This refers to your editorial “The need for ‘Hindu Rashtra’ dated July 26. Hindutva is the basis of unity in our country. It must be remembered that India is not an exclusive domain of any one religion. India is a living legacy of 4600 communities; hence neither cultural nor civilisational ideology can be of any one religious denomination. Unity can be achieved by equal treatment of all linguistic communities. Indians belonging to the same religious group may come from different ethnic stocks, may speak diverse languages, dress differently, eat different kinds of food in entirely different manners and may have completely different social and economic concerns. Whatever problems that we face today in the sphere of religion vis-a-visa the state are only due to the unnecessary interference with the basic structure of our Constitution. When the Constitution was adopted its Preamble read: We, the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Democratic Republic. But, in 1977, the Preamble was amended (forty second amendment) and the amended Preamble read: We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic. It is an unwarranted amendment. Different articles in the Constitution guarantee that India has to be a democratic nation in which all citizens enjoy equal rights, including the right to profess one’s own religion.
It is no embellishment to say that Veer Savarkar counts amongst the most influential political and social philosophers of the twentieth century.
Savarkar’s definition of the term ‘Hindu’ has been de facto accepted by the Constitution of free India. His views on Hinduization of politics, militarization of Hindus, Hindu-Muslim relations, national security and related issues continue to influence countless Hindus. To preserve the ideals of Vasudaika Kutumbum and hug the inclusive philosophy, not exclusive, that brings all people together irrespective of religion, caste and creed. Lastly I would say that in India people are more tolerant and exchanged religious sensibilities. This is the only reason why the idea of “Hindu Rashtra” has not wedged on in India though most Indians will be unable to identify what the secular aspects of our Constitution are. However, revolutionary battle is foreseeable to set up Hindu Rashtra.
Vinod C. Dixit
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
