How Is RSS Hinduism Not Chauvinist or Anti-Muslim | S Gurumurthy Explains

New Delhi: Swaminathan Gurumurthy, writer, journalist, chartered accountant and a part time director on central board of Reserve Bank of India, has challenged detractors of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) who have been abusing it for deces as chauvinist and anti-Muslim. scholar took to social media platform X and confronted m with unchallengeable truth about RSS philosophy which y eir don't know or y conceal. S Gurumurthy has tried to put his explanation on why RSS is not chauvinist and anti-Muslim as claimed by its haters by citing thoughts and statements of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Maharishi Aurobindo and Supreme Court. scholar has also shred light on RSS' Hindu nationalism and tried to prove how it was not its innovation, but rar opted from Swami Vivekananda and Maharishi Aurobindo asking detractors, will y even call m anti-Muslim?

In a series of 65 tweets spre across 4 different thres, S Gurumurthy has tried to prove RSS detractors including seculars, Congress , secular journalists and wokeist liberals of world that:

1. One, RSS concept of Hindu nationalism is not RSS' innovation. It has opted it from Swami Vivekananda and Maharishi Aurobindo.
2. Two, Jawahalal Nehru h  accepted that Hindu nationalism forcefully preached by Swami Vivekananda [and opted by RSS] was not anti Muslim or anyone else.
3. Three, Mahatma Gandhi’s views that India’s unity is wholly because of Hindu religiosity and Muslims and minorities ought to be assimilated, which is also RSS view that minorities should be assimilated into core culture of Bharat.
4. Four, Supreme Court has ruled that RSS concept of Hindutva which is foundation of Hindu nationalism is not religious or communal but constitutes national ethos, culture and way of life of people.
5. Five, citing Encyclopaedia of Britannica and Dr Rhakrishnan, SC ruled that Hinduism, unlike or religions is not based on any particular God, belief or dogma and cannot be limited to concept of mere religion.

How RSS concept of Hindu nationalism not its innovation but opted from Swami Vivekananda, Maharishi Aurobindo, Pandit Nehru Gurumurthy explains 

S Gurumurthy says that his deep involvement with a mix of strange and diverse domains – religion and spirituality to law, journalism, economics, politics, anthropology acemics and geopolitics for half a century enables him to look at RSS from outside as from within.

"RSS is sum of a century of high penance by thousands of pracharaks and lakhs of swayamsevaks living ir whole life, without ir names known in ir lifetime or after, for Swami Vivekananda’s mission of “man-making and nation-building”.

“But RSS’ versaries trash its concept of Hindu nationalism as narrow, anti-Muslim. But if I prove RSS’s Hindu nationalism was not its innovation, but it has opted it from Swami Vivekananda and Maharishi Aurobindo, will y call m anti Muslim?” he said.

“If I prove that Hindu nationalism preached by Swami Vivekananda was expressly accepted by Nehru what will versaries of RSS say? Will y say that Nehru who endorsed a narrow, anti Muslim idea was as b as RSS?” Gurumurthy said.

He goes on saying, “If I prove Mahatma Gandhi held same view as RSS that India’s unity lies in Hinduism and minorities must be assimilated into national mainstream, will RSS baiters say Gandhi was Hindu chauvinist & communal? If I prove that Supreme Court has ruled that Hindutva which is foundation of Hindu nationalism constituted national ethos, way of life and culture of Bharat, will detractors of RSS say highest court is wrong.”

“Here is irrefutable proof that Swami Vivekananda & Maharishi Aurobindo swore by Hindu Nationalism, Mahatma Gandhi swore by Hinduism as basis of India’s unity & nationhood, Nehru accepted Hindu nationalism & Supreme Court endorsed Hindutva.”

“Swami Vivekananda very eloquently, forcefully preached gospel of nationalism. His nationalism was Hindu nationalism, it h its roots in Hindu religion, culture. This was not in any way anti-Muslim or anti-anyone else.” Who said this? Pandit Nehru."

“Pandit Nehru did not just say off cuff media response or extempore speech. He consciously wrote it in his most famous book Glimpses of World History (Page 437). He must have edited draft many times before it was printed. He said more. It (is) not easy... to draw a line between Hindu nationalism and true nationalism. two overlap as India is only home of Hindus, y form a majority re.’ This is  what  Nehru wrote again in Glimpses of World History (Page 720)”.

When Pandit Nehru accepted Hindu nationalism in 1935

S Gurumurthy has mentioned about event when Pandit Nehru in 1935 unequivocally accepted Hindu nationalism in 1935 and its culture in 1937 as basis of Bharat's unity.

"Nehru unequivocally accepted Hindu nationalism in 1935. He again wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine US in January 1937 “Indian background and unity is essentially cultural; not religious in narrow sense of word”.

"In 1935 Nehru accepted Hindu nationalism, in 1937 culture as basis of Bharat’s unity. Earlier to that in 1925, RSS h opted both as its core thought. Nehru’s far Motilal Nehru praised Dr Hedgewar founder of RSS as we see later," Gurumurthy said.

