02-23-2005, 03:24 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Title: <b>Revolution in Kerala</b>
Author: M. G. Vaidya
Publication: Mumbai Tarun Bharat
Date: February 20, 2005
Revolution in Kerala! No this is not a revolution wrought by Communists. They have left the road to revolution long time back. It is a good thing. Of course, they talk of revolution from time to time. But there is more of a habit than any import. The philosophy of revolution has become meaningless. The thinking people among them are already aware of it. The violent people who keep some link with this philosophy do not now call themselves as Marxist, but they call themselves Maoists. These violent people do no have Marx as their God, but Mao. Mao whom his motherland has rejected.
Two powerful organizations
Then what is this new revolution in Kerala? That revolution is revolution in Hindu society. There are two large organizations of Hindu society in Kerala. - Nair Service Society (NSS) and Shri Narain Guru Dharmaparipalan Yog (SNDP) and they have come together. Nair means people like Marathas in Maharashtra with the spirit for Kshatriya (fighter). Their powerful society is Nair Service Society. It has many schools and colleges. The great person Mannath Padmanabhan founded it. His thought was of organizing all Hindus but he started to organize from his own community 'Nair'. Later he founded an institute for organizing all Hindus. But, some people say, he dissolved it on the instance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. May be it true or not, but it is beyond doubt that the personality of Mannath Padmanabhan was considered like a saviour by Hindus.
The name of another institute is Shri Narain Guru Dharmaparipalan Yog. In English, Nair Service Society is known by initials 'N.S.S' in brief while this is known as 'S.N.D.P.' The importance of SNDP and its founder Shri Narain Guru must be recognized by all Hindus. It is now 150 years that he was born. From 29th August 2004, celebration of his 150th birthday has started and the meet of RSS Executive Committee at Haridwar has passed a resolution and appealed to all swayamsevaks to participate in it. Who is this Narain Guru? Ilawa (spelled differently in Kerala, I believe)` are the untouchables of lowest layer of the society. Not only their touch was contemptuous for the society, but their moving around also was considered contemptuous and hence if any Ilawa person was passing along a road, he had to beat a large drum as he walked so that other people used to get in the house and close the doors. Their shadow was not also tolerated. Seeing this inhuman tradition, Vivekanand had said in 1892, "Kerala is a madhouse". But now this madhouse does not have even a sign of untouchability. This achievement is of Narain Guru.
Wordless and constructive
He did not abandon the religion by getting infuriated over the injustice and atrocities committed on him. On the contrary, he explained the true nature of our religion to our own brothers. He himself studied Sanskrit and Vedant and explained the true Vedant to his followers. He had no entry in the temples. He did not do any agitation against it. But he himself built new temples, not a few, but during his lifetime, he built up 60 temples. He did not make them a place of only worship and prayer, but gave them an additional form of being temple of knowledge also. His character and his spiritual supremacy so much impressed the then king of Travancore (Princely) state, Shri Balaram Verma opened all temples in his state for untouchables on November 12, 1936. The annihilation of untouchability in Kerala started from that moment.
Today, it is not in existence there. Presently, innumerable people are taking education of high level in a number of educational institutes of high standard belonging to SNDP. Just as there are these educational institutes imparting education useful for lifetime, there are temples giving religious education also. The essence of Shri Narain Guru is condensed in these three Mantras. "Get organized and powerful. Learn and be enlightened and thirdly, work hard and get prosperous." He did not abuse Hindu religion. Did not wallow in the slander or denigration of it. Nor did he joined himself in the ridicule of it. He took over the heritage of great things of Hindu religion and showed his community the way to self emancipation. He did not allow any politics in his own society also. He must be knowing that politics breaks the society, while religion and spirituality unites it. Due to Shri Narain Guru's mature and sound principles and constructive philosophy, Ilawa society was saved from being converted to Christianity. Before the rise of Shri Narain Guru, Christian and Muslim communities were in forefront in converting the untouch! ables. Due to Narain Guru's religious and social enlightenment, this was stopped and the way to harmony was paved. That was a unique and new revolution. It was as new and unique as it was wordless and constructive.
