Activists from the ultra-conservative Hindutwa group Sri Ram Sena (Ram's Army) released a serious of vicious attack against women in Mangalore on different occasions. The camera footage shows women happened to be in pub were slapped, kicked and pushed to the ground and in some cases attempted to strip them by dozens of men. In another incident, a PUC II student and daughter of an MLA in Mangalore was kidnapped and harassed for talking to a muslim boy who is her brother's friend in a bus. The boy was later brutally assaulted. Suicide committed by a school going girl of age 15 years due to these anti social elements' harassment and public humiliation is the latest event in the whole episode. These reports show how gravely these groups are talibanizing our society. As Valentine’s day is nearing, Hindutva groups announced to oppose the same at any cost, as it is not part of the ‘culture’. They went ahead to warn such a way that if they see any two girl and boy together, they would make sure that they would marry each other!
These attacks and warnings were to protect Hindu morality and traditional Indian culture!! It does not end there, Pramod Muthalik - head of Shri Ram Sena justifies the attempt and informs whoever has done this did a good job and girls doing these activities are not acceptable.
India is a vastly diversified country and a multi cultural society with people speaking different languages, have different ways of life, different food culture, has belief in different religions, different identities etc. It was and is not a homogenous entity. Society is always going through pain staking evolution for betterment. It always created new thoughts, culture, morals etc for a better collaboration of people among the society in search of a stable political and economical setup which gives happy and equality among the people. India also was not an exception from the above process, and again History confirms same.
The question of progressive nature of the evolving culture and further validations are not coming under the scope of this write up, This is an attempt to portray the Sanghparivar’s ideological bankruptcy and their political aim; we are trying to answer an important question “Why Indian culture’s proprietary ownership is taken up by SanghParivar and other Hindutwa organizations?”
Hindutva groups and Ramsena’s attempts of equating culture with a polished predefined monolithic form is a vicious attempt and let us see what they are indented to do. Hindutwa groups’ version of ‘culture’ has two fold. First one is - it should be according to medieval dharmashastra book “Manusmruthi” and different other manuscripts (and traditional law books) which told us “No woman deserves freedom”, “Shoodra has no rights to study Veda (sacred books), If he does, his tongue has to be pulled off”, "Animals, drums, illiterates, low castes, and women are worthy of being beaten", etc. Society in subcontinent was subjected to social stratification and social restrictions in which social classes are defined by thousands of hereditary groups, often termed as jatis or castes. Society was completely ruled and constructed and based on Chathurvarnyam. The top cast – Brahmins, and Kshatriyas enjoyed power and benefit of work of masses – shoodras and Vaishyas. It was exposed to numerous kinds of anacharas and was evidently male dominant. Sati, child marriage, non allowance of widow marriages, multiple interpretation of law to different caste and genders were part of that Dark Age. Majority of people were suppressed under the worst form of casteism.
Second one is that, only they should be part of the new economic liberalization process, so the profit and business would be accumulated on them to attain a super class stature in current society. All front runners of the hindutwa’s cultural and political offshoots are part of this run. In short, they require a society which is in compliance with Manusmruthi, which would satisfy their economical/ political aspirations. Continuous involvement of Cultural arena is aimed to attain this target.
This is not first time Hindutwa splinter groups are showing this rowdyism and moral policing (for achieving above said political target). Attack against M.F Hussain the world acclaimed painter (it would be good to remember the murals and sculptures in Khaguraho and other part of India which portray different aspect of the society that had been prevailed in Indian subcontinent.), attack aginst Deepa Mehtah’s film screening, attacks against Sahmath groups activities are other examples of this aspect.
Apart from this, their interpretation of tradition and culture does not allow to live people who does not believe in their interpretations and thoughts. Especially other religions do not have any rights to live this sacred land, as they are not ‘indigenous’ in this land!! Gujarat pogroms, Babri Masjid demolition, attacks against Christian missionaries in different states are products of this stand.
It is shocking but not surprising that organizations like the Sri Ram Sene now act with complete impunity. The State Government which views their criminal acts with benign unconcern is responsible for this state of affairs in which hooligans acting in the name of 'culture' and 'tradition' are allowed not only to trample upon the rights and dignity of young women but now to abduct them at will. This has to counter. We should not allow Sanghparivar and other Hindutva groups’ attempt to wrap up culture in a room. This is the very fascist ideology to capture power by invasion of cultural and historical arena of our country. Let us understand this and unite against this agenda. We request all readers to speak out and uphold the democratic rights and dignity of women and minorities.
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