| Social aspect of Hindutva Philosophy | |||
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By: Nithin Sridhar April 29, 2007 Views expressed here are author’s own and not of this website. Full disclaimer is at the bottom. 
Feedback"Hindutva"- Hindu +Tatva= the Ideology related to Hindus Hindutva is often associated with the Psychology of the people. Media often portrays Hindutva as an ideology of hate towards non-Hindus. Hindutva is seen as a political tool to play with the emotions of people. The so called intellectuals point out that Hindutva means destruction of Mosques [they quote Ayodya Babri Demolition as an example]... and the killing of non-Hindus [they site post Godra violence as an example]. But, does Hindutva begins and ends with the emotions of Hindus?????? The answer is No. Hindutva is the Practical approach to the problems of Hindu Society, to the problems of Bharath. Hindutva has a definite goal and offers the methods to reach that goal. Hindutva Philosophy outlines the ultimate goal of all Hindus to be the Unity of all the Hindus. Its ultimate goal is to restore the grand status of Hindu Rashtra which it had enjoyed in the past. It aims for the overall development of Hindus. But, setting a goal is not enough. We should work towards achieving it. This is where the practical part of the Hindutva ideology comes into picture. To achieve the goals, the Hindutva suggests a multi-dimensional approach. Hindutva philosophy proposes that our approach should be political, social and religious. It suggests that the approach should be both Material and Philosophical. In the present article I am dealing with the social aspect. No man can achieve Ananda-the spiritual Bliss without first satisfying himself with the material desires. Our Hindu Philosophy had summed up the aims of human life in a very well thought-out pattern, of aspiration designated as Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Hinduism suggests that a person who has not fulfilled the first three cannot attain Moksha-Supreme Bliss. In the same way a society in which the material needs are not fulfilled cannot achieve Social Peace and Tranquility. Such a society is filled with violence and disturbances. So to achieve the overall development of Hindus, our first concern should be social enlistment. So, the social approach of Hindutva becomes very vital. Hindu Society had been inherently Tolerant, Non-Aggressive, and peaceful and also very diverse. This diversity which is the unique heritage of Bharath had also been a root cause for the social problems. The diversity of Hindu society over the years had given rise to the disunity and discrimination. The Varna System or the Caste System of Hinduism has given rise to Caste discrimination and Caste politics. These problems are unique to Hindu society. Along with them... we have poverty, Illiteracy, unemployment.... But what does Hindutva says about the casteism as a whole??? Hindutva's basic goal of unification of Hindus itself says that Caste System has no place in Hindu society. Every Hindu should be identified has Hindu and not as a Brahmin or a Dalit. Hindutva suggests that the problem of casteism can be solved only by discarding the whole caste system. Hindutva clearly propagates that all the elements in the Hindu society which are a hinder the rising of Hindu Dharma should be discarded. So what does Hindutva practically offer to solve this problem?????? Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, popularly known as RSS had started Samajik Samarasata Manch in Maharashtra,Veda Shikshana Shibir in this direction. RSS had trained many Dalits for becoming priests. .RSS organizes several socio-cultural programs like mass celebration of Hindu festivals to bring the hindus of different castes together. RSS in its organization does not identify people in the terms of caste. The problems of hindu society does not end here. The education and poverty are the major problems.. The problem in education system is deeper. Today the students are ignorant about the Hindu culture and Moral values, because education in present India apes west.. and due to Marxist distortions, the history of Bharath is filled with lies and half-truths. As a result students have been the victims of anti-Hindu Marxist propaganda. So, the greater challenge facing the Hindutva organizations is to counter this false propaganda and to instill the values of Hindu culture in the Hindus. Today Hindus have lost pride in their history, culture and religion. So, RSS and other Hindutva organizations directs itself to instill the Hindu pride. Vidya Bharathi and Seva Bharathi are working in the education field to not only provide value based education to the poorest of the poor, but also develop in them, the hindu pride. These organizations work to provide education to those who are not in reach of government run schools. Hindutva organizations have also started many newspapers and magazines like Tarun Bharath to counter the anti-Hindu reporting of the media. The students are important part of today’s Indian Society. So, to direct the young students in the right direction and to provide them a voice in the society Akhila Bharathiya Vidyarthi Parishad or ABVP is striving very hard. Likewise Hindutva organizations are present in every field from agriculture to labors union, from education to politics. All these organizations are working in their field to develop the conditions of the Hindus. So, the Social aspect of Hindutva is the backbone of Hindutva, its practical part. This social aspect is the one with which most of the Hindutva organizations are concerned. Nithin Sridhar
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