rediff.com: The Rediff Interview/ M G Vaidya

If you saw him trying to cross a crowded street in New Delhi, dressed in his khadi kurta and dhoti, you would think he is a staunch Gandhian. Meet seventyseven-year-old M G Vaidya who is the new articulate face of the RSS. He doubles up as a spokesman as the RSS now wants its points underlined in the media.
Vaidya had reason to be singled out for the job -- he was articulate and knew how to handle tricky media questions. With a vast journalistic experience behind him as editor of Tarun Bharat, a Marathi daily from Nagpur for 17 long years, there couldn't have been a better choice. Earlier, he was a Sanskrit lecturer in Nagpur that was run by the Church of Scotland. Seems almost ironical -- this mix and match -- but Vaidya has been in the RSS for the last 68 years. In a free wheeling interview, he talked to Roving Editor Ramesh Menon while the RSS celebrated its 75th birthday.
Why was the RSS started?
The purpose was to organise Hindu society that was divided by different castes, creeds, languages. RSS wanted to instil in them a feeling of belonging to a Hindu society. Today, ironically, non-Hindus know who the Hindus are -- especially when there is a riot. But the Hindus are not aware of their identity.
How did you join the RSS?
I went to Nagpur at the age of nine. I saw boys playing at a shakha. I joined them. I was told to salute the flag. I saluted. That was it. I went there everyday. It was fun. But down the years, I became consciously involved with the RSS ideology.
Is the RSS running short of money?
No. All its requirements are met by its volunteers. We do not go around asking for donations. That is why no one can pressurise us.
Is the government pressurising the RSS?
All governments are against us. We got banned thrice. Even with the BJP we do not see eye to eye. But this is the only government that is not against us.
Why is there a constant tiff and friction with the current Vajpayee government?
We understand the compulsions of coalition politics. But why should we bind ourselves to the compulsions of the NDA government?
You said that you do not see eye to eye with the government.
We like what they did in Pokhran. We liked what they did in Kargil. We did not like what they did inviting foreign investment in the insurance sector. We want cow protection. We want the Ram temple to be built. No government can tell us what to think. Or feel. We are not a purchasable commodity. No power can bend the RSS.
Why is the Ram temple so important?
It is important because it is a symbol of national honour. No honourable person should tolerate symbols of religious vandalism.
This is like a festering wound refusing to go away. What is the solution?
The court has to decide. Or the government has to legislate. Or the Muslims should come to an understanding.
Why should Muslims today pay for vandalism that took place hundreds of years ago?
It is symbolic repentance. We are only asking for Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura.
What is going to happen?
Good sense may prevail.
Secularism cannot be brushed or wished away today.
We are for a secular state. We are nationalists.
What is the biggest challenge before the RSS today?
Uniting the Hindu society.
Sudharshan's remarks on Indian churches have raised a lot of resentment among Christians.
What is wrong with what he said? He said that Indian churches should establish their own church, free from the domination of foreign churches.
Why did he suddenly say this?
He reacted to a Vatican statement saying that all religions are not equal. All religious leaders who met recently in New York had passed a resolution saying that all religions were equal. Indian Christians must say that that there could be other ways of salvation.
What does the RSS want to do?
We want to remove social evils like untouchability.
How can the RSS do that?
By emphasising the unity of Hindu society.
After five decades you have not succeeded.
The RSS is only in 30,000 villages and towns of India. But where ever we have shakhas, there is no untouchability. People draw water from the same well. In our shakhas we stand in one line together. We dine together -- irrespective of social status. These impressions get transferred to every household. In areas we work in, there is only one caste -- Hindu.
Why does the RSS always talk of Hindus?
Because the destiny of India is linked with Hindus. If the Hindus are not divided, the country stays united. Where Hindus are in a minority, that part of the country is in danger of secession.
But we cannot throw out minorities.
There is no need to throw them out. Hindus have never thrown Muslims out. Do we have Muslim or Christian refugees? How many Hindu refugees has the Kashmir valley created? How many Chakmas have become refugees in the Northeast?
How are Hindus different?
Hindus believe in the equal validity of all religions. But Islam and Christianity do not believe in equality. We are all ready to criticise the Shankaracharya. How many will criticise the Pope?
The young are not enamoured with the RSS philosophy in India.
The social atmosphere is changing. We are aware of that. But we have lots of young men. Both my sons are RSS pracharaks. One is in England. The other is in Gujarat. They chose the RSS. I did not ask them.
One criticism is that the RSS is a secretive body.
Secretive? (Laughs) Where is the secret? We are an overground organisation. We meet in the open everyday. Yes, we neglected publicity all these years. We welcome criticism. What we say may not be the gospel truth.
