Imphal Times Supplementary issue 2 Editorial Did RSS Participate in Freedom Movement? By: Ram Puniyani due to the situation developing in plunge into the movement. Right statement helped him getting Freedom movement was an all- the country from time to time. There from the beginning, the Sangh released from jail and it also named Expecting the expectation inclusive movement with the was such unrest in 1942. Before that has decided to observe certain the leaders of the Bateshwar participation of people of all there was the movement of 1930-31. constraints in some matters.” campaign which was part of the ‘Quit Every member of society aspires to lead a normal and religions and regions. Its At that time many other people had (page 47) “So, when Doctorji ’ Movement. In this progressive life, taking up jobs that enable them to provide for underlying premise was pluralism gone to Doctorji (Hedgewar). The decided to participate in the confessional statement Vajpayee their loved ones. This ideal situation however has remained as and the concept of a Secular delegation requested Doctorji that satyagraha, he directed the says that he had nothing to do with elusive dram for most of us, as those who are supposed to ensure Democratic India, which bound all this move-ment will give Swayamsevaks to keep out of it the damages caused to property the peace and security of a society of a society is still being the people in the bonds of fraternity. Independence and Sangh should and conduct the Shakha work which was done by the people who regarded with caution and distrust by the common public. Those who were for Muslim and not lag behind. At that time, when a with regularity. He had kept the had gone to hoist the tricolour on the The rise in the number of armed insurgent groups who are kept aloof from gentleman told Doctorji that he was Sangh as such out of the building. He confesses that he was willing to lay down arms to try out a political solution to their this movement for ideological and ready to go to jail, Doctorji said, agitation.” (page 48) not part of the procession and was a grievances and visions are an encouraging indication of the political reasons. ‘Definitely go, But who will take care Now Sinha wants us to believe mere onlooker. Consequent to his growing acceptance and inclination towards mutually Since the last few decades the of your family then?’ That that lakhs of volunteers of the RSS apology he was released from the jail. acceptable solution to the myriad problems and hindrances Hindu nationalists have been gentleman replied, ’I have participated in 1942 and many of Mr Sinha has a fertile imagination afflicting our present day society. It would, however, be a bit claiming that they also participated sufficiently arranged resources not them were punished severely by and so he can claim the RSS’ too early and premature to gloat about the development and in the freedom movement and that only to run the family expenses for the British. The Sangh is known participation in the ‘Quit India’ to rest on the positive aspects of it all. it’s only the Congress-Left two years but also to pay fines for its disciplined volunteers. So Movement and that this was the It is true that there are a large number of armed personnel historians who are trying to paint according to requirement.’ Then did the RSS volunteers defy their proverbial last straw for the British of the state who are dutifully and conscientiously discharging them in negative colours vis-a-vis Doctorji told him, ‘If you have fully Sarsanghchalak to be part of the rulers. The fact is that the RSS’ their sworn duties of protecting and securing the peace of the struggle for independence. arranged for the resources then movement led by Gandhi? Even routine work of shakhas and camps the society, and yet a handful of disruptive and rowdy elements Rakesh Sinha presents the fantasies come out to work for the Sangh for the British intelligence, which continued as usual despite some in the state armed personnel have caused a rift between the of the RSS’ participation in the two years.’ After returning home was the basis of a British circular people feeling uncom-fortable about pubic and the police as a whole. While it is unfortunate and freedom movement. His major that gentleman neither went to jail warning the officers of the the same. Followers of the Gandhi undesirable, yet the outcome couldn’t have been any other sources for this claim are from the nor came out to work for the Sangh.” political nature of the Sangh, Congress were on the streets and in way. The excessive and unnecessary use of force and show of British intelligence reports. His On similar lines during 1942 when needs to be taken with a pinch of jails. power as practiced by a few State police personnel is the claims that the RSS took part in the the turmoil began, Golwalkar issued salt as that was the interpretation Now the RSS is trying to insert itself reason for the suspicious and hesitant mindset of the public Civil Disobedience movement of instructions that routine work of the of the administration which was into the slot where it does not belong. when it comes to dealing with the Police. Only time and 1930 and that the movement got Sangh should continue and nothing contrary to what the RSS itself Ideologically the political consistent efforts on the part of the concerned authorities invigorated due to Hedgewar’s should be done to annoy the has always maintained—that it is organisations, despite their inner can win back the trust and understanding of the public. participation in the same are pure British. “In 1942 also there was a a cultural organisation and not a differences, were mainly intent on It is somehow relieved that the new Chief Minister N. Biren figments of imagination. It is true strong sentiment in the hearts of political