EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
THE HINDU CHENNAI WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2019 OPED 9 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE The monk who shaped India’s secularism After Hamza bin Laden The collaboration of competing antiIndian and proIslamist Vivekananda was a proponent of a multicultural nation rooted in religious tolerance and modernity outfi ts and standalone clerics is a deadly prospect and men stood behind his project of establishing the Ramakrishna Mis the West and its allies. sion in 1897. But if one looks at it objectively, Osama Vivekananda emphasised that In bin Laden himself was unable to carry out dia needed to trade Indian spirituali any attacks after 9/11 as he was on the run. ty for the West’s material and mod Realising that the U.S. would somehow get Rahul Mukherji ern culture and was fi rmly behind him, bin Laden was desperate that the outfi t India’s scientifi c modernisation. He R.K. RAGHAVAN he had built assiduously should not become supported Jagadish Chandra Bose’s rudderless after him. Bin Laden groomed Has Indian nationalism turned utter scientifi c projects. In fact, Viveka Hamza hoping that he would continue to ly exclusivist? What would one of the nanda’s American disciple Sara Bull A notorious surname can be a burden. For work with the same zeal after his time. But icons of nationalism, Swami Viveka helped patent Bose’s discoveries in Hamza bin Laden, the surname was proba Hamza did not live up to his father’s expecta nanda, have to say about this shift? the U.S. He also invited Irish teacher bly a curse as well as a blessing. Not many tions. He made occasional noises against the Nationalism, after all, is a battle for Margaret Noble, whom he rechris around the world had probably heard his U.S., which were possibly feeble attempts to the myths that create a nation. tened ‘Sister Nivedita’, to help uplift name until news of his death was broadcast avenge his father’s killing. But nothing more. The practice of Indian secularism, the condition of Indian women. in early August by the U.S. media. Perhaps Hamza could not have been able despite its pitfalls, has distinguished When she inaugurated a girls’ school Some reports say that Hamza, 30, was to do much after his father’s death anyway. the country from many of its neigh in Calcutta, Vivekananda even re killed in a military operation about two years In the postOsama era, al Qaeda began to be bours. India is the nation with the quested his friends to send their girls ago. He was apparently last seen in Iran after overshadowed by the arrival of a belligerent thirdhighest number of Muslims in to this school. he and a few others of his group had been Islamic State (IS). With a relatively young lea the world. Its ability to consolidate Vivekananda also inspired Jamset fl ushed out of Afghanistan. There is also dership which exploited modern technolo democracy amidst unprecedented ji Tata to establish the Indian Insti speculation that he sought refuge in Pakis gy, the IS attempted to establish a Caliphate diversity could teach a lesson or two tute of Science and the Tata Iron and tan, like his father Osama bin Laden. rather than focusing on winning followers by even to advanced industrial econo Steel Company. India needed a secu No one knows why it took so long for the banking on a fossilised ideology, as al Qaeda mies that have operated along the lar monastery from where scientifi c U.S. to be convinced that Hamza had indeed did and suff ered irretrievably. lines of a classic monocultural na and technological development died. In 2017, the U.S. had classifi ed Hamza tion. The country’s secular ideals would uplift India’s material condi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Preventing a coalescence have their roots in its Constitution, Swami Vivekananda believed in the philosophy of sarva dharma sama bhava tions, for which his ideals provided a This decision was possibly on account of the Where does all this leave counterterrorism promulgated by its people, a majori (all religions lead to the same goal). * VIVEKANANDA ILLAM/THE HINDU source of inspiration. realisation that Hamza’s vitriolic utterances policymakers? They should focus on a strate ty of whom are Hindus. Would this against the U.S could infl ame passions in the gy to prevent a coalescence of al Qaeda and state of aff airs change because a dif Not only were Kashmiris not con hansa is unique in the annals of Infl uence on Gandhi, Nehru Islamic world, inside al Qaeda and outside. the IS. The two are not bitter enemies ferent morality, Hindu nationalism, sulted, they were made to suff er an mysticism as one whose spiritual Vivekananda made a remarkable im Ironically, the U.S. announced a bounty of (though al Qaeda believes less in reckless at has surreptitiously overtaken India’s information blackout. Does this kind practices refl ect the belief that the pact on the makers of modern India, $1 million on his head only early this year, an tacks) as some mistakenly believe. There are tryst with secular nationalism? of Hindu nationalism align with the ideas of personal god and that of an who later challenged the twonation indication that there was some doubt about no doubt diff erences between them, such as Indian secularism has always at cosmopolitan nature of India’s mil impersonal god as well as spiritual theory, including Mahatma Gandhi, his death until July 31. This reinforces the im the territory they should concentrate on and tempted, however imperfectly, to lennial traditions? practices in Christianity and in Islam Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chan pression that targeted terrorists are elusive, the methods they should employ in unleash respect the credo of sarva dharma Another question that needs to be all lead to the same realisation. dra Bose. He used the term ‘Daridra fl eetfooted and are able to hide their identi ing terror. Al Qaeda’s targets are essentially sama bhava (all religions lead to the asked is: Is it fair to appropriate Swa While in Chicago, Vivekananda Narayan’ to imply that ‘service to the ties and movements for