The Rediff Interviews

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	If you saw him trying to cross a crowded street in New Delhi, dressed in his khadi kurta and dhoti, you would think he is a staunch Gandhian. Meet seventyseven-year-old M G Vaidya who is the new articulate face of the RSS. He doubles up as a spokesman as the RSS now wants its points underlined in the media. Vaidya had reason to be singled out for the job -- he was articulate and knew how to handle tricky media questions. With a vast journalistic experience behind him as editor of Tarun Bharat, a Marathi daily from Nagpur for 17 long years, there couldn't have been a better choice. Earlier, he was a Sanskrit lecturer in Nagpur that was run by the Church of Scotland. Seems almost ironical -- this mix and match -- but Vaidya has been in the RSS for the last 68 years. In a free wheeling interview, he talked to Roving Editor Ramesh Menon while the RSS celebrated its 75th birthday. Why was the RSS started? The purpose was to organise Hindu society that was divided by different castes, creeds, languages. RSS wanted to instil in them a feeling of belonging to a Hindu society. Today, ironically, non-Hindus know who the Hindus are -- especially when there is a riot. But the Hindus are not aware of their identity. How did you join the RSS? I went to Nagpur at the age of nine. I saw boys playing at a shakha. I joined them. I was told to salute the flag. I saluted. That was it. I went there everyday. It was fun. But down the years, I became consciously involved with the RSS ideology. Is the RSS running short of money? No. All its requirements are met by its volunteers. We do not go around asking for donations. That is why no one can pressurise us. Is the government pressurising the RSS? All governments are against us. We got banned thrice. Even with the BJP we do not see eye to eye. But this is the only government that is not against us. Why is there a constant tiff and friction with the current Vajpayee government? We understand the compulsions of coalition politics. But why should we bind ourselves to the compulsions of the NDA government? You said that you do not see eye to eye with the government. We like what they did in Pokhran. We liked what they did in Kargil. We did not like what they did inviting foreign investment in the insurance sector. We want cow protection. We want the Ram temple to be built. No government can tell us what to think. Or feel. We are not a purchasable commodity. No power can bend the RSS. Why is the Ram temple so important? It is important because it is a symbol of national honour. No honourable person should tolerate symbols of religious vandalism. This is like a festering wound refusing to go away. What is the solution? The court has to decide. Or the government has to legislate. Or the Muslims should come to an understanding. Why should Muslims today pay for vandalism that took place hundreds of years ago? It is symbolic repentance. We are only asking for Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura. What is going to happen? Good sense may prevail. Secularism cannot be brushed or wished away today. We are for a secular state. We are nationalists. What is the biggest challenge before the RSS today? Uniting the Hindu society. Sudharshan's remarks on Indian churches have raised a lot of resentment among Christians. What is wrong with what he said? He said that Indian churches should establish their own church, free from the domination of foreign churches. Why did he suddenly say this? He reacted to a Vatican statement saying that all religions are not equal. All religious leaders who met recently in New York had passed a resolution saying that all religions were equal. Indian Christians must say that that there could be other ways of salvation. What does the RSS want to do? We want to remove social evils like untouchability. How can the RSS do that? By emphasising the unity of Hindu society. After five decades you have not succeeded. The RSS is only in 30,000 villages and towns of India. But where ever we have shakhas, there is no untouchability. People draw water from the same well. In our shakhas we stand in one line together. We dine together -- irrespective of social status. These impressions get transferred to every household. In areas we work in, there is only one caste -- Hindu. Why does the RSS always talk of Hindus? Because the destiny of India is linked with Hindus. If the Hindus are not divided, the country stays united. Where Hindus are in a minority, that part of the country is in danger of secession. But we cannot throw out minorities. There is no need to throw them out. Hindus have never thrown Muslims out. Do we have Muslim or Christian refugees? How many Hindu refugees has the Kashmir valley created? How many Chakmas have become refugees in the Northeast? How are Hindus different? Hindus believe in the equal validity of all religions. But Islam and Christianity do not believe in equality. We are all ready to criticise the Shankaracharya. How many will criticise the Pope? The young are not enamoured with the RSS philosophy in India. The social atmosphere is changing. We are aware of that. But we have lots of young men. Both my sons are RSS pracharaks. One is in England. The other is in Gujarat. They chose the RSS. I did not ask them. One criticism is that the RSS is a secretive body. Secretive? (Laughs) Where is the secret? We are an overground organisation. We meet in the open everyday. Yes, we neglected publicity all these years. We welcome criticism. What we say may not be the gospel truth. The Rediff Interviews Tell us what you think of this interview
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