Says India derives its strength from pluralism
Our correspondent / NAGPUR
Taking full advantage of his much publicised invitation to RSS headquarters, former president Pranab Mukherjee today gave extensive lecture on pluralism and secularism at place known for its one religion agenda.
Amid thousands of RSS workers, the former president hailed the diversity in Indian society and its rich history, saying the country derives its strength from pluralism.
“Soul of India resides in pluralism and tolerance. This plurality came with assimilation of ideas over centuries,” he said.
Former president further said, “Our national identity has emerged after a long drawn process of confluence and assimilation, the multiple cultures and faiths make us special and tolerant. Secularism is a matter of faith for us.”
Mukherjee warned that any attempts to define our nation on religion, region, hatred and intolerance will lead to “dilution” of India’s identity.
“Any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogma and identities or religion, region, hatred and intolerance will only lead to dilution of our national identity. We celebrate our diversity,” said Mukherjee.
“It is Perennial Universalism of 1.3 billion people who use more than 122 languages and 1600 dialects, practice seven major religions and belong to three major ethnic groups, who live under one system, one flag and one identity of being Bahrtiya,” the former president said as he proceeded to reflect on the vast pluralism enshrined in the Indian society. “India’s nationhood is not one language, one enemy and one religion,” he added.
He spoke on the necessity to fight a war against poverty, disease and deprivation for nationalism to persist.
“People are at the centre of all activities of the State and nothing should be done to divide them. The aim of the State should be to galvanise them to fight a concerted war against poverty, disease and deprivation. Only then can we create a nation where Nationalism flows automatically,” he said.
Mukherjee further elucidated his idea of nationalism by quoting Mahatma Gandhi. “As Gandhi ji explained Indian nationalism was not exclusive nor aggressive nor destructive,” he said.
Mukherjee cited an excerpt from former Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s book, “Discovery of India”, where he had written on secularism’s importance in the context of India.
“It was this very nationalism that Pandit Nehru so vividly expressed in the book ‘Discovery of India’, he wrote, “I am convinced that nationalism can only come out of the ideological fusion of Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs and other groups in India.” he said.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee got warm welcome at RSS headquarters amid criticism from his former colleagues and family members.
Before Mukherjee’s address, RSS Sarsangchalak Mohan Bhagwat said that this event has taken place in the past as well and discussion surrounding Mukherjee’s presence at this event is inconsequential. “Why was he invited? Why he accepted it? This discussion is preposterous,” he said.
Bahgwat added that RSS has never barred anyone from adopting the organization’s ideology. “We have never refused anyone who wished to join our organisation because this is not what our culture teaches us. Despite all the differences, everyone is a child of Bharat Mata and should be accepted,” he added.
Shortly before his address, the former president visited the birthplace of the RSS founding Sarsanghachalak Keshav Baliram Hedgewar ahead of his much-anticipated speech.
“Today I came here to pay my respect and homage to a great son of Mother India,” Mukherjee wrote in the guest book at Hedgewar’s birthplace in Nagpur.
The Hedgewar home was also the venue of the first ever meeting of the RSS which he founded in September 1925.
Mukherjee’s acceptance of the RSS’ invitation last month had raised several eyebrows. Several Congress leaders, including his daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee, were shocked with Mukherjee’s acceptance of the RSS’ invite and had asked him to reconsider it.
Yesterday, Sharmistha Mukherjee, who is also a Congress leader, had taken to Twitter and expressed her apprehensions on Mukherjee’s visit.
“By going to Nagpur, you are giving BJP/RSS full handle to plant false stories, spread falls rumours as today and making it somewhat believable. And this is just the beginning!” She tweeted.
A visibly dismayed Congress said that Mukherjee’s decision has “anguished millions of Congress workers and all those who believed in pluralism, diversity and the foundational values of the Indian Republic”.
The images of Pranab Da, veteran leader and ideologue at RSS Headquarters have anguished millions of Congress workers and all those who believed in pluralism, diversity and the foundational values of the Indian Republic.
— Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) June 7, 2018
Hope @CitiznMukherjee now realises from todays’ incident, how BJP dirty tricks dept operates. Even RSS wouldn’t believe that u r going 2 endorse its views in ur speech. But the speech will be forgotten, visuals will remain & those will be circulated with fake statements. 1/2
— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) June 6, 2018
I did not expect this from Pranab da ! https://t.co/VBqXZ8x7SE
— Ahmed Patel Memorial (@ahmedpatel) June 6, 2018
Story is edited by Andalib Akhter