long, even from the the U.S. and its allies, while the IS has same goal), which translates to an mi Vivekananda, another follower of stressed three important and novel poor is service to god’, many years Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal worked overtime in capturing geographical equal respect for all religions. Ho the sarva dharma sama bhava philo facets of Hindu life. First, he said that before Gandhiji addressed the social Bureau of Investigation. areas and associated assets in Syria and Iraq. wever, the earlyday Hindu national sophy whom Prime Minister Naren Indian tradition believed “not only in ly oppressed as ‘Harijan’ (children of The IS had huge appeal among the youth. ists were clearly at odds with the dra Modi keeps citing, as a Hindutva toleration” but in acceptance of “all god). The Mahatma in fact opined Impact on al Qaeda There was no major confl ict between the idea. This was the reason Nathuram icon? religions as true”. Second, he that his love for India grew thousand Terror experts are divided on the impact of two organisations which have demarcated Godse assassinated one of its stron Here, it is necessary to understand stressed in no uncertain terms that fold after reading Vivekananda. Hamza’s killing on al Qaeda. Some say he among themselves territories from which to gest proponents, Mahatma Gandhi. what Vivekananda’s life and world Hinduism was incomplete without It is for these reasons that the lat was charismatic and had great oratorical operate. On a handful of occasions the two view said about Indian nationalism. Buddhism, and vice versa. ter’s birthday was declared as the Na skills that won him some admirers looking have actually worked in tandem. This is why Hindu nationalism today His Chicago lectures (1893) marked Finally, at the last meeting he pro tional Youth Day. for straws to clutch on to in the postOsama any tactic of playing one against the other For the likes of Godse, a corollary of the beginning of a mission that claimed: “[I]f anybody dreams [of] Was Vivekananda then a propo era. But beyond this there wasn’t anything may not work to destabilise either. Both are the twonation theory was that inde would interpret India’s millennial the exclusive survival of his own reli nent of Hindutva or of the millennial spectacular about Hamza to write home formidable and their prowess cannot be un pendent India was primarily a land tradition in order to reform it and he gion and the destruction of others, I traditions that have survived many about. There is no account of his assuming a derrated. The two can individually or togeth for Hindus. More than 70 years after later spent about two years in New pity him from the bottom of my an invasion and endured to teach the frontline role on any occasion — as a strate er work to muddy the troubled waters on our Independence, this notion has York, establishing the fi rst Vedanta heart, and point out to him that upon world both “toleration and universal gist, propogandist or fi ghter. In sum, he was borders. Both are looking for space to ex gained prominence as never before Society in 1894. He travelled widely the banner of every religion will soon acceptance”? Should Hindu nation a nondescript personality from whom a lot pand. The recent intemperate utterances on in India’s postcolonial history. This across Europe and engaged Indolo be written, in spite of resistance: alism take his name but forget his fi was expected. He disappointed his small Kashmir of Maulana Abdul Aziz, a cleric who is evident when the Central govern gists such as Max Mueller and Paul ‘Help and not fi ght’; ‘Assimilation ery modern spirit that rediscovered number of followers. was close to Osama bin Laden and who was ment says it will consider all Hindus Deussen. He even debated with emi and not destruction’, and ‘Harmony and reformed India’s past? And Whispers went around in al Qaeda circles the Imam of the historic Lal Masjid in Islama in neighbouring countries as poten nent scientists such as Nicola Tesla and peace and not dissension’. shouldn’t India’s secular nationalism for a while that the mantle of leadership of bad in 2007 when the Pakistan Army laid tial Indian citizens. The most recent before embarking on his reformist also acknowledge its deeply spiritual the dreaded outfi t was waiting to fall on siege, are mischievous. This is why collabo example of this is the bifurcation of mission in India. Religion and rationality roots in the beliefs of pioneers like Hamza. This was because Ayman alZawahi ration of an assortment of competing antiIn Jammu and Kashmir, the country’s One of the key elements of his Vivekananda’s interpretation of In the reformer? ri, the current head, who took over from dian and proIslamist outfi ts and standalone only Muslimmajority State, into two message, based on the experiments dia’s past was radical and, when he Osama bin Laden, was reportedly suff ering clerics is a deadly prospect. Union Territories, with all special of his spiritual mentor Sri Ramak returned from the West, he had with Rahul Mukherji is Professor, South Asia from a potentially debilitating heart condi provisions taken away from the erst rishna Paramahansa, was that all reli him a large number of American and Institute, at the Centre for Asian and tion and had failed to provide inspiration for R.K. Raghavan is a former CBI Director. Views are while State’s residents. gions lead to the same goal. Parama European followers. These women Transcultural Studies, Heidelberg University any major attacks. He also chose not to target personal Recognising fair criticism CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC The central focus of ‘The Lancet’ has always been FROM THE ARCHIVES on health, and the editorial on J&K is no diff erent FIFTY YEARS AGO AUGUST 21, 1969 Giri elected new President of India R. Prasad body of over 500,000 doctors, which is supposed to be reading the journal The independent candidate, Mr. V. V. Giri, The anger against the British medical regularly, be unaware of what the who became the nonoffi cial Congress nomi journal, The Lancet, for publishing journal has always stood for? nee of the