Vote Bank politics
But because the road was paved, it is not necessary that people will follow it. We do not see that other castes in Hindu Society which were not untouchable, started getting organizing automatically. Useful atmosphere is created because of the liberty. But by using that atmosphere, special efforts have to be done for organizing. Nobody made any efforts in this direction before the entry of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. It can even be said that Sangh also reached there in Kerala after freedom. On the heels of the freedom came democratic Constitution followed by elections. Politics of elections means creation of vote banks. Vote Banks of Christians and Muslims were formed immediately. It is rather difficult to make a vote bank of Hindus. There are many castes, many social layers and plurality of many kinds. It is nice to say that we have plurality in our society. But the plurality also underlines the divisions in society also and the anti-social elements highlight them and achieve their selfish objectives.
In such scenario, if there is no ubiquitous and all-inclusive umbrella of Hindutva, the narrow community feelings get stronger. How can Kerala be an exception to this universal experience? Communists took advantage of it. At least in the beginning, generally most of the Hindus were with Communists and Christians were with Congress. But Muslims were keeping close to Muslim League only. Kerala is the only State where there is a party by name Muslim League The party which demanded partition of India. Actually, it was isolated. And perhaps, just like Muslim League in other states, it would have been completely finished. But to depose the communist party which had come to power through the route of elections, Congress took the help of Muslim League. Pt Jawaharlal Nehru who understood what secularism was, praised Muslim League and certified that the League which demanded partition is different and Muslim League in Kerala is different. This resulted in Muslim League getting resp!ect in Kerala. They got share in the power also. In the present UPA government, there is a Minister of Muslim League. It has been happening in Kerala for a long long time. It automatically comes that Muslim League will ask its pound of flesh in exchange of this support. Mallapuram District in Malabar area was made a Muslim majority district. The percentage of Muslims in this District is 69. The activist of Muslim League from the times before the partition of India, Banatwala of Mumbai has been elected many times from this part.
Earlier Congress was influenced by Christians. When they saw that the influence was waning out, they launched another party under the name 'Kerala Congress'. This party which is riding on the Christian Vote Bank is always joining the Congress-led front and ensures that in exchange of its cooperation, gets the full value of it. In this alliance, Hindu is naturally neglected. Presently, Hindus are 56.2 per cent, i.e. at least they are in majority today. While Muslims have reached 24 %, Christians are now a bit less than 20 %. Since these 24% and 20% have unity among themselves, the entire politics runs in their favour. Also since politics influences social issues also, Hindus remain behind in that field also. The majority of Hindus there is for name sake only. All the advantages go to the minorities. If we consider educational field, it will be seen that 65% of the private institutes are either Christian or Muslim. And it is natural to happen. Because according to article 30 o!f our constitution Minorities have been given full unrestrained rights to start their own educational institutes and run them. Hindus do not have that right.
The surprise is that most of the makers of the constitution were Hindus.
Implementing thoughts into action
These circumstances were thought over by both NSS and SNDP and they came together to deliberate on the interests of Hindus. The General Secretary of NSS, PK Narain Panikkar and General Secretary of SNDP Vellapalli Nareshan published a joint statement and appealed, "Putting aside all small and big difference among
ourselves, it is necessary that Unity of Hindus must take place and we must make efforts towards it." They did not stop there only by appealing Hindus, but demonstrated mutual understanding and cooperation. In the month of last January, in the celebrations of birthday anniversary of Manmath Padmanabhan arranged by NSS, Nareshan was invited as a chief speaker. This event has taken after many many years. On 29th of January a large rally of SNDP was inaugurated by Panikkar. This meeting which took place in Vayakom town, was the starting point of the joint meetings now being organized for conveying the message of unity in every district. This is the new revolution in Kerala.
As expected, looking at this possibility of unity of the Hindus in majority, people playing break-away politics got scared. Kerala Latin Association sung the first note of opposition. Various churches followed it. Muslim papers made harsh criticism. The mouthpiece of Jamat-e-Islami "Madhyamam" said that this unity is a communal alliance and it will affect badly the social life in Kerala. The mouth piece of Muslim League says, "The road on which Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad were defeated, is followed by NSS and NSDP".
