Vijaya Dashami is celebrated in our country with great gaiety and enthusiasm from time immemorial as a day of victory of the “Dharma” i.e. virtue, service and righteousness. This year the festival comes at a time when the entire nation is heartened by the court verdict on the Rama Janmabhumi issue, delivered on 30 September 2010.

This verdict of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court will ultimately facilitate the creation of a monumental temple on the Rama Janmabhumi. Maryada Purushottam Rama is the manifest divine for Hindus all over the world. At the same time He is also the manifestation of our national culture and its honour that is at the core of our country’s identity, ethos, integrity, urge for freedom and vigour. That is why in the first copy of our Constitution, among the pictures attested as description for the events that reflect our ideals, aspirations and traditions, the first individual picture that finds place after the pictures of Mohenjodaro and the life in a hermitage, is that of Sri Rama.

The history of the Sikh Panth clearly records Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s visit to Sri Rama Janmabhumi at Ayodhya in 1526 AD during his all-Bharat tour. Now it has been acknowledged on the basis of historical, archaeological and physical evidence that there existed a sacred Hindu monument at the site of Sri Rama Janmabhumi prior to 1528 AD.

A chance ordained by destiny

The legal proceeding of Shri Rama Janmabhumi stretched for 60 long years; this led to acrimonious disharmony, severe conflict, and pain in the entire society. Forgetting the past, all of us have now to come together to build a massive temple at His birthplace in Ayodhya, as Maryada Purushottam Sri Rama represents our national heritage and honour. That would put an end to all the pain and uncalled for controversy.

The Sangh views the verdict as an opportunity presented by destiny to every section in our country, including Muslims, to make a new beginning in the spirit of affectionate coexistence. Let us overcome our petty divisiveness, obduracy borne out of prejudices, and suspicion; own up our unique, one and only, all-inclusive and tolerant culture that inspires in us unwavering and intense sense of patriotism and respect for our ancestors, and preserves, promotes and validates all diversities, and come together to build the temple at the birthplace of Sri Rama who is, in the words of late Sri Lohia, the catalyst for the integration of the North and the South of Bharat. This is the will of the entire society. This will has manifested amply in the unity and restraint displayed by our society after the verdict.

Be aware of conspirators

But we also witness efforts being launched from day one to distort this opportunity for national integration into an instrument for achieving political self-interest by appeasement. Some people, who have mastered the art of creating conflicts on the basis of our diversity, using religion, region and language for the sake of securing votes, are again resorting to petty conspiracies to destroy our social harmony in the guise of lofty yet misleading utterances and clamour in the name of secularism. They always create impediments in any efforts and initiatives for harmony. There are some in our intelligentsia and the media also who, overcome by egoistic feelings towards their own illusive thoughts and prejudices against Hindu thought and activism in favour of Hindus, have shamelessly abandoned all concern and fear for truth. Their sole guiding factor is their own self-interest or business interest.

One can easily identify them by studying the difference in their language and behaviour until 4 p.m. on 30 September, and ever since the verdict was announced. Their attempts to create fear and mistrust between various sections and organizations of our society always take place in the guise of weird arguments in the name of humanity and secularism. We must always be wary of these forces. In fact, these are the people who are responsible for not allowing hoary ideals like universal brotherhood, harmony and freedom from exploitation, etc., to blossom, by resorting to the use of those very ideals for achieving their own self-interests and evil objectives.

Now it is evident that due to these very tendencies, a dangerous conspiracy is afoot to bring into vogue words like Hindu Terror and Saffron Terror under the pretext that some Hindu individuals were allegedly involved in incidents of terror here and there. There are attempts to drag the Sangh also into it. This is a sinister conspiracy to mislead Hindus through a campaign of lies and to defame Hindu saints, noble citizens, temples and organisations. We have not bothered to find out as to who is behind all this, and who is going to be the beneficiary of this vilification campaign. But what is certain is that instead of benefitting anybody, this campaign would certainly bring disrepute to our nation and push it into serious danger.

This sinister campaign - to defame the saffron colour that adorns our constitutionally-ordained national flag and represents sacrifice, hard work and wisdom; the Hindu society, it’s saints and sadhvis who always stay away from such militant activities and fight the forces of terror; our country Bharat; the swayamsevaks and Sangh-inspired organisations that are always at the forefront helping the administration at the risk of their own lives at the time of natural calamities and man-made disasters like terror attacks and wars, and who are running 1.57 lakh service projects for the deprived sections without any self-interest or discrimination - is bound to fail. Before the judicial trial had even commenced, the media trial has been unleashed against the Sangh by spreading canards. Those indulging in this malicious campaign should first glance at their own defaced selves. This is not the time to push the country into depraved electoral conspiracies.

