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March 29, 2024

Savarkar Film:Falsehoods Galore

Films building up Majoritarian Narratives: Swatantraveer Savarkar Ram Puniyani Films are a very powerful medium which create a social understanding in various ways. Till decades ago we had films which reflected social realities and promoted progressive values. The films like ‘Mother India’, ‘Do Bigha Jameen’ and ‘Naya Daur’ are just a few of these. Some biopic films have also contributed a lot in disseminating social common sense, which are close to reality and promote inclusive values. Attenborough’s Gandhi and Bhagat Singh were greatly inspiring. Many of these were based on immaculate research and brought out the true spirit of the people on whose life they were based. With the ascendance of the majoritarian politics, identity politics related divisive issue and the ideology of Hindu nationalism, many in the film World have been coming out with films which promote a particular narrative, a divisive one, which is based on sectarian views of politics and history. The common theme among these is a tilting of truth and in most cases glorification of Hindu Nationalist icons. The clever undermining of truth and building up of ‘fiction as fact’ is the underlying theme of most of these films. One of these was heavily promoted by the likes of Prime Minister Modi and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat; ‘Kashmir files’. The affluent BJP supporters bought the tickets of this film in bulk and distributed these in their areas to encourage people to watch this. The worthies who promoted these claimed that finally the truth of these events is being brought to fore. Another one was Kerala Story, where the figures of those being converted to Islam and recruited for IS were exaggerated to the sky. Many other such fiction like films flopped at the box office like 72 Hoorain, which tried to present ‘Islamic Terrorism’, presenting the political problem as a religious one. This film suppressed the social understanding that similar allurements of Apsaras in Swarg and Fairies in Heaven are also there in the mythologies of other religions. These films were mainly to promote Islamophobia. On another level, the film on Godse (2022) was an attempt to glorify Godse by putting together many falsehoods that Gandhi did not try to save Bhagat Singh from hanging and he opposed the Congress resolution mourning Bhagat Singh’s death. And now comes the film ‘Swatantaraveer Savarkar’ by Randeep Hooda. This one takes the fictions as truth at a higher level. It claims that Bhagat Singh went to meet Savarkar and told him that he wants to translate his book, ‘First War of Independence’ from Marathi to English! What is the truth? Many revolutionaries read this book and appreciated it. The fact is the book was written in Marathi around 1908 or so and was translated into English a year later. Bhagat Singh was born in 1907 and as a matter of fact never met Savarkar in his life! The film shows Savarkar stating that we shall win Independence by 1912 i.e. 35 years before we actually got Independence. The fact is that Savarkar was in Andmans from 1910 and had started writing mercy petitions and by 1912 had written three of them. In these petitions he had sought apology from the British for his earlier actions and committed to serve the British loyally if he is released. And that’s what he did after his release by the British. Our freedom struggle picked steam in 1920 when due to the Non Cooperation movement, most of the people started associating with the freedom struggle. Film goes on to question why no Congressman was sent to Andmans and most of them were sent to Indian jails alone. This may not be factually true. As such after 1920 the anti British movement took the path of non violence led by Gandhi-INC. The sentences given to them were of different types like imprisonment in jails. Andman or hanging (Like for Bhagat Singh, Sukhdevand Rajguru) were for involvement in acts of violence. As non violence was the basic credo of the movement led by Gandhi they were neither sentenced to death nor sent to Andmans. The film argues that the Country got Independence not through non Violence but through violence. The major revolutionaries operating in India belonged to the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. After Bhagat Singh and his comrades were killed or hanged there was no major violent movement. Savarkar’s Abhinav Bharat had abandoned anti British stance with Savarkar’s mercy petitions. Subhash Bose, who formed Azad Hind Fauz, was killed in 1945 and the soldiers of Azad Hind Fauz were imprisoned and kept in Red Fort as prisoners. It was the INC which formed a committee to defend these soldiers. In this Nehru had taken the lead to form the committee for release of these prisoners of war. There are claims in the film that it was Savarkar who advised Bose to form the army and to fight the British. This is totally in contrast to what are the real facts. Bose after leaving Congress had made up his mind to fight the British through armed might with the help of Germany and Japan, When Bose was fighting against British, Savarkar was urging Hindu Mahasabha to get the Hindus recruited to British army, to help British, "Addressing the Mahasabha’s Calcutta session, Savarkar urged all universities, colleges and schools to 'secure entry into military forces for youths in any and every way'. When Gandhi had launched his individual satyagraha the following year, Savarkar, at the Mahasabha session held in December 1940 in Madura, encouraged Hindu men to enlist in 'various branches of British armed forces en masse'.” About Savarkar, Subhash Chandra Bose wrote: "Savarkar seemed to be oblivious of the international situation and was only thinking how Hindus could secure military training by entering Britain's army in India." Bose concluded that "...nothing could be expected from either the Muslim League or the Hindu Mahasabha." Bose in an address to Indians via Azad Hind Radio said "I would request Mr. Jinnah, Mr. Savarkar & to all those who still think of a compromise with the British to realize once for all that in the world of tomorrow there will be no British Empire" As far as associating Savarkar with Subhash Bose in the film, Chandra Kumar Bose, grand nephew of Netaji after seeing the trailer told Hooda, “Please refrain from linking Netaji with Savarkar. Netaji was an inclusive secular leader and patriot of patriots.” The film is yet another one based on distorting the truth to strengthen the Hindu Nationalist politics, with an eye on the forthcoming elections.