Communists are also confused. State Secretary, Vijayan said, "By this alliance, secular forces in the state will not be strengthened. Sangh Parivar will be benefitted."
Wide-ranging dimensions
Although at the present moment, this unity is of social nature, it is inevitable that it will soon have political dimension also. The secularism in our country is Islamic and Christian. Unfortunately, the meaning of secularism here is opposition to Hindus. It has become a fashion here that anything which is in the interest of Hindus is to be insulted, jeered at and ridiculed as communal. In fact, Hindu is the mainstream of this country. Because Hindus are in majority here, there is a democracy and hence the state is secular here. Why there is no democracy in Pakistan? Because Hindus are in majority here, the smallest majority like Parsis and Jews can live here with honour. Why even 5% Hindus could not live in the valley of Kashmir? This must be answered by all so-called secularists, right from Jamat-e-Islami to Christian Church and from Communists to Congress. The followers of Islam must point out in which Muslim country is secularist.
Communal organizations only are engaged in the activities of trying to kill the Hindu strength by misusing the generous philosophy of Hindus. Those who are extremely communal and extremely intolerant are giving the dose of secularism and tolerance to Hindus. Hence the people in Kerala decided to expose the truth about them. This is an event of national importance. Not only in Kerala, the unity of Hindus in the entire country is necessary. This unity alone is the only remedy for politics which fractures the society. When the Hindus in the entire country will realize this, the first rays of the rising star of this nation will appear. Because the fortune of India is forever and inevitably linked with Hindus. Hindus means the number of Hindus, the character of Hindus and the unity of Hindus. The rise of India is not good only for Hindus, but it is in the interest of the entire world. Then all the states will be democratic, plurality will be honoured, and there will be not only tolerance but respect also for the other's opinions. The struggles which has arisen out of intolerance and bigotism will end. There will be reign of peace everywhere. The meaning of the rise of Hindu fortune is so wide-ranging. Kerala has set a new example and took a new revolutionary step and hence this article.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Author: M. G. Vaidya
Publication: Mumbai Tarun Bharat
Date: February 20, 2005
Revolution in Kerala! No this is not a revolution wrought by Communists. They have left the road to revolution long time back. It is a good thing. Of course, they talk of revolution from time to time. But there is more of a habit than any import. The philosophy of revolution has become meaningless. The thinking people among them are already aware of it. The violent people who keep some link with this philosophy do not now call themselves as Marxist, but they call themselves Maoists. These violent people do no have Marx as their God, but Mao. Mao whom his motherland has rejected.
Two powerful organizations
Then what is this new revolution in Kerala? That revolution is revolution in Hindu society. There are two large organizations of Hindu society in Kerala. - Nair Service Society (NSS) and Shri Narain Guru Dharmaparipalan Yog (SNDP) and they have come together. Nair means people like Marathas in Maharashtra with the spirit for Kshatriya (fighter). Their powerful society is Nair Service Society. It has many schools and colleges. The great person Mannath Padmanabhan founded it. His thought was of organizing all Hindus but he started to organize from his own community 'Nair'. Later he founded an institute for organizing all Hindus. But, some people say, he dissolved it on the instance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. May be it true or not, but it is beyond doubt that the personality of Mannath Padmanabhan was considered like a saviour by Hindus.
The name of another institute is Shri Narain Guru Dharmaparipalan Yog. In English, Nair Service Society is known by initials 'N.S.S' in brief while this is known as 'S.N.D.P.' The importance of SNDP and its founder Shri Narain Guru must be recognized by all Hindus. It is now 150 years that he was born. From 29th August 2004, celebration of his 150th birthday has started and the meet of RSS Executive Committee at Haridwar has passed a resolution and appealed to all swayamsevaks to participate in it. Who is this Narain Guru? Ilawa (spelled differently in Kerala, I believe)` are the untouchables of lowest layer of the society. Not only their touch was contemptuous for the society, but their moving around also was considered contemptuous and hence if any Ilawa person was passing along a road, he had to beat a large drum as he walked so that other people used to get in the house and close the doors. Their shadow was not also tolerated. Seeing this inhuman tradition, Vivekanand had said in 1892, "Kerala is a madhouse". But now this madhouse does not have even a sign of untouchability. This achievement is of Narain Guru.