Game of international politics in Kashmir

The crisis in Kashmir has become very serious and complicated. Due to our negligence Baltistan and Gilgit have become a part of Pakistan and now China is trying to complete it’s encirclement of Bharat by positioning it’s army in those regions. America is moving with a design to safely and honourably run away from Afghanistan and secure foothold in Kashmir with the help of Pakistan. We should move fast before this shadow of sinister international politics overtakes the Valley. We have to create atmosphere in Afghanistan favourable to our interests and strive to turn the situation in the Valley towards greater integration with the rest of Bharat. This is the mandated duty of any national government towards its integral parts. Sovereign State power of Bharat should not be seen as buckling under the separatist sponsored stone pelters’ designs. Removing Army bunkers or reducing their powers is not going to help in protecting the integrity and security of our country. The direction of our policies should be guided by the unanimous resolution of our Parliament in 1994. We must not forget that the accession of Kashmir into Bharat through the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh is final and non-negotiable.

Separatists are a minority in J. & K.

Kashmir Valley is not the whole and sole of J&K state. Even in the Valley, only a tiny minority clamouring for autonomy and dreaming of azadi by promoting secessionism. Engaging and patronizing only these secessionist groups and their leaders in various dialogues is not going to help resolve the crisis. In fact, it will only aggravate the problem. Besides the Valley, we have to think seriously about the problems being faced by Jammu and Ladakh for decades, and the discrimination they are being subjected to. We have to undoubtedly talk to the youngsters and people of the Valley who have come under the secessionist sway. But at the same it is imperative on our part to appreciate the feelings, needs and aspirations of various other sections of the state, like the nationalist-minded Muslims, Gujjars-Bakerwals, Shias, Sikhs, Hindus, including Kashmiri Pandits, and Buddhists.

There is an urgent need to pay attention to the long-standing demands of the refugees from the PoK. Kashmiri Pandits must be able to return to their homes and hearths with honour and safety and assured livelihood. All these sections want complete integration of the state with the rest of Bharat. That is why when we think of J&K, we must take into account the security, development and aspirations of all these sections. The dialogues taking place in the context of J&K will be representative and fruitful only when these sections are also included and listened to.

Ever since Independence, the people of J&K have been craving for peace and a good government that doesn’t discriminate. It is necessary to ensure that they soon get such a government and administration which is free from corruption and discrimination.

China – a grave challenge

China, which used to equate its forced occupation of Tibet with the Kashmir problem to justify its illegitimate action, has now registered its presence in Gilgit and Baltistan. It has attempted to meddle in our internal affairs by declaring that citizens of J&K and Arunachal Pradesh needn’t ask for visas to enter China. At least now there shouldn’t be any confusion or illusion in the minds of anyone about the real intentions of China. Its military, political and economic designs to encircle, pressurize and weaken Bharat are too glaring to be missed. In contrast, we need to do a lot more in our military, political and economic strategy; alertness of our leadership; preparation of the public mind, etc. Any further delay in this matter would be tantamount to inviting grave threats to the nation in the near future.

The Naxal trouble

China has sponsored and promoted the Maoist insurgency in Nepal. Maoists of our country have close links with Maoists of Nepal. The Government is stuck in internal squabbles over the question of firmly dealing with the Maoists. We don’t even see credible efforts being initiated to make the administration transparent and accountable and speeding up development activity in Maoist-infested areas. At times even this problem is being used for ulterior political benefits. It will prove costly for our national security and democracy.

Ignoring patriots in the North East

This issue is very significant in the context of our North East also. There also, separatists get all the attention and those loyal to the country are grossly ignored. This policy has provided a golden opportunity to separatist-terrorist outfits like NSCN, who had lost all public support and were almost dead, to once again raise the ugly spectres of terror and separatism.

Arunachal Pradesh that withstood Chinese machinations and is standing like a protective wall on our border is today a victim of gross neglect. The patriotic people of Manipur suffered immensely from the shortage of essential commodities when blockades were imposed for long durations by the separatist forces, and, tired of appealing for help, have finally became dejected and anguished. Don’t our leaders realise the costs of this attitude of pampering separatist forces and neglecting our patriotic people, especially when our borders are in the shadow of the expansionist designs of China? Continued negligence towards the designs and disturbances caused by foreign missionaries has further complicated the situation.

Appeasement is dangerous

On the one hand there is vacillation and lack of will power our ruling establishment and on the other hand unmitigated influx of Bangladeshi infiltrators from across borders left porous even after 60 years of independence. The courts and intelligence agencies have repeatedly asked for detection, deletion and deportation of these infiltrators. However the experience everywhere is that our leaders at both the State and Central levels, who stoop to any low for the sake of votes, lack the basic will power and courage to initiate even the first step of detection.