March 20, 2024

India: From Atal to Modi - Saba Naqvi discusses her book Saffron Storm with Ashutosh (on Satya Hindi)

 https://www.youtube.com/live/6prhd39M5mI?si=0RDttWonQVDd6Nzk

CAA-One More Divisive Agenda

One more Divisive Issue: CAA Ram Puniyani As the massive scam related to electoral bonds was unfolding the Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah declared the rules and procedures for implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which was passed nearly four years ago. The correlation of its implementation now, when the electoral bond scam is coming to the surface and the General Elections are round the corner, is very obvious knowing the pattern of politics pursued by BJP. One recalls that, CAA was brought to fore in the aftermath of National Register of Citizenship (NRC), which was undertaken in Assam. The people were asked to provide the papers related to their citizenship. The understanding was that Assam has been infiltrated by the Bangladeshi Muslims to the tune of 15 millions, so this step will help the government to expel them. They were called termites and detention centers came up and were planned at more places. The results of the N R C were surprising. Out of the around 19 Lakh people who did not have proper papers nearly 12 Lakhs were Hindus. To bypass the issue CAA was brought forward. The propaganda of 15 Million Bangladeshi Muslims fell flat. As per this, CAA, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, who came from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh before December 2014 (BJP Government came to power in the Center in June 2014) were to be given citizenship. Interestingly Muslims were kept out of this list. This led to strong protests all over the country and the protests in AMU and Jamia Milia Islamia in particular were brutally crushed. This in turn led to one of the biggest mass movements of Independent India, the series of Shaheen Bagh protests all over. Remarkably these protests were led by Muslim women all over, they protested with the Constitution in hand and Gandhi in their hearts. Parvesh Sahib Singh Varma of BJP stated that these protests are a threat to Hindus, as the protestors may rape the Hindus. Kapil Sharma (BJP) threatened that the protestors should be cleared by the police else they will do it. To cap it all the then Minister of state Aunrag Thakur, gave the slogan of Goli Maro. Soon the Delhi violence followed in which 51 people lost their lives out of which 38 were Muslims. The matters were in cold storage so far and have been rekindled. What are the norms for giving refuge to the persecuted people from neighboring countries? Indira Jaisingh points out “The Constitution confers citizenship by birth, descent and migration, regardless of religion…The Citizenship Act (1955) was enacted by Parliament to regularize the grant and termination of citizenship. The 1955 act also does not make religion a criterion for grant of Citizenship. With the amendment of rules, citizenship will be granted by naturalization based on religion alone.” As such this amendment violates Article 14 which ensures equality before law and equal protection, irrespective of religion. Article 14 applies to all persons, not just citizens. The CAA denies fast-track citizenship to Muslims. It also excludes people from countries other than Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. That the Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan are one of the most persecuted minorities is well known, but the CAA is silent on them because of the religious criteria. The Union Government has argued that the CAA was enacted to provide fast-track citizenship to persecuted minorities in neighboring countries. Still, the statute or rules do not mention persecution, and proof of persecution is not required before citizenship is granted. Under the CAA rules, immigrants from the three countries need only prove their religion, date of entry to Indian and country of origin and knowledge of an Indian language. The rules regarding proof of country of origin have been considerably relaxed. The earlier requirement of a valid residential permit from India and a valid passport issued by Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, has been eliminated. As such in such cases the proof of persecution has to be there. The proof of persecution has been waived. The process has been fast tracked, cutting it down to five years. The subtext of the logic behind this is to facilitate Hindus in these countries on the logic that Muslims have many countries while Hindus have only India to look forward to. This is a flawed logic. As right in Pakistan apart from Hindus and Christians the Ahmadiays and Kadiyanis have to face victimization right there. When we talk of giving refuge to the persecuted communities, the humane values have to come to the fore. The largest persecuted groups in recent times have been Hindus (Tamils) in Srilanka and Rohingyas in Myanmar. Why have they been left out from the list of the one’s who will be given shelter-citizenship here in India? Right since when the CAA was first introduced many organizations and individuals have challenged it on different grounds, mainly relating to the provisions of Indian Constitution. These pleas are pending in the Supreme Court; an early resolution of this vexed issue is more than overdue and hopefully will come up for hearing soon. It is very clear that BJP is raking it up in pursuance of its divisive politics. The totality of the problem will have different solutions and different laws to deal with the persecution of religious minorities in neighboring countries. This is yet another issue which is going to be used against the Muslim community. Already this community is facing the problems related to “Hate” and violence against them. BJP has constantly thrown up emotive and divisive issues to strengthen its electoral power. CAA, while in real sense has no relevance here; rather the way it is being brought forward is one more instrument in the hands of the ruling dispensation to intimidate this community. Its electoral impact is not difficult to guess as it is around such issues that BJP achieves polarization, which are emotive and divisive both. It is good that many chief ministers like Mamata Bannerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan are declaring that they will not let it be implemented in their states. The hope is that the party which has its primary goal in promoting divisive issues has to be combated at social and political level. Also if the Supreme Court can settle the matter at the earliest, it will come as a big relief.

