Page 113 - EW April 2023

to “weapons being by upper-caste pracharaks places as sites of rebellion This challenging atti-
stored in the basements to eat with them. He faced against caste discrimina- tude in the author’s politi-
of mosques”, and that psychological tremors, tion. He engaged in several cal orientation, his fight
demolishing Babri Masjid betrayal and dejection, temple entry satyagrahas against all odds towards
was similar to “a second resulting in a suicide at- while cautioning his read- an egalitarian society
battle for independence”. tempt. ers that the temple entry and his action-oriented
In the early 1990s, The author’s objectives movement must not be struggle/call for justice are
rescuing the imagined in life can be understood understood as an attempt the strengths of the book.
Hindu Nation gave him a in terms of revenge against at Hinduisation but as an This is an indispensable
sense of honour, pride and the RSS by exposing their attempt to break the myth read for academics and lay
boosted his self-esteem. hypocrisy and exploita- of harmony across castes. people who are inquisitive
However, soon he started tion, and fighting against His protests and revolts about the Hindu Rashtra
noticing the cracks and Hindutva (by opposing resulted in pressure but seek an honest opinion
fissures underneath the Brahminical Hinduism and intimidation, and based on empirical evi-
community’s ostensible and promoting secular- harassment of his family dence. The author brings
sense of solidarity. He ism). To achieve his goals, members. He writes, micro ground-level experi-
served the RSS diligently he associated himself with “Members of my family ences and organisational
till he reached the position radical journalism, set up faced life-threatening blueprints of the RSS. His
of District Officer, but his own organisations and physical attacks, false touching account exposes
on expressing a wish to publications, and also par- cases were slapped on me, how Dalits are exploited as
become a pracharak, ticipated in secular move- cooked up complaints led mere foot soldiers in the
caste-based discrimination ments, like the Mazdoor to probes. The police, CID, political act of fomenting
became a roadblock. Kisan Shakti Sangathan — CBI, IB, all carried out communal disharmony
On another occasion of which advocated the need multiple investigations. under the strategic guid-
inter-dining among mem- for a Right to Information These forms of extreme ance of the RSS.
bers of the sangh parivar, Act. harassment carry on till KANCHAN BISWAS (The
Meghwanshi was refused He also asserted public today”. Book Review)

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