‘Hindu identity is civilisational, not religious’: RSS general secretary Hosabale in US | India News
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Thursday (local time) rejected allegations of Hindu supremacy and spoke about India’s global image during a talk at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC.Speaking about the functioning of RSS, Hosable said, “RSS is a people’s voluntary movement inspired by the cultural ethos and civilizational values of the ancient society of India, commonly known as Hindu culture…to create volunteers with character, self-confidence, sense of service to the community and to organize the society and organizes like RSS or weekly for one hour a week.“He added, “Through this one-hour rally, we inculcate the values of life… to build human social capital for the betterment of society and unity of the nation… RSS provides services like relief programs during natural calamities… RSS volunteers have built around 40 civic institutions.”Explaining the organization’s view on identity, he said, “In the view of the RSS, Hindu identity is a cultural identity, not a religious one… The RSS has always emphasized cultural principles and cultural values that have nothing to do with any religion directly.”Responding to claims that the RSS was a Hindu hegemonic organisation, he said, “Hindu philosophy and culture are not always hegemonic… We see unity in everyone, living or non-living. When this is the basic philosophy of Hindus, the hegemonic nature of Hindus cannot exist. Hindus have never invaded any country or protected any people in history. Hindus have nothing to apologize for.”Hosable also said about India’s global perception, “America’s misunderstanding is not only about the RSS… America’s misunderstanding about India is that it is overpopulated, slums, poverty-stricken and a land of snakes, slums and husbands. India is also a technology hub… India is the fourth largest economy in the world.”He added, “These things are somehow missing in the general American perception. The narrative that has been created about the RSS too, knowingly or unknowingly or as part of an agenda, is that the RSS is Hindu supremacist and somehow anti-Christian, anti-minority, anti-women’s development.” What is said to her is not always said.Referring to regional tensions and dialogue, Hosable said, “Tensions are on and off due to political interests, misinterpretation of history and other processes. The RSS believes that continuous and comprehensive dialogue with all these groups will definitely help in dispelling misconceptions… The RSS is engaged in such dialogue with a group of minorities and their leadership.”He further said, “Tensions between neighboring countries are due to various reasons, political leadership of neighboring countries. Reciprocity and trust have been damaged many times in the last few decades… The problem is only with one neighboring country, which is born from the womb of India. It has become a neighboring country, but many people are behind that country to create problems.”“
