70-year-old farmer passed away after he was made to stand on one leg as atonement of calf’s death

Source: India Today | December 27, 2016

A 70-year-old farmer was asked to pay a fine of Rs 500 and stand on one leg because a calf had died in his farm. After suffering and constantly changing legs, he passed away.

Sections of the media have done a lot of damage in Kashmir: Yashwant Sinha

By Sadiq Naqvi, Catchnews| December 27, 2016

This year, the Kashmir Valley has undergone one of the worst phases of disturbances it has seen over the last few years, particularly after the July encounter of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The continued cross border acts of terror sponsored by Pakistan have only helped complicate matters further.

Supreme Court Verdict On National Anthem Mandates Hindutva Nationalism

By Jaspal Singh Sidhu, CounterCurrents| December 5, 2016

Usual interpretation of the Indian Apex Court verdict on ‘Jana Gana Mana’, the National Anthem on 30 November, 2016 as curbing of individual’s freedom could hardly fathom the real intention behind the judicial overreach which is meant to serve a larger purpose. The verdict is in tune with overall political-moral ethos of the time. And it lends an unambiguous support to the Hindutva brand of Nationalism whose cacophony has already spread over Indian firmament through chanting of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’,  ‘Bande Matram’ and ‘Gau Mata Raksha’ (protection of holy cow). The thinking behind the order, seems to be consistent with the prevailing political scenario which makes the people believe that the ongoing majoritarian rule is not an aberration but an accepted version of the ‘modern democracy’.

What is Hindutva?

It splits the nation into ‘us’ and ‘them’, and discards Indian nationalism in favour of Hindu nationalism…

By A G Noorani, Asian Age | December 11, 2016

Hindutva” sums up the ideology that moved champions of Hindu nationalism for decades before Partition. In 1923, V.D. Savarkar coined the term in his essay, Hindutva: Who is a Hindu? As an atheist, he took pains to emphasise that Hindutva was not synonymous with Hinduism. It is important to understand the term, in all its nuances, because of its past and present significance.

Secularists of a secular country

Democracy is basically “tyranny of the majority” that secures its own interests at the cost of minority-interests

 

By M J Aslam, Greater Kashmir | November 24, 2016

The word “secular” wasn’t there in the original Constitution of India. It was inserted in its Preamble in 1976 by 42th Constitutional Amendment during Mrs. Gandhi’ prime-ministership.  

With the RSS hosting iftar parties, is pseudo-secularism now a good thing?

In today’s climate of majoritarianism, tokenism may actually play a helpful role, allowing embattled Muslims to feel more politically secure.

By Shoaib Daniyal, Scroll | July 1, 2016

In the 1980s, Lal Krishna Advani coined the term “pseudo-secularism” to describe what he believed was tokenism towards members of India’s minority communities. When he did so, he had no idea that one day, the Hindutva mothership, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, would itself dabble in the practice.

RSS-backed magazine targets Ashoka: ‘He was reason for India’s decline… (but) worshipped as great’

The RVKP is affiliated to the Sangh Parivar as a part of the RSS’s tribal wing, the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, which is headquartered in Chhattisgarh.

By Mahim Pratap Singh, The Indian Express | July 1, 2016

While the article recognises Ashoka’s greatness as a world leader his conversion to Buddhism, it quickly moves past that to note that after his conversion he started over- promoting some principles related to ahimsa (Illustration by CR Sasikumar) 

 

After Mughal Emperor Akbar, the Sangh Parivar has now raised questions about the legacy of Emperor Ashoka. A publication backed by the RSS has claimed that Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism and his promotion of ahimsa opened India’s borders to foreign invaders.

My Modi Illusions Have Shattered, Thanks In Part To Donald Trump

By Riju Agarwal, The Huffington Post | June 9, 2016

During the 2014 general election, I, along with many other NRIs, pledged my vicarious support to the BJP and Narendra Modi. Any arguments that called into question Modi’s dubious human rights record and worrisome support for the Hindutva-oriented Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) fell on deaf ears. I was quick to exculpate Modi for these lapses as I was too enamoured, even distracted, by his extravagant promises of growth, change, and “acchhe din”, and therefore unable to recognize his stirring speeches for the unattainable campaign promises they quickly proved to be. I would often argue in response, “Look, nobody is clean, every politician in India has dozens of skeletons in his closet. Is the Congress government not riddled with criminals as well?”

How Sangh Parivar is influencing India’s budding bureaucrats

A number of IAS aspirants coached by Samkalp, an institute inspired by the right wing, have been making it to the civil services.

By Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay Source: www.dailyo.in

Recent reports that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) joint general secretary (Sah Sarkaryawah) Krishna Gopal will lecture Sasuccessful civil service candidates on July 17 in Delhi in the course of which he will mainly talk about nationalistic ideas, does not come as a surprise.

Smriti Irani would’ve justified jailing Tagore for his nationalism: Ashis Nandy

Source: FirstPost | June 21, 2016

Political psychologist Ashis Nandy believes that the main reason for the BJP to appoint unqualified people to important institutional posts is because the party lacks intellectuals and competent people within its ranks. At the same time, the BJP does not trust outsiders to take on these responsibilities. In a conversation with Monobina Gupta, Nandy explains why he does not believe that India is moving towards fascism, and how the government is ill-equipped to deal with the pressures and contradictions of an expanding, new middle class.