March 17, 2024

BJP rule and threats to Indian Constitution

BJP rule and threats to Indian Democracy: Constitution Ram Puniyani The leaders of BJP, the ruling dispensation have been claiming to be winning more that 400 (370BJP +30 Allies) seats in the forthcoming parliamentary elections (Char sau paar) of 2024. This is not based on any psephological analysis but purely propagated for political reasons. Justifying this ‘char sau par’ the Karnataka BJP MP of long standing Anantkumar Hegde explained the need for such a figure. As per him BJP intends to change the Constitution for which 2/3rd majority is needed. In a public meeting he stated, that the party needs 400 seats to change the Constitution, “If the Constitution has to be amended -- the Congress fundamentally distorted the Constitution by forcefully filling unnecessary things in it (added, secularism, socialism), especially by bringing in laws that were aimed at suppressing the Hindu society -- if all of this has to be changed, it is not possible with this (current) majority," BJP distanced itself from this statement of the sitting MP, as if they do not really approve of such a statement. There are some news items saying that due to this statement he may be denied the ticket. Whether he is denied a ticket on this ground or not; one thing is sure that BJP has no aversion to such statements. This MP had said the same thing in 2017, when he was a Central minister in the BJP government. He was duly given the ticket from this party in 2019 General elections by BJP. Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP, and many others feel that what Hegde is saying is precisely what explains the figure of 400. “The statement of the BJP MP that he needs 400 seats to change the Constitution is a public declaration of the hidden agenda of Narendra Modi and his 'Sangh Parivar'. The ultimate goal of Narendra Modi and the BJP is to destroy Baba Saheb's Constitution. They hate justice, equality, civil rights and democracy,” Rahul Gandhi wrote in Hindi on X (formally Twitter). The former Congress president also alleged that “by dividing society, guarding the freedom of expression and crippling independent institutions, they want to turn India's great democracy into a narrow dictatorship by conspiring to eliminate the opposition”. The BJP has a twin track strategy to undermine the democratic values, the values of equality of our Constitution. Its parent organization RSS opposed the constitution right from the beginning. After the Indian Constitution came into being RSS unofficial mouthpiece Organiser wrote, “…In Our Constitution, There Is No Mention of That Unique Constitutional Development in Ancient Bharat. To This Day His Laws As Enunciated In The Manusmriti Excite The Admiration Of The World And Elicit Spontaneous Obedience And Conformity. But To Our Constitutional Pundits That Means Nothing.” When BJP came to power as NDA in 1998 one of the first things it did was to appoint a commission to review the Constitution. This Commission’s, (Venkatchaliah Commission), report could not be undertaken for implementation as there was a severe opposition to any tampering with our Constitution. From 2014, when BJP has been in power; times and over again it has used the preamble of our Constitution by deleting the words Secular and Socialist. Prior to this when K.Sudarshan became the Chief of RSS in 2000, he frankly stated that the Indian Constitution is based on Western values so should be replaced by one based on Indian holy books. “Sudarshan said the constitution was of no use