RSS Assertively Aligns with anti-Aurangzeb Rant
RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosbole in Bengaluru on Sunday (Image credit Rajesh Padmar)
Dara Shikoh — Not Aurangzeb — Belongs to Indian Ethos: Dattatreya Hosbole
By Manish Anand
New Delhi, March 23: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday asserted that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb doesn’t belong to the Indian ethos. The RSS also put the significance of Mughal emperor Akbar in the shadow.
“Dara Shikoh represents the Indian ethos. Aurangzeb doesn’t represent the Indian ethos,” said Dattatreya Hosbole, the general secretary of the RSS. He was addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the three-day-long Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of the RSS in Bengaluru.
The RSS functionary spoke in the backdrop of the Nagpur violence. Groups indulged in stone-pelting, leading to curfews in parts of Nagpur. Aurangzeb’s grave is said to be at the centre of violence in Nagpur.
Maharashtra’s political leaders have blamed the Hindi film Chhava for rousing sentiments of the people against Aurangzeb. The film is based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj. The Maratha warrior waged battles against Mughals during the reigns of Aurangzeb.
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“Are we going to make an icon out of someone who was against the ethos of India,” asked Dattatreya. He reasoned that there were good justifications for renaming of the Aurangzeb Road in Delhi after India’s former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
“Why was Dara Shikoh not made an icon of India,” asked Dattatreya. He attacked the ‘Ganga-Jamuni’ culture, which is a refrain for the composite culture of India.
Dattatreya’s remarks on Aurangzeb came two days after another RSS functionary had dismissed the issue by cryptic statement. “Aurangzeb is not relevant today,” said Sunil Ambekar, the communication chief of the RSS on Friday. He was speaking ahead of the inauguration of the three-day-long meeting.
Dattatreya termed question on Akbar academic. “How does the RSS see Akbar with the prism of the Indian ethos,” Archis Mohan of the Business Standard asked Dattatreya. Mohan also reasoned that RSS could be considering Shikoh to be a representative of the Indian ethos because he translated India’s ancient texts.
“This is an academic topic. We can discuss this some other day,” replied Dattatreya. Shikoh was a brother of Aurangzeb, who was killed in a battle for throne. Shikoh is documented in history books as a liberal Muslims.
The RSS in a special note at the culmination of the meeting said that the unity of the Hindus should be a template for the world. “The Sangh believes that Hindu society will be able to fulfil its global responsibility effectively only on the basis of an organised and collective life, full of self-confidence founded on Dharma,” said the RSS in a note.
It stated that “we resolve for building a model society following harmonious practices rejecting all types of discriminations, promoting value-based families founded on eco-friendly lifestyle and creating a society fully immersed in selfhood and committed to civic duties”.
“This will enable us to construct a strong national life, materially prosperous and replete with spirituality, mitigating the challenges and solving all the problems of the society,” added the RSS note.
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