Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 23 : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Wednesday spoke about the contributions of Sangh while extensively quoting from a book by Father Anthony Elenjimittam at an event here and cited the late author as saying that "Sangh is trying to promote a nationalism which is ethical, rational and humanistic".
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami released the republished edition of the book 'Philosophy and Action of RSS for Hind Swaraj', written by Father Anthony Elenjimittam, a priest, in the early fifties.
Speaking at the event, Hosabale recalled Father Anthony as saying that RSS is rejuvenating the Indian national soul and that nationalism as a term was wrongly perceived in Western countries due to Hitler and Mussolini.
"He (Father Anthony) said that Swayamsevaks are the watchguards of India's national soul. They have poured the fundamental and ethical values of life; these are his words in the book. Father Anthony also said that there are two challenges in front of India; one is communism and another is communalism. He said India should be protected from capitalist cruelty and irreligious socialism and said RSS can do that. He has batted that the world requires a middle path," Hosabale said.
"He said that materialistic communism and religious orthodoxy are both not in the interest of the nation. So India's people need not take an extreme side of either and choose a middle path between these two. Father Anthony said that RSS is eminently capable of doing these things," the RSS leader added.
Hosabale said secularism is explained in the context of the term pseudo-secularism in the book. The term pseudo-secularism gained much traction in India's political discourse after BJP leader LK Advani frequently used it.
"Father Antony says that 'secularism as promoted by the British, ignored Indian culture. Secularism without Indian culture is anti-national.' These are his words...The kind of definition of secularism that people have given in our country, Father Antony says, 'In that sense, Mahatma Gandhi is also anti-secular.' The 'anti-religious' secularism is a national evil. This is what Father Antony says. He said that the Sangh is trying to promote a nationalism which is ethical, rational and humanistic," Hosabale said.
"Nationalism as a term in Western countries was wrongly perceived due to Hitler and Mussolini. Their nationalism becomes a kind of racism. People perceived that nationalism was like that. Whereas in India nationalism has a different meaning, different experiences and a different history as well. How this country's nationalism is ethical, rational and humanistic, which is represented by RSS. This was said by Father Anthony," he added.
Dhami said the book reflects the vision of Dr K.B. Hedgewar and Guruji Golwalkar.
He also said that the state the government has taken strict action against well-planned land jihad in the state and freed more than seven thousand acres of government land from "land jihadis."
"The 'land jihad' mafia was occupying precious government lands in the state by wearing green, blue or yellow cloth without any fear. We have taken strict action against this well-planned land Jihad in the state and freed more than seven thousand acres of government land from land jihadis," Dhami said.