organisation. undermining Muslim nationalism Singh has somehow tried to understand the mindset of the that Mr Hedgewar did take part in many. At that time too routine work Till quite late there were no claims and for that goal had no problem in public by organising peoples’ Day. Still then, the fear psychosis this movement and was jailed for of the Sangh continued. The Sangh about the RSS’ participation in cooperating with the British. All has been deeply ingrained in the minds of the public, both that, but that was purely at a vowed not to do anything directly.” the struggle for India’s their efforts were to ignore the for the State forces and the mushrooming groups of self personal level to be able to meet the (Both these quotes from Shri independence. It is only once the diversity of the nation manifested in proclaimed saviours of the downtrodden and the oppressed, people who might support his Guruji Samgra Darshan, Vol IV, RSS/BJP inched closer to political Gandhi’s central slogan of Hindu- will take a long and arduous climb back to be erased from agenda of Hindu Rashtra. There is pages 39-40) This ideologue of the power that such claims started Muslim unity. Today a new their minds. not a single writing of his or of the RSS clearly spells out that fighting being made. One of the earliest construct is being brought to the The onus of endearing themselves to the public and to win RSS exhorting the people to against the British has not been attempts in this direction has fore for electoral goals, and that is their support and acceptance rests entirely on these parties participate in the same. On the part of their agenda, “We should been that of our ex-Prime Minister to erase the fact of their absence from whose trigger happy image as portrayed needs to be changed contrary there are authoritative remember that in our pledge we Vajpayee. In the wake of the 1998 the freedom struggle. At a deeper and altered significantly. But above all a firm yet committed references of his dis-couraging have talked of freedom of the general elections he had issued level how could the RSS be a part of form governance coupled with the capacity to see through those who wanted to participate in country through defending religion an appeal for seeking votes; he the movement for Indian the promises made, with the tenacity and an earnest attitude the struggle for freedom. and culture, there is no mention of wrote that not only was he nationalism, as the RSS’ aim is totally towards making a visible change in their approach towards What was the RSS leadership’s departure of the British from here.” working for the RSS at the shakha in contravention to that as it stands alleviating the society and a willingness to admit and atone attitude to events connected with The same is confirmed by C.P. level, he also participated in the for Hindu nationalism? for the errors made is a prime requisite at the moment. After the freedom movement becomes Bhishikar’s biography of Golwalkar, freedom movement! His claim was The author, a retired Professor at the all, a great leader should be an astute follower of the whishes clear from the quote from M.S. Shri Guruji—Pioneer of a New Era. around the Bateshwar incident IIT-Bombay, is currently associated and aspirations of the common people. The present is just a Golwalkar, the second “It was with this clear where he was arrested. Soon after with the Centre for the Study of glimpse of what can be achieved how it should be achieved Sarsanghchalak of the RSS. Says he: understanding that the Sangh, as his arrest he gave a confessional Secularism and Society, Mumbai. depends on those who are at the helm of affairs those who “There was some unrest in the mind an organisation, decided not to statement in the court. This Courtesy : Mainstream Weekly are chosen for their promises and assurances. The growing awareness amongst the public will now decide if they really have what it takes to walk the talk. National & International News Bangladesh accuses Myanmar of ACB files FIR against Cong leader Chandrakant Kavlekar violating its airspace PTI against Kavlekar’s assets, including “We are conducting further When contacted, Kavlekar said that Cox’s Bazar, Sep 16: Bangladeshi have fled violence Myanmar and are Panaji, Sep 16: The Anti- his properties in Kerala, in 2012 and inquiry into the matter,” he said. he is ready for an inquiry by the ACB authorities have summoned now in neighboring Bangladesh, Corruption Bureau of the Goa Police submitted the preliminary inquiry George said chief secretary or any other agency. Myanmar’s envoy to protest what living in camps under dire has filed a First Information Report report to the state government in Dharmendra Sharma on Friday had “I am not on the wrong side. I am they say were violations of their conditions. (FIR) against senior Congress 2013. cleared the file on registering an ready for the inquiry,” he said, adding airspace amid an exodus of The Bangladesh Ministry of leader Chandrakant Kavlekar for “We have received a go ahead from FIR against Kavlekar, who is also that the government was trying its Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence Foreign Affairs said Friday that allegedly amassing the government to file an FIR against the leader of opposition in the Goa best to demoralise the opposition in western Myanmar. Myanmar drones and helicopters disproportionate assets to the tune Kavlekar in connection with the case assembly. through such tactics. Myanmar’s presidential spokesman flew into Bangladeshi airspace on of Rs 4 crore. of disproportionate assets,” Sources in the ACB on the Kavlekar is a three-time MLA and on Saturday said there’s no Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The Goa Police had filed a case Superintendent of Police (ACB), condition of anonymity said that was the