Wordless and constructive
He did not abandon the religion by getting infuriated over the injustice and atrocities committed on him. On the contrary, he explained the true nature of our religion to our own brothers. He himself studied Sanskrit and Vedant and explained the true Vedant to his followers. He had no entry in the temples. He did not do any agitation against it. But he himself built new temples, not a few, but during his lifetime, he built up 60 temples. He did not make them a place of only worship and prayer, but gave them an additional form of being temple of knowledge also. His character and his spiritual supremacy so much impressed the then king of Travancore (Princely) state, Shri Balaram Verma opened all temples in his state for untouchables on November 12, 1936. The annihilation of untouchability in Kerala started from that moment.
Today, it is not in existence there. Presently, innumerable people are taking education of high level in a number of educational institutes of high standard belonging to SNDP. Just as there are these educational institutes imparting education useful for lifetime, there are temples giving religious education also. The essence of Shri Narain Guru is condensed in these three Mantras. "Get organized and powerful. Learn and be enlightened and thirdly, work hard and get prosperous." He did not abuse Hindu religion. Did not wallow in the slander or denigration of it. Nor did he joined himself in the ridicule of it. He took over the heritage of great things of Hindu religion and showed his community the way to self emancipation. He did not allow any politics in his own society also. He must be knowing that politics breaks the society, while religion and spirituality unites it. Due to Shri Narain Guru's mature and sound principles and constructive philosophy, Ilawa society was saved from being converted to Christianity. Before the rise of Shri Narain Guru, Christian and Muslim communities were in forefront in converting the untouch! ables. Due to Narain Guru's religious and social enlightenment, this was stopped and the way to harmony was paved. That was a unique and new revolution. It was as new and unique as it was wordless and constructive.
Vote Bank politics
But because the road was paved, it is not necessary that people will follow it. We do not see that other castes in Hindu Society which were not untouchable, started getting organizing automatically. Useful atmosphere is created because of the liberty. But by using that atmosphere, special efforts have to be done for organizing. Nobody made any efforts in this direction before the entry of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. It can even be said that Sangh also reached there in Kerala after freedom. On the heels of the freedom came democratic Constitution followed by elections. Politics of elections means creation of vote banks. Vote Banks of Christians and Muslims were formed immediately. It is rather difficult to make a vote bank of Hindus. There are many castes, many social layers and plurality of many kinds. It is nice to say that we have plurality in our society. But the plurality also underlines the divisions in society also and the anti-social elements highlight them and achieve their selfish objectives.
In such scenario, if there is no ubiquitous and all-inclusive umbrella of Hindutva, the narrow community feelings get stronger. How can Kerala be an exception to this universal experience? Communists took advantage of it. At least in the beginning, generally most of the Hindus were with Communists and Christians were with Congress. But Muslims were keeping close to Muslim League only. Kerala is the only State where there is a party by name Muslim League The party which demanded partition of India. Actually, it was isolated. And perhaps, just like Muslim League in other states, it would have been completely finished. But to depose the communist party which had come to power through the route of elections, Congress took the help of Muslim League. Pt Jawaharlal Nehru who understood what secularism was, praised Muslim League and certified that the League which demanded partition is different and Muslim League in Kerala is different. This resulted in Muslim League getting resp!ect in Kerala. They got share in the power also. In the present UPA government, there is a Minister of Muslim League. It has been happening in Kerala for a long long time. It automatically comes that Muslim League will ask its pound of flesh in exchange of this support. Mallapuram District in Malabar area was made a Muslim majority district. The percentage of Muslims in this District is 69. The activist of Muslim League from the times before the partition of India, Banatwala of Mumbai has been elected many times from this part.
