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The statement
made by former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas, praising Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its style of functioning as an
organization is debatable. Notwithstanding the right of freedom of
speech, the comments made by the learned judge are disturbing.
It’s more so,
because K T Thomas belongs to a Christian community that has
suffered at the hands of the RSS and yet he has engaged himself in
an image building exercise of an organization that’s essentially
is fascist in character.
There are few
salient features of K T Thomas's statement. The former judge do
not like that the RSS be held responsible for the assassination of
Mahatma Gandhi. He is of the view that the RSS is not an anti
minority organization. He thinks the RSS is a well disciplined
organization worthy of admiration. He goes on to praise the RSS
for opposing the national emergency and gives it credit for
fighting for the restoration of the fundamental rights.
One may like to
discuss these comments one by one as each of them sounds
contentious. However, before doing so, let’s have the details of
his statement.
The former judge
wants the ''smear campaign'' against RSS being responsible for the
assassination of Mahatma Gandhi to end. “Just because the assassin
was once an RSS worker does not hold RSS responsible of the
crime,” he says.
The smear
campaign that the RSS was responsible for Gandhi’s assassination
is unjustified, he has reportedly said and added that the
organization was ''completely exonerated'' by the court.
K T Thomas
defended the RSS acts of omission and commission by posing a
question, "Can the entire Sikh community be responsible for Indira
Gandhi’s assassination?”
He also took
exception to the propaganda that RSS is an anti-minority
organization, saying such vilification campaign is "baseless."
The learned judge
then goes on to say; "I am a Christian. I was born as a Christian
and practice that religion. I am a church going Christian. But I
have also learnt many things about RSS."
The former apex
court judge says, he became an admirer of the RSS in 1979 when he
was posted as district judge of Kozhikode. This is because RSS is
a disciplined organization that believes in the philosophy of
simple living and high thinking.
He goes on to
eulogies the RSS, saying; during the national Emergency of 1975,
RSS was the only non-political organization that fought against
its proclamation. "We owe very much to RSS for sacrificing many
lives for regaining our fundamental rights," he reportedly said
Initially, when I
saw this PTI report, I thought of ignoring it with the logic let
hundred flowers bloom, but then, when the same copy started
circulating on the internet, I felt this should not become a
gospel of truth.
The statement
made by K T Thomas, becomes noteworthy because the person is not
only a former Supreme Court judge, an upholder of the
constitution, but also belongs to a minority Christian community.
Now, lets dissect each of his statement one by one.
First of all, the
Judge wants us to forget that assassin of Mahatma Gandhi was not
an act of the RSS but of a lunatic who was its former member. He
does not like to accept the fact that the lunatic man was
indoctrinated by the radical ideology of the RSS that drove him to
commit that heinous crime.
Court's may
exonerate the individual or an organization for want of facts, but
can anyone force to make up their mind based on the courts
judgment. So, no amount logic can convince the people of this
country that RSS was not behind the assassination of the Mahatma
Gandhi.
His second
observation, that RSS is not anti-minority is also untenable.
Since last 64 years, the anti minority conduct of the RSS is very
well documented. Time and again it’s being held responsible for
breeching peace in the country. This organization takes up well
orchestrated campaign against the minority community and polarizes
the society on communal lines. Very often, the minority community
is pushed to the wall and is forced to react and that takes the
form of communal riots.
The lessons
learnt from the communal riots are the story of provocation from
the RSS cadre and the reaction from minority community. Since the
act of the former is well planned, the reaction comes unguarded,
making the minority community vulnerable. They fall into a well
laid out trap and become victims of the circumstances, loosing
their lives property and honor in the process.
K T Thomas, takes
pride in being a practicing Christian and an admirer of the RSS.
He goes on to issue a good character certificate of the
organization whose record of anti Christian community is numerous.
The gruesome murder of Graham Stain at the hands of RSS
sympathizer is still etched in our memory.
Its common
knowledge, that believer of the Christian faith in Orissa and
Karnataka had suffered immensely in recent times at the hands of
the RSS cadre that held them responsible for conversion. Can the
entire Christian community be responsible for the act of few
Christians?
His comment on
RSS opposing the national emergency of 1975 and fighting for the
restoration of fundamental rights is also far fetched. Any one who
has lived during the period of emergency can vouch that a cross
section of the society has opposed that high handed declaration
tooth and nail. Giving credit to RSS for opposing emergency, may
tantamount to making heroes of a tribe of murders.
K T Thomas says
that RSS is a well disciplined organisation worthy of admiration.
I find a parallel to it in the admirers of the Nazis, that’s also,
had been hailed as a well disciplined organisation. However, does
that exonerate it from the charges of the “Holocaust” against the
Jews?
The sole purpose
of the RSS is to divide the country on communal lines. Its modus
oprendi is to mobilize the gullible masses of the Hindu faith by
instilling in them the fear of threat from the minority community.
I feel pity about
the ex judge who relishes an organization, that bellies the
essence of the Indian constitution. RSS is well known for its
advocacy of the supremacy of the Hindu faith and the subservience
of other faiths to it. Isn’t it a diabolic thinking?
I feel no amount
of sweet talking can build the image of the RSS. There are certain
fundamental issues that go against it. It does not tolerate
religious pluralism, secularism, socialism and democratic values
that’s being cherished by every Indian.
Sao no amount of
the advocacy of the RSS by whomsoever can make it a perfect
organisation. There is an uncanny feeling that Mr. K T Thomas has
chose to make the comments for some gainful reasons. There are
more to his statement then what the eyes can read.
An appeal to the
voices peace and harmony to stand up against such purposeful
statement and advice to Hon. Judge, better not preach the ugly
can’t be made beautiful.
Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be
contacted at
syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com
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