Pranab invokes Nehru, Gandhi, calls for inclusive Indian identity
ADDRESS TO RSS Former president defines nationalism, says dialogue is necessary, hatred divides NEW DELHI:
The soul of India resides in pluralism and tolerance, and the country’s nationhood is not one language or one religion, former president Pranab Mukherjee said at a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) event in Nagpur on Thursday.
Speaking in English at the headquarters of the RSS, Mukherjee invoked India’s history of pluralism and tolerance to highlight how it is different from the nationalism of the West.
“Our national identity has emerged after a long drawn process of confluence and assimilation. The multiple cultures and faiths make us special and tolerance. Any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogma and identities or religion, region, hatred and intolerance will only lead to dilution of our identity,” he said.
Mukherjee invoked ancient Indian history and the writings of foreign travellers such as Huen Tsang to underline how Indian nationalism “emanated from universalism.”
“We see the whole world as one family and pray for the happiness and good health of all. Our national identity has emerged through a long drawn process of assimilation,” he said.
“We must free public discourse from all public violence. We must move from anger, violence and conflict to peace, harmony and happiness.”
Earlier in the day, Mukherjee described Keshav Baliram Hedgewar as a “great son of Mother India” when he visited the RSS founder’s birthplace.
“Today I came here to pay my respect and homage to a great son of Mother India,” Mukherjee wrote in a visitor’s book at Hedgewar’s birthplace ahead of his much-anticipated speech at the RSS headquarters.
Mukherjee also advocated for a dialogue and quoted India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to underline the importance of assimilation.
“We may argue...but we cannot deny the essential prevalence of multiplicity of opinion. Peaceful co-existence and compassion form the foundation of our civilisation,” he said.
Mukherjee’s decision to attend the RSS event had triggered a major political slugfest with several Congress leaders criticising his decision.
“The images of Pranab Da, veteran leader and ideologue at RSS Headquarters have anguished millions of Congress workers and all those who believed in pluralism, diversity and the foundational values of the Indian Republic,” Congress leader Anand Sharma tweeted hours before the speech.
Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmishta, herself a Congress leader, also warned the former president in a series of tweets on Wednesday night.
“By going 2 Nagpur, u r giving BJP/RSS full handle 2 plant false stories, spread [false] rumours as 2day & making it somewhat believable. And this is just d beginning!” she said.
Speaking earlier in the evening, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the debate around Mukherjee’s speech was “meaningless” and that no one was an outsider for his organisation. Bhagwat said RSS wants to unify the entire society.
“People may have different views but they are all children of mother India,” he added.