chairman of state-run Goa evidence of any trespassing and It says a protest note was handed against Kavlekar in 2012 under Bosco George told PTI today. ACB sleuths would be raiding Industrial Development that Dhaka should have reached out to Myanmar’s envoy last evening. various sections of Prevention of The FIR was lodged under the Kavlekar’s house at Betul, Quepem Corporation in Congress’s to discuss its concerns instead of Bangladesh warned that the Corruption Act, taking suo moto Prevention of Corruption Act later today. government issuing public statements. “provocative acts” could lead to cognisance of some media reports, yesterday, he said, adding that “He has been questioned in the during 2007-12 period. Up to 400,000 Rohingya Muslims consequences. which alleged his involvement in the assets are worth Rs 4 crore, past. We might call him for The initial investigations in 2012 illegal allotment of plots. which are more than his known interrogation again,” a senior ACB revealed that Kavlekar owned a Certificates and Mark Sheets lost The ACB had started investigations source of income. official said. plantation worth Rs 32.5 crore in Kerala. I, the undersigned, have lost my Original Certificate and Mark Sheet for my class XII examanition issued by Central Board of Secondary Education, (CBSE) bearing Roll No. 3627564 of 2011 on the way between Sagolband Moirang 21 boys who died in school fire buried in Malaysia Leirak to Thangal Bazar . Finders are requested to handover the admit card to the undersigned. AP the Quran, blocked the lone exit to Kedah state died when fire gutted barred windows as neighbors Sd/- Kuala Lumpur, Sep 16: Twenty-one the dormitory, trapping students the school and eight wooden watched helplessly, and later of Kh. Piyananda Singh young boys who died in a fire at a behind barred windows. hostels. burned bodies huddled in corners of Sega Road Khwairakpam Leikai Phone No. 7085981305 private Islamic boarding school Officials said the school was Deputy Education Minister P the room. Officials initially said they were buried in Malaysia amid operating without a fire safety permit Kamalanathan said his department suspected the fire was caused by an renewed calls for better regulation and license, and that a dividing wall has proposed that a special electrical short-circuit but later said WHENEVER YOU SEE CONSTRUCTION of religious schools. was illegally built on the top floor committee be set up to obtain this wasn’t the case. Police said they The charred bodies were released that blocked the victims from a state government consent to place are still investigating the cause as AND MINING EQUIPMENTS, JUST THINK OF US to family members after being second exit. all tahfiz schools under the well as the presence of two gas tanks identified through DNA testing. A list released by the national news ministry’s supervision to ensure outside the dormitory. Islamic authorities and grieving agency Bernama said the victims they get safety approvals and School principal Mohamad Zahid family members held prayers for the were 21 boys aged between 6 and have operating permits. Mahmod has told local media the victims at the hospital mosque 16 and two teachers. Police had put He said the ministry had students were being housed in a before the bodies were taken to the boys’ ages at between 13 and previously urged religious schools temporary building because of cemeteries. 17 on Thursday, and couldn’t be to register, but that was on a renovation work at the main school Eleven of the boys were buried reached to explain the discrepancy. voluntary basis. building. He said they were due to outside Kuala Lumpur, where Religious schools, mostly privately “This is a good opportunity for us move back at the end of this month. hundreds of relatives and well- run, are not supervised by the to make it a compulsory He said the school has been wishers mourned as the bodies, Education Ministry because they requirement for religious schools operating for 15 years and registered wrapped in white shrouds, were come under the purview of state to register with the Education with the state Islamic religious lowered into the graves. religious authorities. Local media Ministry. Our main concern is council. But an official with the state In another cemetery about a half reported there are more than 500 safety,” he told The Associated religious council said it had no record hour away, two siblings and their registered tahfiz schools nationwide Press. “We have no intention to of the school. cousin were laid to rest in the same but many more are believed to be change or interfere with their Many grieving parents and family grave, the Star newspaper said. unregistered. teachings.” members described the tragedy as Others were taken to their Data from the Fire Department Religion is a sensitive matter in fate. hometowns. The burials were showed that 1,083 fires struck Malaysia, where ethnic Malay Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, the wife sponsored and arranged by state religious schools in the past two Muslims make up about 60 per cent of former Prime Minister Mahathir Letters, Feedback and Suggestions to ‘Imphal Times’ Islamic authorities. years, of which 211 were burned to of the country’s 31 million people. Mohamad, blamed human error. She can be sent to our e-mail : [email protected]. The pre-dawn blaze Thursday at a the ground. The worst disaster Firefighters and witnesses have said she was briefed by a police For advertisement kindy contact: - three-story “tahfiz” school, where occurred in 1989 when 27 female described scenes of horror first of officer and was told the dormitory was 0385-2452159 (O) Muslim boys study and memorize students at an Islamic school in boys screaming for help behind overcrowded.

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