... A piece of polemical indulgence on Sangh ideology (by) Golwalkar is the RSS' gospel today. When he had spelt it out ... his views were largely ignored, But when the fifth RSS chief, K.S. Sudarshan, expounded, at the 75th anniversary meet at Agra last fortnight, on the need for "swadeshikaran" (indigenisation) of the Church and "Indianisation of Islam" it, predictably enough, stirred a hornet's nest.
Sudarshan's suggestion to both Christians and Muslims to "Indianise" their respective faiths was roundly criticised ... Addressing the Mahashivir, Sudarshan (also) called upon the swayamsevaks to possess the "power of violence" if they wanted to be truly non-violent ...
This accent on violence within a non-violent framework has sent jitters, particularly through the Christians, who take the RSS' statements seriously. Says All India United Christian Forum leader John Dayal: "I take the RSS seriously for two reasons. First, these statements come from a political group which controls the political party which controls the government. Secondly, ... the RSS (has a) dubious track record-hate and violence against all minorities and a declared distrust of the Constitution."
Father Donald de Souza, deputy secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), sees a larger political motive behind the idea of the swadeshi church. Says he: "The idea of swadeshi church is aimed at hitting at the very roots of democracy and the Constitution. Nobody can regulate faith. The Pope is the guarantor of the unity of faith, he does not tell me about my political choices." ...
... By reviving Golwalkar, Sudarshan is trying to energise his disillusioned cadre. However, almost every negative comment made by him was followed by a seemingly benevolent advice to both communities. The stakes, therefore, are clearly electoral-try to give the BJP's sagging fortunes a boost vis -- vis the impending UP assembly polls. Many feel that the soft words were to save the BJP-led government, wooing the minorities, from embarrassment. The RSS chief distinguished common Christians and Muslims "who feel for the country" from their "anti-national" clergy.
Said Sudarshan: "Christians and Muslims changed their method of worship but they've links with our ancestors. Even our Indian Muslim brothers didn't come from outside .... so why can't we create a new form of Islam?" ... Church leaders, however, (feel) that they have no illusion that such changes in their vocabulary will be convincing enough for the saffron brigade to roll back their campaign against the Christians. Going by the parameters set by the founder-fathers of the RSS, whose ultimate dream was to establish Hinduism's superiority over other faiths, they feel there will be no end to the RSS crusade. (Source: The Outlook, 30 October, 2000)
