A Method in madness and fallacy ::: Caught in their own vicious web
This piece was initially mooted as a critique of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's "counter" to the Modi-led NDA vis-a-vis handling the Gen Z protest. Essentially, Bhagwat gave his piece of mind - "Kami toh thi (There were shortcoming in the manner, the Jantar Mantar episode was handled).
Most of us will agree to that. But there are other facets too. Well, one of my senior colleagues often used to say 'wheels within wheels'.
Let me touch a complex subject. The caste system among Hindus. I hail from a non-Brahmin family - so during our school days ... we knew how to crack 'Brahmin jokes'. Some of it were almost like Sardar ji jokes in our collegehood days. But as I hail from upper caste background; there are other things too.
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In Indian politics - communists of golden era were led and guided by all upper caste stalwarts - from both Kerala and West Bengal. In Tripura - Manik Sarkar came as an OBC but much later in the scene. Kanpur in UP was a Left bastion.
But the politics of 1990s in UP made it clear that while so-called socialist and casteist factors remained 'dominant' in mindspace; it is a fact the Left movement could not make much headway.
Much before that the 'leadership' of all parties during the freedom struggle was dominant Hindu caste.
Be it the Congress, the RSS or the communist and also the socialist parties.
They were either Brahmins, Kshatriyas, or Vaishyas but for RSS (Hindutva-based politics) it was essentially Brahmin as the dominant factor - perhaps more than caste.
Do not forget; even the Muslim League consisted of Ashrafi Muslims.
So, the Indian freedom struggle was a battle of dominant-caste Hindus (chiefly) who were in effect also demanding back the 'power' that they had lost to the East India Company.
Before we go off-track. We must note that while the larger pro-Hindutva family is in celebration mood since 2014 for being in power; Narendra Modi is a non-Brahmin and not even upper caste.
Without being prejudiced; we know certain things ought to pinch. This 'pinch' factor actually made RSS push Nitin Gadkari's case a few years back. Take a pause. Even leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, M M Joshi, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj - all were Brahmins.
Hence, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's "moral and post-event" lecture to the BJP (indirectly) had to be a monologue. Question-Answer session was also too soft. But essentially it is good that the RSS chief spoke and clarified on certain matters.
"The conversations with the Gen-Z are most welcome. But they should be two-way conversations. It cannot be just a lecture or a monologue. You must also listen to the views of Gen Z, their concerns, their worries, and their angst," says Congress MP Karti Chidambaram.
"Joblessness is the biggest problem in our country," he further added.
It's a truism but the RSS chief at the meeting venue had said -- Education revamping should also include "train the teachers". Bhagwat also underlined:
"Education is to be given for making of the next generation. It is not for running a school and minting money."
However, the argument from the other side is that the young people coming out of educational system are "not finding appropriate jobs".
In other words, until the government (preferably the Modi Govt) creates an environment for job creation, this problem cannot be solved.
There is a fallacy in this argument. The centre alone cannot be expected to create jobs. Nevertheless, it goes without stating that it must create the conditions that enable job creation.
Bhagwat also said the basic craze for government jobs and that too near one's home should end.
As we critique -- RSS chief's speech in the context of limitations displayed by the Modi Govt in handling the CJP stir; we must also keep in mind that come what may - the Sanghparivar fountainhead and a BJP PM in power (that is Namo) cannot disown each other. Any attempt to view the two as competitors is a big fallacy. They are made for each other, compliment to each other and mutual admiration centres and well wishers for each other.
The fundamental of RSS philosophy will not change. Bhagwat will never dump Modi and take Rahul Gandhi or any cockroach on the lap..
"What’s on display is political pragmatism ...," writes Shekhar Gupta, a senior columnist and hardly a Modi bhakt. Importantly; this real-check-go phenomenon coincides with the 100th year of RSS foundation. It is mere coincidence -- we are the 13th year of Modi Govt and just a few months way from the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Modi-Shah has handled the CJP stir well: This Jantar Mantar show was planned long back. Various pros and cons were applied. The CJP is actually an experiment on the pattern of AAP. It is also mixed with the experiences and lab reports from Egypt and Nepal plus two other South Asian countries.
The operation had 'provoke' in their mind. The orgaisers and sponsors wanted some lapses, some aggressiveness. Opening of fire could have made a Tiananmen Square out of Jantar Mantar.
But cautious strategy was applied despite severe challenges and the only big price Modi paid was a sacrificial goat in the form of Dharmendra Pradhan.
Hence, -- the RSS publicly signalling its discomfort with the Modi dispensation’s handling of politically sensitive issues is never a prelude to no confidence in the NDA.
PM Modi and his Home Minister are both aware of this.
This is also Gen Z show: PM Modi meets Bharat's CWG 2026 Medal Winners
ends
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