As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) celebrates its centenary, the Congress party on Thursday referenced a controversial claim regarding Mahatma Gandhi. The party asserts that Gandhi described the RSS as a “communal body with a totalitarian outlook,” drawing from the writings of one of his closest associates.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress’s general secretary in charge of communications, made this assertion in a post on X. He pointed out that Pyarelal, who served as Gandhi’s aide for nearly thirty years, chronicled this perspective in his book, “Mahatma Gandhi: The Last Phase.”
Published in 1956 by the Navajivan Publishing House, the first volume featured an introduction by then-President Dr. Rajendra Prasad and support from Vice President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. Ramesh noted that the second volume released two years later contains crucial insights into Gandhi’s views.
On page 440 of the second volume, Pyarelal recounts a significant conversation from September 12, 1947, where Gandhi articulates his concerns about the RSS. Ramesh emphasized that Gandhi characterized the organization as a “communal body with a totalitarian outlook.”
The timing of this revelation is poignant; just five months after Gandhi’s remarks, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Union Home Minister, imposed a ban on the RSS. Ramesh utilized this historical context to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent praises of the RSS.
After Modi celebrated the RSS’s contributions to nation-building, Congress leaders reminded him of Patel’s cautioning words. Ramesh questioned whether the Prime Minister was aware of Patel’s correspondence with Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee from July 18, 1948. In that letter, Patel expressed serious concerns about activities linked to both the RSS and the Hindu Mahasabha.
Patel’s letter highlighted that these organizations contributed to an atmosphere conducive to the “ghastly tragedy” of Gandhi’s assassination. He warned that the RSS posed a clear threat to government stability, noting that reports suggested that even under the ban, RSS activities had become increasingly defiant.
To further bolster his argument, Ramesh mentioned Patel’s address to a substantial public assembly in Jaipur on December 19, 1948, where Patel explicitly criticized the RSS. This historical context supports Congress’s assertions about the organization’s past.
At the centenary celebrations of the RSS, Prime Minister Modi showcased a different narrative, emphasizing that the RSS maintained a positive spirit despite various accusations and challenges. The Prime Minister reiterated the RSS’s commitment to a ‘nation-first’ principle.
The ongoing discourse highlights a significant ideological clash in India’s political landscape, underscoring the contrasting views on the legacy of the RSS and its impact on Indian society. As political parties leverage historical narratives to support their present agendas, discussions around Gandhi’s views continue to inspire debate and reflection.
