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Video Editor: Vivek Gupta and Ashutosh Bhardwaj
Namaste Sada Vatsale Matribhume,
Twaya Hindubhume Sukham Vardhitoham.
Mahanmangale Punyabhume Twadarthe,
Patatwesh Kayo Namaste, Namaste.
Standing on a stage that had a poster of ‘Bharat Mata’ in the background, Amit Kumar, an 8th grade student, was reciting this prayer which is taught in the ‘shakhas’ of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). His eyes are shut and his right hand is close to his chest in a typical swayamsevak pose. The prayer translates to:
“Forever I bow to thee, O Loving Motherland! O Motherland/Land of Hindus, Thou hast brought me up in happiness. May my life, O great and blessed Holy Land, be laid down in Thy Cause. I bow to Thee again and again.”
Amit told us:
Amit is one of the lakhs of swayamsevaks gathered in Meerut from 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh for the RSS congregation called ‘Rashtroday’.
Organising such a huge gathering by the RSS in western Uttar Pradesh has huge political significance. The area has been a hotbed for news related to Dalit activism.
During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Dalits had deserted the Bahujan Samaj Party and voted overwhelmingly for the BJP. But that was the impact of the Modi wave. When Uttar Pradesh went to polls in 2017, some of the Dalit vote did swing back to their ‘messiah’ Mayawati.
Addressing the swayamsevaks in the gathering, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said:
Some swayamsevaks do not find this statement politically loaded.
Bhagwat even managed to spin the meaning of extremism.
The Quint spoke to some swayamsevaks on issues such as cow vigilantism. They seemed to be in support of gau raksha, but against the violence in the name of gau raksha.
A few days ago, Mohan Bhagwat had invited severe criticism with his comment of preparing an army in three days. But in Meerut, he refused to acknowledge the congregation as a show of strength.
But Mr Bhagwat, are you measuring your strength or are you measuring the pulse of general public ahead of 2019 general elections?
(This article was originally published on Quint Hindi and was translated by Anubhav Mishra.)
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