[Reader-list] Shameful Torture of 23 Muslims Prisoners on March 26-27 In Sabarmati Jail, Ahamedabad: A Report by Human Rights Activists

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Rakesh
 
There seems to be no difference between you and me on the evaluation that one has to be wary of Hindutva.
 
One difference between you and me seems to be that you want to focus on Hindutva for "unacceptable speech and actions" emanating from it whereas I think that would be counterproductive to bridging divides in India that come from many ideological positions in which are rooted many an example of "unacceptable speech and action". We both should accept this difference between you and me.
 
The other difference between you and me seems to be around the BJP-Hindutva matrix. On this I am a bit confused over what you wanted to convey.
 
I believe that BJP nurtures within it's core (statedly or unstatedly) the totality of the Hindutva ideology. At the same time the Hindutva ideology does not find space for the totality of the BJP politics. It is this disconnect, I believe, that often leads to disagreements between the BJP and the Hindutvavaadis (RSS for example)
 
You on the other hand seem to believe (as I somewhat understood) that Hindutva is Anti-Development and that aspect of Hindutva is not acceptable to BJP and that "...it (BJP) .... believes that Hindutva is the cultural essence of India, which has to be maintained and not lost due to development (through moral policing) and due to minority appeasement." 
 
A bit confusing for me especially in understanding the term 'development'. But whichever way you meant it, there is a clear difference of opinion between you and me over understanding of the BJP-Hindutva matrix. We both should accept this difference between you and me.
 
Perhaps we will have an occasion to exchange ideas on some other topic.
 
Kshmendra
 
--- On Sun, 4/19/09, Rakesh Iyer <rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Rakesh Iyer <rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Shameful Torture of 23 Muslims Prisoners on March 26-27 In Sabarmati Jail, Ahamedabad: A Report by Human Rights Activists
To: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com
Cc: "sarai-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Sunday, April 19, 2009, 6:14 PM


Dear Kshamendra

While you have stated that BJP should have proven their rule as best to state that Hindutva based governance is good (as they claim), my contention is that Hindutva is an ideology and BJP distances it from development. The BJP has never claimed Hindutva to be synonymous with development, it instead believes that Hindutva is the cultural essence of India, which has to be maintained and not lost due to development (through moral policing) and due to minority appeasement. 

So I don't feel that for the BJP, there is any such thing that Hindutva is development. Hence, I stated that Hindutva means an ideology which is committed to persecution of minorities. And trying to bridge divide does not mean one doesn't call spade a spade. It means we try to discuss and then find out where our differences lie, and then try to resolve them. Not avoid them, or postpone them.

That is why I said it would be good if you can put up your definition of Hindutva. At least we can see where we are right and where we are wrong. If necessary, let us have a personal discussion(and not on this forum).

Regards

Rakesh