“Nehru accepted Hindu nationalism of Vivekananda who h “eloquently and forcefully preached” it half a century before, & wrote culture which is not narrow religion as basis of Bharat’s unity – a dece after RSS opted both.”

Congress party (usurper of original congress brand) secular parties, intellectuals, journalists & Rahul, who swear by Nehru might not have re his writings. If Rahul res this thre can he deny Nehru owned Hindu nationalism? If Nehru did, can he disown Nehru?"

Gurumurthy on how Mahatma Gandhi’s views prove that India’s unity is wholly because of Hindu religiosity?

S Gurumurthy in anor series of tweets explained how Mahatma Gandhi’s views that India’s unity is wholly because of Hindu religiosity and Muslims and minorities ought to be assimilated, which is also RSS view that minorities should be assimilated into core culture of Bharat.

“Now Gandhi. His basic text is ‘Hind Swaraj’. He it wrote in 1909. As late as in 1938 [July 13, 1938] Gandhi said that “after thirty stormy years though which I have since passed, I have seen nothing to make me alter views expounded in Hind Swaraj,” he said.

“Gandhi said: We were one nation before British came. One thought inspired us. Our mode of life was same. It is because we were one nation y could establish one kingdom. Subsequently y divided us” and explained how we were one nation.”

"Gandhi also said: What do you think could have been intention of those farseeing ancestors of who established Setubandha (Rameshwar) in South, Jagganath in East and Hardwar in North as places of pilgrimage? You will mit y were no fools”.

“Gandhi went on and said y knew that worship of God could well have been performed at home. y taught us that those whose hearts were aglow with righteousness h Ganges in ir homes. But y saw that India was one undivided land so me by nature.”

“He ded y [our ancestors] refore, argued it must be one nation. Arguing thus, y established holy places in various parts of India and fired people with an idea of nationality in a manner unknown in or parts of world.”

“Saying we Indians are one as no two Englishmen are and our men travelled throughout India eir on foot or in bullock carts. y learned one anor’s languages and re was no aloofness between m” he went on to our national integration,” Gurumurthy quoted Gandhi as saying.

On being asked “Has Mohammedanism not unme that nation? Gandhi responded: India cannot cease to be one nation because people of different religions live in it. introduction of foreigners does not destroy nation; y merge in it”.

Gandhi ends “A country is one nation only when such a condition obtains in it. A country must have a faculty for assimilation. India has ever been such a country” On minorities being assimilated into national mainstream RSS and Gandhi converge.

“Sonia-Rahul period Congressmen may not have heard of Hind Swaraj. I would ask m to re it and after reing it. After reing it, can y deny Gandhi’s thought on idea of India was aligned to RSS thought on idea of Hindu India,” Gurumurthy said.

Maharishi Aurobindo. In historic Uttarpara Speech he said: “no longer nationalism is a creed, a religion, a faith. It is Sanatan Dharma which for us is nationalism. This Hindu nation was born with Sanatan Dharma, with it it moves, with it it grows."

Aurobindo concluded his Uttarpara dress: “When Sanatan Dharma declines, n nation declines, and if Sanatan Dharma were capable of perishing, with Sanatan Dharma it would perish. Sanatan Dharma, that is nationalism”.

Rahul Gandhi would have heard of Aurobindo, but not of his celebrated Uttarpara speech which Aurobindo thoroughly revised and republished in his magazine Karmayogin. If Rahul res this thre, can he deny Hindu nationalism is Aurobindo’s, not RSS’".

Gurumurthy recalls when Supreme Court ruled RSS concept of Hindutva constitutes national ethos

S Gurumurthy in anor tweet thre goes on to say: 

“Supreme Court: election manifestos of BJP and Shivsena for 1991 elections h projected Hindutva as ir political philosophy. Petitions were filed against those elected saying as Hindutva is religious appeal elections should be set aside.”

“In 1995 Supreme Court dismissed petitions and ruled based on its own earlier constitutional bench decisions that Hinduism Hindu and Hindutva cannot be confined to limits of religion alone. I am giving quotes from its judgement.”

“No precise meaning can be ascribed to terms `Hindu’, `Hindutva' and `Hinduism'; and no meaning in abstract can confine it to narrow limits of religion alone, excluding content of Indian culture and heritage”.

"'Hindutva' is related more to way of life of people in sub- continent. In face of decisions [of Supreme Court] `Hindutva' or `Hinduism' per se cannot be assumed to mean and equate with fundamentalist Hindu religious bigotry”.

“Ordinarily, Hindutva is understood as a way of life or a state of mind and it is not to be equated with, or understood as religious Hindu fundamentalism”.

“In view of Constitution Bench rulings `Hinduism' or `Hindutva' are not to be construed as unrelated to culture and ethos of people of India, depicting way of life of Indian people”.

“That `Hinduism' or `Hindutva' per se as depicting hostility, enmity or intolerance towards or religions or as professing communalism, proceeds from an improper appreciation of ir true meaning emerging from earlier authorities of this Court.”

“ Court h relied on a 1976 constitution bench judgement in which it h held that a Christian married into a Hindu family and child born brought up as Christian can be part of Hindu undivided family as Hinduism is not limited to religion.”

