Film Review
Political
Machinations of Hindutva
Monday March 21, 2011 09:26:09 AM,
Ram Puniyani
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With the rise of Hindutva movement
during last three decades there has also been an attempt to
understand this phenomenon through analytic essays, articles and
films. These films have also served the purpose of spreading the
awareness about the rising threat of communal politics, and
dangers to national integration due to the rising communal tide in
the society. The Mumbai violence, Gujarat genocide, Kandhmal
amongst others has been the object of serious study and analysis
amongst the activists and scholars. ‘Saffron War: A War against
nation’ is the latest in the series of the significant works,
which have come out lately. This film is a unique combination of
analysis of Hindutva ideology, its cooption of dalits in to
communal politics and the gradual manipulation of the low caste
movements from their struggle for social justice to their current
mobilization in the fold of Hindutva where they are made to
believe that the real problems of society are not due to the caste
structure but the external one coming form Muslim minorities.
This film is made in the backdrop of Gorakhpur, where Yogi
Adiyanath, A BJP MP has been spreading his tentacles in a very
aggressive way. The film’s major contribution is to show as to how
Gorakhnath Math has been gradually been shifted away from its
struggle against caste oppression, how its focus on intercommunity
amity has been shifted away to hatred for the minorities. The film
through different interviews and visuals shows us the spread of
venom against minorities. The language used by the Yogi and his
followers comes under the category of ‘Hate Speech’, which is
going on in the open fashion. All the prejudices and biases
against minorities, Muslims in particular, are being openly
asserted in the public meetings where not only are the Muslims
presented in the negative light but also violence is openly
propagated and promoted. The imaginary fear of minorities is
projected and all the propagation of violence is done in the name
of ‘Defense of Hindu religion’. The degree of aggression in the
language is shocking to say the least. In many a meetings when
these hateful speeches are being made, even the police is standing
as the passive listeners, unmindful of the fact that such hate
speech should invite strong legal action.
The major mobilization is done in the name of Yogi Adityanath and
the majority of people who are mobilized and co-opted are dalits
and OBCs. They begin with Savarkar’s definition of Hinduva and
Hindu Rashtra is made the base of Hate other propaganda. This goes
on to say that Muslims have to be relegated to second class
citizenship. They cite the example of Pakistan to spread this
hate. Yogi’s propaganda further adds that Muslims’voting rights
have to be taken away. Gorakhpur and surrounding areas must be one
of the few places where Savarkar is quoted so blatantly in the
anti minority tirade. The emphasis on converting UP in to Gujarat
through Uttaranchal comes up regularly. On the lines of Bajrang
Dal, there is formation of Arya Veer Sena and Hindu Yuva Vahini
giving the training to youth in the use of arms, with Har Har
Mahadev as the war cry.
The film brings out clearly as to how the earlier Bharat Milap
procession in this area symbolized Hindu Muslim brother hood, but
now it has been converted into the occasion where anti Muslim
sentiments are invoked. This has seriously intimidated the
Minorities in the area. The role of these forces in the Mau riots
of 2005 is well brought out in this film.
While the film does well to focus on the core points of Savarkar
ideology and cooption, Sanskrtisation of dalits, there is a need
to link up this with the overall Hindutva politics of the country.
The link between Savarkar and RSS ideology also should have been
highlighted. The strong point of the film is to show the political
dynamics of conversion of a low caste, syncretic space into the
one dominated by Braminical ideology and Hindutva politics. The
film does show in a forthright manner, the way in which Hindutva
politics builds up. The history of Gorakhnath Math comes out very
well along with the fact the communalization process has converted
this syncretic spaces into exclusive Hindutva places. It is
Gorakhnath Math where Muslims used to throng in large numbers and
were welcome there. The scenario is dismal, there is need to
develop political, ideological and cultural campaigns against this
politics to bring back the issues of caste and gender in to the
mainstream of social movements. The need to work for national
integration needs to be highlighted in more ways than one.
While the film is a comprehensive study of communalism in
Uttaranchal, Gorakhpur in particular, it should have connected a
bit more with the National phenomenon. The film does need some
technical improvisation.
Film:
Saffron War by Rajiv Yadav,
Shahanawaz Alam and Lakshman Prashad, Duration 61 Minutes,
Contribution, Rs 95, Available from: 632/13, Shankarpuri, Kamta,
Post: Chinhat, Lucknow, UP
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