Prime Minister in the wake of her on August 17 a strongly worded edito current power struggle with the Syndicate, rial on Jammu and Kashmir ( J&K) The role of a medical journal was today [August 20] declared elected the was initially restricted to social me The editorial is not an “act of com fourth President of India, defeating his offi dia. However, two days later, the In mission” by The Lancet, as the IMA cial Congress rival, Mr. N. Sanjiva Reddi, in dian Medical Association (IMA) wad calls it, but what the journal consid the most bitterly contested election since In ed into the controversy ers as its beholden duty to dependence, which might well alter the with a letter admonishing speak up for people in course of history in this country. Though Mr. Richard Horton, the edi health distress. This may be Giri had a clear lead of 35,551 votes – having torinchief of the journal. the fi rst time that The Lan- secured a total of 401,515 against the 313,548 “The reputed medical cet has written critically polled by Mr. Sanjiva Reddi and 112,769 by journal The Lancet has about the J&K issue, but it is C.D. Deshmukh – he fell short of 16,659 votes committed breach of pro naïve to assume that it has for an absolute majority in the fi rst count un priety in commenting on never written on such mat der the system of proportional representa this political issue” and ters before. In fact, it regu tion prescribed for the Presidential election. the editorial amounts to “interfe larly denounces any action or policy But Mr. Giri managed to meet this require rence into an internal matter of Un of any nation or group that harms pe ment in the second count which gave him a ion of India,” the letter says. It adds ople’s health. It has commented on CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC margin of 14,650 votes over his nearest rival, that “The Lancet has no locus standi Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the refugee cris DATA POINT Mr. Sanjiva Reddi. The Presidentelect got in on the issue of Kashmir” and ques es in the U.S. and Canada, Sudan, the the second count 420,077 votes as against tioned the “credibility and the mala Arab Spring, and several times on Af 405,427 secured by the offi cial Congress can fi de intention behind the uncalled for ghanistan, Iraq, and the Rohingya. didate. Mr. S. L. Shakdher, Returning Offi cer, editorial.” In a July 2014 editorial on Gaza, announced at 1033 p.m., “I declare Mr. V. V. The Lancet wrote: “The Lancet is a Giri duly elected President.” The Lancet editorial general medical journal that publish The editorial is broadly divided into es research, news, and opinion about A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AUGUST 21, 1919. three parts. The fi rst lists facts. The all aspects of human health and well second focusses on the fi ndings of being. In situations of war and con The Inter-Caste Marriage Bill. two reports: one by the UN High fl ict — such as in Iraq, Syria, Afghanis Commissioner for Human Rights on tan, and elsewhere — our perspective Colonel Yate intends to ask the Secretary of human rights violations in J&K and has always been to put the interests State for India on Monday next, whether he the second by Médecins Sans Fron of civilian lives ahead of the politics is aware that the introduction of the Patel tières on the state of mental health in of military engagement... The role of Hindu InterCaste Marriage Bill in the Indian J&K. The third part carries the opi the doctor is to protect, serve, and Legislative Council and its circulation by the nion of the journal. The ground real speak up for life. That, too, is the role Government of India through local govern ity and the fi ndings of the two re of a medical journal.” ment for opinion has caused great alarm ports are given equal treatment and The same day that the editorial on amongst orthodox Hindus of all classes of weightage. J&K was published, The Lancet also society in India, as an interference with their The controversial part is found in carried another on mass shootings in most sacred religious and social usages the beginning and end of the edito the U.S. After putting the editorial in which it has been the policy of the British rial. The editorial begins by calling context and referring to a report on Government hither to never to interfere the revocation of Article 370 a “con mass violence, the journal criticised with. In view of the considerations men troversial move” that gives the go the government saying: “The far tioned, Colonel Yate wants the Secretary of vernment “greater authority over the right and the Trump administration State to ascertain from the Government of State’s aff airs”. It then adds that “mil have fomented and normalised white India whether it would be desirable to take itant presence raises serious con nationalist sentiment and entitle action to reassure orthodox Hindu opinion cerns for the health, safety, and free ment with antiimmigrant rhetoric, that no interference with religious usage is doms of the Kashmiri people”. It which is amplifi ed by conservative contemplated by the British Government. concludes that the “people of Kash media and then consumed by the The subject was also raised by Lord Syden mir need healing from the deep disenfranchised.” ham in the Joint Committee yesterday for wounds of this decadesold confl ict, Unlike in the case of the editorial purpose which you can well imagine. Most not subjugation to further violence on J&K, the journal has been scathing of his questions to Mr. Ramaswami Aiyar and alienation.” at times while commenting on other were intended to make as much as possible While those outside the medical countries. But the central focus has of the diff erences which exist amongst social fraternity may not know about The always been on health, and the edito and political reformers in India. Hence we Lancet’s stand on issues such as J&K, rial on J&K is no diff erent. had the questions about rival Home Rule it is unfortunate that the IMA reacted Leagues and their respective relations with in the manner that it did. How can a [email protected] the National Congress. CM M CH-CHE YK