“In that judgement Court h quoted extensively from Encyclopaedia of Britannica on what constitutes Hindus and Hinduism. I give those quotes here:”

• In principle, Hinduism incorporates all forms of belief and worship without necessitating selection or elimination of any.
• Hindu is inclined to revere divine in every manifestation, whatever it may be, and is doctrinally tolerant, leaving ors tolerant, leaving ors including both Hindus and non-Hindus - whatever creed and worship practices suit m best.
• A Hindu may embrace a non-Hindu religion without ceasing to be a Hindu. A Hindu is disposed to think syntically and to regard or forms of worship, strange gods, and divergent doctrines as inequate rar than wrong or objectionable.
• He tends to believe that highest divine powers complement each or for well-being of world and mankind. Few religious ideas are considered to be finally irreconcilable.
• core of Hindu religion does not even depend on existence or non-existence of God or on wher re is one god or many.
• Since religious truth is said to transcend all verbal definitions, it is not conceived in dogmatic terms.
• Hinduism is n both S civilisation and a conglomerate of religions, with neir a beginning, a founder, nor  central authority, hierarchy or organisation.

“ Court also cited philosopher statesman Dr S Rhakrishnan who h said “Unlike or religions in world, Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any one God; it does not subscribe to any one dogma,” Gurumurthy said.

“SC also noted that term `Hindu', according to Dr. Rhakrishnan, h originally a territorial and not a credal significance. It implied residence in a well defined geographical area. I give his or quotes relied on by SC,” he ded.

“Hinduism does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set of religious rites; it does not satisfy narrow tritional features of any religion or creed. It may broly be described as a way of life and nothing more,” he said.

On that basis SC said that “ usual tests applied in relation to any recognised religion or religious creed in world turn out to be inequate in dealing with Hindu religion”.

Gurumurthy on how SC ruled Hinduism is not limited to concept of mere religion

Saying “Any recognised religion or creed subscribes to a body of set ological beliefs” and asking “Does this test apply to Hindu religion?” In answering this question, we base ourselves mainly on exposition of Dr. Rhakrishnan who said:

• Unlike or countries, India can claim that philosophy in ancient India was not an auxiliary to any or science or art, but always held a prominent position of independence.
• In all fleeting centuries of history in all vicissitudes through which India has passed, a certain marked identity is visible.
• It has held fast to certain psychological traits which constitute its special heritage, and y will be characteristic marks of Indian people so long as y are privileged to have a separate existence.

SC also cited Justices AM Ahmedi and PS Bharucha, who in famous Ayodhya case, said: "Hinduism is a tolerant faith. That enabled Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism & Sikhism to find shelter & support upon this land".

SC also noted that “It is remarkable bro sweep of Hindu religion has been eloquently described by historian Arnold Toynbee who said Hinduism has same outlook as pre-Christian and pre-Muslim religions of Western half of world."

Toynbee ded that “Hinduism takes it for granted that re is more than one valid approach to truth and to salvation and different approaches are not only compatible with each or... but are complementary”

To summarise, Supreme Court said Hindutva is not per se religious. It is national ethos, culture and way of life. It is per se, not against any or religion. Most importantly A 7- judge bench of SC has rejected review petition against 1995 ruling.

Rahul or anyone in Congress or secular parties would not have re this long judgement. would not have known that SC h said that concept of Hindutva which is political philosophy of BJP is national ethos, way of life and culture.

Now as y know Hindutva is not only not communal nor against Islam or or religion and constitutes ethos, culture and way of life of people of India, will y apologise to people for telling lies that Hindutva anti or religions.

To summarise:

• One, RSS concept of Hindu nationalism is not RSS is not its innovation. It has opted it from Swami Vivekananda and Maharishi Aurobindo.
• Two, Jawahalal Nehru h  accepted that Hindu nationalism forcefully preached by Swami Vivekananda [and opted by RSS] was not anti Muslim or anyone else.
• Three, Mahatma Gandhi’s views that India’s unity is wholly because of Hindu religiosity and Muslims and minorities ought to be assimilated, which is also RSS view that minorities should be assimilated into core culture of Bharat.
• Four, Supreme Court has ruled that RSS concept of Hindutva which is foundation of Hindu nationalism is not religious or communal but constitutes national ethos, culture and way of life of people.
• Five, citing Encyclopaedia of Britannica and Dr Rhakrishnan, SC ruled that Hinduism, unlike or religions is not based on any particular God, belief or dogma and cannot be limited to concept of mere religion.

Will seculars, Congress , wokes still dispute se irrefutable testimonies, Gurumurthy asks   

After giving such a detailed account on RSS' Hinduism by citing Vivekananda, Nehru, Gandhi, and even Supreme Court, Gurumurthy asked will seculars, Congress , or wokes still question RSS and Hinduism. 

“Will secular leers, secular parties including Congress , secular journalists and Wokeist liberals of world dispute se irrefutable testimonies and still call RSS communal and Hindu chauvinist? If y do will y not be dishonest?” Gurumurhty said.

“I challenge detractors of RSS to dispute or deny facts brought out in this thre. If y can't will y stop abusing RSS philosophy?”