NEW DELHI: The world may know BR Ambedkar as a Dalit leader and a visionary who headed the committee that wrote the Indian Constitution but the RSS has decided to bring out what it calls "lesser known facets" about him. On Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary next Tuesday, both the Organiser and Panchjanya will issue collector's editions, 200-page bumper issues on Ambedkar, where he would be celebrated as a 'purifier' who vehemently spoke against Islamic 'aggression', conversion to Islam, communism and Article 370.
The RSS move is the latest in a series of attempts by political and ideological groupings to appropriate one of India's greatest leaders. Till now, Sangh publications have never had a 'collector's edition' but only special issues limited to RSS founder KB Hedgewar and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. At the recently-held Nagpur conclave, the Sangh reiterated its 'one well, one temple, one crematorium for all' policy and decision to project Ambedkar as a unifier of people to show its emphasis was on creating an inclusive society.
Ambedkar was a nationalist, the special editions would say and have pieces by Sangh's Dalit leaders and even joint secretary Krishna Gopal. The books will be launched by the Sangh organising secretary Bhaiyyaji Suresh Joshi.
The focal point will be Ambedkar's views on Pakistan. "He saw the universal brotherhood of Islam uniting just Muslims. He was critical of the spirit of aggression of political Islam that takes advantage of the weakness of Hindus and follows gangsterism," said Prafulla Ketkar, Organiser's editor. "Also, when in Pakistan and some provinces such as Hyderabad Scheduled Caste Hindus were forcibly converted, Ambedkar warned them against it and told the converted Hindus they would be welcomed back.
In a way, he also supported ghar wapsi," he added. "That he converted to Buddhism after Gandhi's death and as per his promise to Gandhiji chose the religion closest to Hinduism after giving a lot of time to Hindu society.
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He was a national leader, not just a Dalit icon and that is what we are trying to say by bringing out his various facets," Ketkar said. Ketkar added that the collector's edition has referred only to Ambedkar's original speeches and writings and a biography written by Dhananjay Keer that Ambedkar was himself witness to. "Marxists celebrate Ambedkar but he had dismissed class struggles and declared himself as 'a confirmed enemy of communists' and knew the power of religion.
He may have taken strategic political decisions but he was a nationalist to the core, never a casteist which most writings on Ambedkar choose to hide," he added. The Sangh has been building up to the 125th anniversary celebrations since last January when over 200 researchers studying Ambedkar were asked to present views on him at different Sangh events. For the first time RSS will hold programmes in all its 55,000 shakhas on April 14, where Ambedkar will be remembered for his writings on nation-building.
Special functions will be held in Nagpur and Nashik, to bring Ambedkar adherents closer to RSS Ambedkarities and social rights activists say the Sangh has tried this even earlier. Anand Teltumbde, professor IIT Kharagpur who has studied Ambedkar closely, said that the RSS has always tried to appropriate him by misinterpreting his views on Pakistan and Muslims. "Ambedkar's book, 'Thoughts on Pakistan' has to be carefully read because he fights like a lawyer for both the Hindus and Muslims.
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Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
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