for the people of the country as it was based on the Government of India Act of 1935, …We need not fight shy of altering the constitution completely,…" Not too long ago, Chief of PM’s economic advisory council, Dr. Vivek Debroy had also called for a change of constitution in a lead article in Livemint on August 15, 2023. So voices of major stature from within the BJP organization and state officials do keep raising such voices while officially the BJP or BJP led Government makes the show of distancing itself from such utterances. On another track; since BJP has been in power for the last one decade, what has it done to the core value of the Indian Constitution: Democracy and equality? As far as democracy is concerned, all the pillars of democratic state, Constitutional institutions ED, CBI, IT, EC all are being controlled by the executive and the executive itself is restricted to one person. The Judiciary at various levels has been weakened by various mechanisms. There are numerous examples of this; one such being the detention of Umar Khaild and refusal to hear his bail plea from the last three years. Freedom of expression is down in the dumps. With the mainstream media under the belt of pro Government Corporate, it is the Voice of Ruling Government which is broadcast through major TV channels and newspapers. The independent voices have limited space available to articulate their opinions. Freedom of Expression; the major pillar of a democratic society has gone for a toss. Freedom of Religion has been declining with many International indices. ‘India as a country of particular concern,’ is the label for India as per US freedom of religion watchdog. As per V-Dem India ranked 104 on democracy Index, between Niger and Ivory Coast! This is what has happened during the last ten years, to practically denigrate the democratic freedoms through executive actions leading to such a drastic fall in democratic index. Not long ago it was Lal Krishna Advani, who had said that India is living through an undeclared emergency. All the components of freedom have been stifled through the foot soldiers of Hindu nationalists apart from state officials, while the ruling Governments merrily looks the other way around, a clear signal to these elements that this regime grants full impunity to violations of democratic rights of minorities and weaker sections of society. As such if we look around every ‘religious nationalist’ outfit is averse to democratic freedoms. They do resort to tuning their constitutions in such a direction, also their ground level workers resort to the actions promoting divisive and oppressive politics. India is joining this club of ‘Democracy suppressors’ like Pakistan or Sri Lanka. BJP is resorting to twin track politics, aiming for changing the Constitution on one hand and practically undermining it, on the other!

March 15, 2024

India: 10 convicted, get life term in 2018 Hapur lynching case | Dheeraj Mishra (The Indian Express)


 The incident dates back to June 18, 2018, when Qasim, a resident of Pilkhuwa in Hapur district, was cornered by a mob, allegedly over rumours of cow slaughter, and beaten to death
 
Written by Dheeraj Mishra (March 13, 2024)



https://indianexpress.com/article/india/10-people-get-life-term-in-2018-hapur-mob-lynching-case-9210539/

How a CIA man helped the RSS come out of Godse’s shadow | Dhirendra Jha (Feb 2024, The Caravan)

 

Double Agent

How a CIA man helped the RSS come out of Godse’s shadow

 

https://caravanmagazine.in/history/how-a-cia-man-helped-the-rss-come-out-of-godse-shadow