(^60) "Presenting" the Past
fled in their resolve to uphold their noble family traditions." Besides other
things, the "urgent need for strengthening the nation-wide Hindu Awak-
ening and at the same time directing it into positive, enduring and con-
structive channels was another aspect which was emphasised by all."^42
One interpretation of the situation was that since the RSS could not
depend solely on the BJP for the Hinduization of India, they were looking
for like-minded people in the ruling party. The logic was allegedly that
"when the Ruling Party, which has an all-India base is already doing what
the BJP which has no all-India base, might do, why not support the one
which is quite experienced." On November 16, the RSS chief even hinted
at the possibility of the RSS joining politics by saying that "the RSS had not
taken a vow not to enter politics."^43
In the meantime, the RSS had started concentrating on religious elements
to realize its Hindutva dream. The Vishal Hindu Sammelan was held in
Alandi near Pune with a strong emphasis on "achieving social cohesion."
The Brahminical forces, led by the RSS chief himself, felt obliged to pass
resolutions on "harmful social customs" because they were "weakening
the social structure" and also made "coming together of the Dalits and
Muslims" possible.^44 Another religious figure, Chinmayananda, called
for an end of "discrimination" against Hindus in India and for the emer-
gence of "a united Hindu consciousness" at an RSS meeting in Kerala. His
scheme, as can be expected, gave prominence to the likes of him and made
a good use of the prevalent TV Ramayan discourse of the time. He said, "In
order to achieve this, it was necessary for the Hindu religious leaders, San-
yasins and Dharmacharyas to come forward, in the manner in which the
great sages like Vishwamitra and Vasishtha came into the open to resist
Ravana's threat, during the times mentioned in the Ramayana."^45 In fact,
one such religious leader, Jayendra Saraswathi, did found a movement
called Jana Kalyan Jana Jagaran on October 2, 1987, with the objectives
of renaming India "Hindustan," establishing cow protection committees
in every village and town, creating uniform civil and criminal codes for
all, abolishing affirmative actions, promoting Sanskrit, and advocating a
vegetarian diet, physical exercises, Hindu prayer, and teaching of Indian
culture and "the glory of India's history."^46
The activist elements in the Hindutva camp were slowly grasping the
trend and gradually emerging out in the open. Trying to capitalize on the
Punjab issue to communalize the Hindus, the BJP organized a big demon-
stration in front of the national parliament on February 23,1987, to "save
Punjab Hindus" and to demand the dismissal of the Barnala government
in Punjab. When the BMAC organized a massive Muslim march to Parlia-
ment on March 30, 1987, with regard to the Babri Masjid issue, the VHP
organized a bandh (closure) on March 29 as a counter and incited com-
munal incidents in Uttar Pradesh (UP). The same confused VHP that was
carrying Ganga water around the country in late 1983 had gained enough
tina meador
(Tina Meador)
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