Earlier Congress was influenced by Christians. When they saw that the influence was waning out, they launched another party under the name 'Kerala Congress'. This party which is riding on the Christian Vote Bank is always joining the Congress-led front and ensures that in exchange of its cooperation, gets the full value of it. In this alliance, Hindu is naturally neglected. Presently, Hindus are 56.2 per cent, i.e. at least they are in majority today. While Muslims have reached 24 %, Christians are now a bit less than 20 %. Since these 24% and 20% have unity among themselves, the entire politics runs in their favour. Also since politics influences social issues also, Hindus remain behind in that field also. The majority of Hindus there is for name sake only. All the advantages go to the minorities. If we consider educational field, it will be seen that 65% of the private institutes are either Christian or Muslim. And it is natural to happen. Because according to article 30 o!f our constitution Minorities have been given full unrestrained rights to start their own educational institutes and run them. Hindus do not have that right.
The surprise is that most of the makers of the constitution were Hindus.
Implementing thoughts into action
These circumstances were thought over by both NSS and SNDP and they came together to deliberate on the interests of Hindus. The General Secretary of NSS, PK Narain Panikkar and General Secretary of SNDP Vellapalli Nareshan published a joint statement and appealed, "Putting aside all small and big difference among
ourselves, it is necessary that Unity of Hindus must take place and we must make efforts towards it." They did not stop there only by appealing Hindus, but demonstrated mutual understanding and cooperation. In the month of last January, in the celebrations of birthday anniversary of Manmath Padmanabhan arranged by NSS, Nareshan was invited as a chief speaker. This event has taken after many many years. On 29th of January a large rally of SNDP was inaugurated by Panikkar. This meeting which took place in Vayakom town, was the starting point of the joint meetings now being organized for conveying the message of unity in every district. This is the new revolution in Kerala.
As expected, looking at this possibility of unity of the Hindus in majority, people playing break-away politics got scared. Kerala Latin Association sung the first note of opposition. Various churches followed it. Muslim papers made harsh criticism. The mouthpiece of Jamat-e-Islami "Madhyamam" said that this unity is a communal alliance and it will affect badly the social life in Kerala. The mouth piece of Muslim League says, "The road on which Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad were defeated, is followed by NSS and NSDP".
Communists are also confused. State Secretary, Vijayan said, "By this alliance, secular forces in the state will not be strengthened. Sangh Parivar will be benefitted."
Wide-ranging dimensions
Although at the present moment, this unity is of social nature, it is inevitable that it will soon have political dimension also. The secularism in our country is Islamic and Christian. Unfortunately, the meaning of secularism here is opposition to Hindus. It has become a fashion here that anything which is in the interest of Hindus is to be insulted, jeered at and ridiculed as communal. In fact, Hindu is the mainstream of this country. Because Hindus are in majority here, there is a democracy and hence the state is secular here. Why there is no democracy in Pakistan? Because Hindus are in majority here, the smallest majority like Parsis and Jews can live here with honour. Why even 5% Hindus could not live in the valley of Kashmir? This must be answered by all so-called secularists, right from Jamat-e-Islami to Christian Church and from Communists to Congress. The followers of Islam must point out in which Muslim country is secularist.
Communal organizations only are engaged in the activities of trying to kill the Hindu strength by misusing the generous philosophy of Hindus. Those who are extremely communal and extremely intolerant are giving the dose of secularism and tolerance to Hindus. Hence the people in Kerala decided to expose the truth about them. This is an event of national importance. Not only in Kerala, the unity of Hindus in the entire country is necessary. This unity alone is the only remedy for politics which fractures the society. When the Hindus in the entire country will realize this, the first rays of the rising star of this nation will appear. Because the fortune of India is forever and inevitably linked with Hindus. Hindus means the number of Hindus, the character of Hindus and the unity of Hindus. The rise of India is not good only for Hindus, but it is in the interest of the entire world. Then all the states will be democratic, plurality will be honoured, and there will be not only tolerance but respect also for the other's opinions. The struggles which has arisen out of intolerance and bigotism will end. There will be reign of peace everywhere. The meaning of the rise of Hindu fortune is so wide-ranging. Kerala has set a new example and took a new revolutionary step and hence this article.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->