This infiltration is completely changing the demographic profile of the North East and the border districts of Bengal and Bihar. It has led to a rise in fundamentalism there. Rowdy and anti-social elements have been emboldened and the local tribes and Hindus have become victims of highhandedness and atrocities by these elements. The latest example of the plight of patriotic Hindus in this region is the murderous attack on Hindus in Deganga in West Bengal. Neither the state nor central government is bothered about the sufferings of Hindus. All that they are bothered about is their votes. The government and policy makers have realized from several experiences that deterioration in internal law and order situation and security of Hindus in border districts is fraught with serious implications for our border security. Yet there is no change in the situation.

One doubts whether the government is really bothered about this issue at all. The way provisions have been made in the Census data collection this time for people to claim nationality without providing any proof, any illegal migrant could claim nationality here. All citizens are going to get a Unique Identity Number soon. But where is the arrangement to verify whether those securing the Identity Number are actually citizens of our country or not? We shouldn’t allow any such mistakes or casual approach in these policy matters.

We make tall claims about creating a society free from caste by birth identity. Then why are we making policies as part of which, while conducting the Census, one’s caste data will also be collected, thereby reminding people of their castes once again? Renowned scholars and social activists have appealed to the countrymen that in order to create a united and coherent society they must declare their caste as Hindu, Hindustani or Bharatiya. Why should the government, which is duty-bound to bring in emotional integration, act to the contrary and ask each citizen about his caste? The government can find other independent, temporary and limited plans to collect the necessary data for the sake of its various schemes.

Preaching and practice

What do we claim about the future of this nation and where are we actually leading it? The common man of this country, whose economic well-being we all talk about, is a simple farmer, a small-time shop owner, a push-cart vegetable vendor or a footpath trader. He is an unorganized worker in a town or a village; he is an artisan or a tribal. But the Western economic model that we follow is big businessmen-centric, village-uprooting, employment-displacing, environment-destroying, high energy-consuming and expensive. It is not centered round common man, environment-, energy- and investment-saving, or employment-generating etc.

On one hand we talk about education for all; on the other hand we convert education into a business and make it unaffordable for the poor. We want our education system to impart values like humanity, social responsibility, duty-consciousness and patriotism effectively in society. But at the same time we have thrown out all those things that help inculcate these values and are instead promoting books and syllabi that would only promote a race for more money, selfishness, materialism and insensitivity. At the root of this gap between our words and deeds is gross ignorance of and total disrespect for the real identity of our nationhood, unity and our global mission, coupled with our selfishness and disharmony. An alert and awakened society that is seized of ensuring a proper mindset in the leaders of the nation and preventing any distortions can alone salvage this situation.

Hinduness – need of the hour

The RSS has been engaged in creating individuals capable of building such a society for the last 85 years. It is now universally accepted and becoming more and more clear that Hindutva is the core identity of this ancient nation, and an imperative basis for its integrity and security, basis of the unity of society and its vigor, and the catalyst for lasting peace in the world.

25 years ago, on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, from the same platform the then Sarsanghachalak Sri Balasaheb Deoras said that secularism, socialism and democracy are still alive in our country only because this is Hindu Rashtra. Today eminent thinkers like M.J. Akbar and Rashid Alvi are saying the same thing. Hindutva alone can awaken us to the underlying oneness in the manifest diversity around, protect and respect it and organize all that diversity in one unified thread. Let Hindu society which is the progeny of this land internalize this comprehensive, universal, welfare-oriented, non-reactionary idea of Hindutva in thought, word and deed. Let us unite and fearlessly proclaim loud and clear the honour of our sacred motherland Bharat, its glorious history and traditions, and the eternal Hindu culture. The necessity of the times makes it imperative that all of us unite. Let us get rid of selfishness and disharmony and make all out efforts for building an eminently glorious and victorious Bharat. Let us free the whole world from its problems and conduct it in the path of peace. This is the one and only effective and decisive means to successfully overcome all the difficult challenges.

The objective of the Sangh work is to impart Hindu values and honour in every individual through daily shakha; inspire and equip him to have a clean and selfless heart, and offer his/her entire life for the country, Dharma and culture; and build a strong and united society. Sangh has no other objective or ambition except to fulfill this mission. My humble expectation and wholehearted appeal to all of you is that you should understand this sacred mission, own it, and become a part of it.

[The above is an abstract of the annual Vijaya Dashami speech of the RSS Sarsanghachalak, delivered in Hindi at Reshambagh, Nagpur, Maharashtra]