Quotes on quotas

The editorial in the same issue tries to do a balancing act by claiming that ‘‘reservation has a historic rationale’’ but then goes on to rubbish the idea of quotas in ‘‘resurgent’’ India. It says: ‘‘Quota politics is old hat. It does not reflect the resolve of a resurgent global player. It is the baggage of a socialist past that philosophised and celebrated poverty, distributed indignity and divisiveness. The politicians used it to divide and profit out of mayhem and misery.’’

Commending the students for agitating on the streets, the editorial claims that ‘‘in any advanced administrative system their protest would have shaken the conscience of the rulers. Not the UPA, for it is a coalition of the forces of darkness — all that is decadent and negative in our society. It cannot think of positive, proactive solutions, it can only work to fish in troubled waters.’’

Conversion blues

The RSS’s pet theme — alleged conversion of ‘vanvasis’ to Christianity — is amplified in more than one article in this issue of Organiser. A report from Jaipur fulminates against Rajasthan governor Pratibha Patil’s decision to return the anti-conversion bill passed by the state assembly without giving her assent. The report also praises Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje for heeding all the suggestions of ‘‘nationalist organisations’’ such as the VHP, Bajrang Dal and Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in formulating the Freedom of Religion Bill, 2006. ‘‘They were of the view that, due to certain flaws in the Bill, many vanvasis who had recently been converted to Christianity would not be able to return to their original faith.’’ Suitable amendments were made to ensure that those ‘‘who want to return to the faith of their ancestors would not come under the purview of conversion.’’

Another piece from Andhra Pradesh claims that the Hindu population in the Vishaka agency area of the state is declining sharply because, ‘‘due to the efforts of Christian missionaries, 60 per cent of the Girijan population is converted into Christianity.’’ The report adds that ‘‘the Girijans did not have any idea of religion and god, but they are converting into Christianity for the sake of benefits, which missionaries are providing to them.’’ In the process, the writer inadvertently admits that the tribals were not ‘‘Hindus’’ in the first place — a claim that RSS and affiliate organisations routinely make.

Nepal’s Hindu identity

Given the mass upheaval against his rule, the RSS and VHP have not openly come out in support of the beleaguered King Gyanendra of Nepal. But they cannot hide their concern for the end of Nepal’s status as the only Hindu kingdom in the world. The Organiser carries statements issued by both RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat and VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia appealing to the people of Nepal to ‘‘protect their Hindu identity.’’ Bhagwat says: ‘‘ Constitutional Hindu nation was the identity of Nepal’s eternal traditions and culture. So far this identity was safe under the constitutional system, but now the people of Nepal will have to be vigilant to protect it.’’

Togadia is much more direct. ‘‘Today the conspiracy to ruin its identity through guns and bullets is dangerous for Nepal. Hindutva is the pranshakti of Nepal and if any effort is made to reject it, the country will be almost finished,’’ he says. Claiming to represent the views of ‘‘crores of Hindus world over’’, Togadia also appealed to the people of Nepal and their leadership that ‘‘whatever system of governance they adopt, but the identity of Nepal as a Hindu nation should remain intact.’’

— Compiled by Manini Chatterjee