kapur Commission Report,
RSS Leaders were acquitted of the conspiracy charge by the Supreme Court of India and following an intervention by the Court, the Indian Government agreed to lift the ban with condition that the RSS adopt a formal constitution. The second Sarsanghachalak, Golwalkar drafted the constitution for the RSS which he sent to the government in March 1949. In July of the same year, after many negotiations over the constitution and its acceptance, the ban on RSS was lifted.
In 1934, during Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to RSS Camp accompanied by Mahadev Desai and Mirabehn at Wardha in 1934, he was surprised by the discipline and the absence of untouchability in RSS and commented “When I visited the RSS Camp, I was very much surprised by your discipline and absence of untouchablity.” He personally inquired to Swayamsevaks and found that they were living and eating together in the camp without bothering to know their castes”.
On 15 January 2000, a daily, The Statesman, carried a story about the RSS by A G Noorani, which depicted the RSS as the killer of Gandhi. Subsequently the Delhi unit of the RSS filed a criminal case of defamation against author of the article A G Noorani along with the cartoonist and the Managing Director of the publishing house. When two of the accused did not respond to the Court summons, non-bailable warrants were issued in their name by the Court. On 25 February 2002, Noorani wrote an unconditional apology to the court in which he regretted writing the defamatory article against the RSS. On 3 March 2002, ‘The Statesman’ also published an apology regretting the publication of the said article.
The Sateman said “we had described the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh as “the organisation that killed Gandhi”. This was incorrect, and unsupported by both facts and the record. We express regrets for the publication and apologise unconditionally for the anguish and mental torture caused to members of the organisation” . Here is the link. http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59698:An%20apology&catid=35:page-one&from_page=search
Noted Gandhians/Social reformers on RSS:
- Acharya Vinobha Bhave: ‘I am an honorary member of RSS’ once said Vinobha Bhave.’It has been noted that the RSS volunteers participated in the Bhoodan movement organized by Gandhian leader Vinobha Bhave. Vinobha Bhave had met the then RSS leader M. S. Golwalkar in Meerut in November 1951. Golwalkar had been inspired by the movement that encouraged land reforms through voluntary means. He pledged the support of the RSS for this movement. Consequently, many RSS volunteers led by Nanaji Deshmukh participated in the Vinobha Bhave’s movement.
- Jayaprakash Narayan: In 1975, the Indira Gandhi government proclaimed emergency rule in India, thereby suspending the fundamental rights and curtailing the freedom of the press. This extreme step was taken after the Supreme Court of India, cancelled her election to the Indian Parliament on charges of malpractices in the election. Democratic institutions were suspended and prominent opposition leaders including Gandhian Jayaprakash Narayan, were arrested whilst thousands of people were detained without any proper charges taken up against them. RSS, with its large organizational base was seen to have potential of organizing protests against the Government, was also banned. Police clamped down on the organization and thousands of its workers were imprisoned. The RSS defied the ban and thousands participated in Satyagraha against the ban and against the violation of human rights regulations. Later, when there was no letup, the volunteers of the RSS formed underground movements for the restoration of democracy. Literature that was censored in the media was clandestinely published and distributed on a large scale and funds were collected for the movement. Networks were established between leaders of different political parties in the jail and outside for the coordination of the movement. It said that the movement was “dominated by tens of thousands of RSS cadres, though more and more young recruits are coming”. Talking about its objectives it said “its platform at the moment has only one plank: to bring democracy back to India”. The Emergency was lifted in 1977 and as a consequence the ban on the RSS too was lifted. Jayaprakash Narayan praised RSS for its role during this anti-emergency movement.
- Dr. Bhagwan Das: Noted Gandhian and recipient of the highest civilian award in India, Bharat Ratna, Dr. Bhagwan Das commended the role of the “high-spirited and self-sacrificing boys” of the RSS in protecting the newly formed Republic of India.
- Dr BR Ambedkar: Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar while visiting the RSS camp at Pune in 1939 observed that Swayamsevaks were moving in absolute equality and brotherhood without even caring to know the cast of others. In his address to the Swayamsevaks, he said that ” This is the first time that I am visiting the camp of Sangh volunters. I am happy to find absolute equality between Savarniyas (Upper cast) and Harijans (Lower cast) without any one being aware of such difference existing.” When he asked Dr Hedgewar whether there were any untouchables in the camp, he replied that there are neither “touchables” nor “untouchables” but only Hindus. It is noted that RSS is taking a lead role in providing the education to people of rural India and socially backward classes living under the extreme poverty
Old records of VSK Delhi will reveal how there were so many RSS opponents, mostly from Congress,who talked rubbish about RSS and subsequently apologised publicly or privately. Tushar Gandhi also must apologise for his silly remark, perhaps slip of tongue, or he should be dragged to court.
RSS must expemd less emotional energy when such comments are made. It is sufficient to clearly negate such statement and stop. Spending enrgy on such comments is the purpose the perpetrators have and this should be defeated. RSS should remain focused on the agenda of man-making. All these must be seen as distractions. Whole world knows what weightage must be given to such comments.
Just condemnation is not enough.
The world is (especially people opposed to RSS) under the impression that “RSS is a snake that doesn’t bite”. So, naturally they will keep throwing the stones.
If we don’t react, then the world will assume that we are accepting their statements (maunam sammati lakshanam).
So, defamation cases should be filed against this. Sangh doesn’t have to spend energy for this. We have “Adhivakta Parishat”. Why not take their help in doing this?
Why should we keep silent? What do we achieve by keeping silent?