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'The custodians of Left-liberal ressentiment'

Author: Makarand R Paranjape
Publication: Dailymail.co.uk
Date: April 4, 2017
URL:   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-4380036/The-custodians-Left-liberal-ressentiment.html

The title of this column is inspired by Pratap Bhanu Mehta's recent article, 'Yes, bring on Bharatiyata.'

Mehta makes a passionate plea for 'genuine indigenisation,' by which he means restoring 'autonomy to higher education,' ending 'destructive nationalism in learning,' confronting the 'guilt at our own social cruelty' and facing 'our own intellectual ossification.'

Mehta rounds off with a rousing conclusion: 'A deep exposure to Indian culture might actually cure the custodians of Indian culture of prudishness, machismo and homophobia.'  

No surprise that the last exhortation also becomes the headline of his essay, published in bold just beneath the title.

Article

One must concede that there is much that is good, even right, about this article.

Mehta's clarity of mind, lucidity of style, and attitude of moral conviction are amply displayed.

In addition, there is an important rhetorical twist that must be appreciated: rather than deriding 'Bharatiyata', he actually wants more of it.

In defining genuine Bharatiyata, he foregrounds the virtues of autonomy, openness, pluralism, and above all, 'self-awareness'.

Indeed, it is our ability to interrogate, critique, and correct ourselves that is the hallmark of our intellectual traditions.

Mehta is also right in urging us not to resort either to blame or ressentiment, but take responsibility for our failures and shortcomings.

The best part of Mehta's essay, especially on this occasion of Ram Navami, is his reminder that we 'stop seeking validation of Ram by the methodologies of alien knowledge like positivist history and archaeology. Surely, Rama's reality is different.'

Indeed, but here is where Mehta most exposes his own fault lines. What he fails to mention is that the ruse of history was used by a cabal of Leftist 'scholars' against the belief system of a people for whom the reality of Rama is self-evident.

It was they who denied that there was ever a temple beneath the mosque that Babar built. Turns out, there was.

To say 'what stone the next dig throws up' doesn't matter, therefore, smacks of bad faith.

If our Secular Left Liberal (SLL) establishment had respected the sentiments of Hindus and championed the cause of the Ram Mandir, the Babri Masjid may never have been destroyed.

Mehta, likewise, does not acknowledge that it was common practice of Muslim conquerors not just to destroy temples, but also to use the building materials thus gained to build mosques.

The very first mosque in India, itself in ruins today, the Quwwat-ul-Islam (might of Islam) Masjid next to the Qutub Minar was, as the Archaeological Survey of India declares, built on the demolished remains of 27 Hindu and Jain temples.

The Qutub Minar too is a victory tower, in the best traditions of Islamic conquest.

If 'confronting the self as much as confronting the other' is the highlight of Bharatiyata, why doesn't Mehta confront himself and other SLLs? Why aren't SLL failures, distortions, elisions, and inadequacies acknowledged, discussed, or questioned? Why don't the SLLs come in for scrutiny?

Culture

Mehta, in other words, is one-sided. He chooses to depict the Right in the worst possible light, doubting both its intentions and competence.

He disparages their nationalism as 'destructive,' quoting 'Guruji' Golwalkar selectively and out of context to 'prove' that non-Hindus will be downgraded to second class citizens.

He conveniently fails to analyse what Golwalkar meant by 'Hindu', whether the term was used in a religiotheological or geo-cultural sense.

He calls 'the custodians of Indian culture' prudish, macho, and homophobic. Where is the evidence, sir? Or are you presenting foregone conclusions?

Likewise, he begins his diatribe by calling into question a workshop he was neither invited to, nor attended.

After merely mentioning it disapprovingly, he does not bother to report, discuss, let alone examine, what the key speakers said.

That it was organised by 'RSS affiliates' is sufficient grounds to damn it. How can he rule out the possibility that the workshop did come up with some valuable insights or suggestions?

So sure are they of their own superiority that they do not apply the same standards of proof to their own declamations that they demand of their opponents.

I doubt whether Mehta has seriously read or engaged with VD Savarkar, MS Golwalkar, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, or other important right-wing thinkers or ideologues.

Custodian

If so, how can he make a virtue out of his unfamiliarity with this material? Perhaps what makes Mehta so sure that he is competent to hector to those whom he calls 'custodians of Indian culture' is that he considers himself the super-custodian of Indian culture.

He and his like will adjudicate what is authentic or inauthentic 'Indianness'.

Surely, such tout court dismissals show neither the openness of Western-style liberalism nor of Indian anekantavada.

Mehta is among the more distinguished and courageous among the SLLs, all of whom must not be lumped into one heap and abused for their past prejudices and misdeeds.

Most were sponsored by earlier regimes, but failed to admit that their privileges were not natural or God-given, but largely unearned.

That is why the question - 'How does the mind get hold of its own operations?' -probably applies as much to them, especially in the present context, than to the RSS and its ideological allies.

With lesser pride and not so much prejudice, their critiques or commentaries may actually be more useful.

But they are so used to preaching the lessons of intellectual integrity, fair-mindedness, evidence-based thinking, and openness to opposing points of view to others that they have forgotten to practice these virtues themselves.

Should we not gently remind them, Cura te ipsum - physician heal thyself?
 
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