The ideology of
Hindutva is becoming popular because there is a growing realization
that everything else that has been tried to inculcate a national spirit,
has failed to yield the desired results. Many people previously opposed
to Hindutva have embraced the ideology, as they believe that the solutions
to the country's problems can be found within it. At the mass level,
with the work done by many individuals and organizations, the acceptance
has been a relatively easy task. However, at the intellectual level
the success leaves much to be desired. The reason for this is that
those who are opposed to Hindutva occupy positions of power in the
academic field. They have ensured that the research done on Hindutva
remains at the fringe of the scholarly arena. Not only are the public
resources denied to the work that needs to be done, but the funds
are being invested in anti-Hindutva propaganda, with an intention
to prove Hinduism as a regressive religion and a backward culture.
Most people who live abroad and write on India rely for their information
on the English media and writings, which paint an essentially negative
picture of Hindutva. It is therefore necessary to give the theoretical
basis of the Hindutva movement due publicity.
In one of his recent books, a Eurpean scholar, Dr. Koenraad Elst says,
"In Europe every sizeable party or ideological pressure-group has
set up a think-tank to develop ideology and formulate policy proposals.
The Communists in India have a host of intellectuals (mostly on state
and university pay-rolls) working full-time to develop the Marxist
view on each and every topic. All the valuable and useful political
thought produced by the Hindu movement would not exceed a few volumes,
to put mildly. As long as there is no intellectual mobilization, Hindu
society is badly on the defensive. Hindu society has a host of bright
young people available, trained in traditional or modern learning,
whose talent is wasted because there seems to be no Hindu nerve center
interested in putting them to work. The intellectual dimension for
the success of a cultural and political movement is highly indispensable."
The "Hindu Vivek Kendra" has been established as a resource
center, with this objective in mind. We hope it will become one of
Hindutva's "nerve centers" both in India and abroad.
ACTIVITIES OF THE HINDU VIVEK KENDRA
- To create
a library of pro-Hindutva and anti-Hindutva books.
- To identify
those who have contributed to the various aspects of Hindutva, invite
them to write on the subject, and give their ideas wide publicity.
- To encourage
others who wish to do research on the subject and guide them by
making material available, and putting them in touch with various
experts.
- To send the
material to academic circles in India and abroad.
- To keep track
of writings in the international field, both pro-Hindutva and anti-Hindutva.