[Review of the book “RSS Aala, Agala” by Syed Ali Mujtaba, published in “Muslim Mirror” on  July 20, 2022. “ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ ಮಿರರ್” ನಲ್ಲಿ ಜುಲೈ 20, 2022 ರಂದು ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದ ಸೈಯದ್ ಅಲಿ ಮುಜ್ತಬಾ ಅವರ “ಆರ್.ಎಸ್.ಎಸ್. ಆಳ ಮತ್ತು ಅಗಲ” ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ]

Book: RSS Aala, Agala               

Author: Devanur Mahadeva 

Reviewed by: Syed Ali Mujtaba

A new book on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) titled “RSS Aala, Agala” (RSS- The Depth and Breadth) by a prominent Kaadiga writer Devanur Mahadeva which takes a critical look at the ideology of the RSS has warned about the dangers to the Constitution and Federalism in India.

The author identifies three ideological planks of the RSS that it wants to impose on the country through its political wing the BJP. The first submission the author makes in the book is the RSS is in disagreement with the Constitution of India and replaces it with a constitution that may have its own vision document.

The RSS on Jan 1, 1993, published a white paper that denounced the constitution of India and called it “anti-Hindu.” Their rejection is on the ground that the Indian constitution is foreign-oriented and has to be discarded completely.

The RSS also disagrees with the Constitution because it favors federalism. The RSS on the contrary like to see India as a totalitarian state where states may have symbolic purposes.

The third submission the author makes is the imposition of the supremacy of the Aryan race on the whole of India. This in other words means the supremacy of the Brahmins as they are Aryas (the enlightened) and it also means the supremacy of the Hindu people over other religious groups in India. The author says that “Bhagavad Gita is an instrument of slavery.”

Mr. Mahadeva wrote in the preface wrote that “his book is an attempt to “critically observe the true nature and objective of RSS.” He says he has made an attempt to present to people “the difference in the perception of the RSS organization and its true colors.”

The author gives examples like the recent textbook revision and the Anti-conversion Bill as steps towards imposing these three ideological paradigms of the RSS on society. The author asserts that the real control of India is at the hands of those sitting at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.

He called upon all progressive organizations to set aside all their differences and work towards “unmasking the designs of regressive forces trying to impose Varnashrama dharma on India.”

The book has a separate chapter on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and calls him “Utsav Murthy” (Celebration Deity). This expression is self-explanatory as the Indian Prime Minister believes in event creation where he has to be at the center of the event and where he alone grabs the attention of the camera frame and shares it with none.

The content of the book has generated controversy because the clouds of Hindutva are hovering all over the country and particularly in Karnataka. The book has become a pain in the neck of Hindutva forces. These elements are calling the book propaganda stuff and questioning the timing of the book which is coming at a time when the Karnataka Assembly election is due in 2023. They are talking about banning this book and lodging a case against the author Devanur Mahadeva. Those supporting the author have called the book an expression of free speech.

As a result of the controversial nature of the book, it has become a talking point mostly among the youth. The popularity of the book among the youth who are buying it in record numbers gives a ray of hope that the idea of India is still alive if not kicking.

The book “RSS: Aala Mattu Agala” is a slim booklet, of just 72 pages.  Priced at just Rs 40 this book has so far sold over 40,000 copies. Industry insiders say the book may even cross the one lakh mark in the coming months. The record sale of this book has brought smiles to the face of the publishers who were sulking due to a lack of apathy towards buying and reading a printed book.

The book has also reinvented the publishing model in Kannada, creating a new enthusiasm in the sector, which had taken a beating during the pandemic over the last two years. The book has six publishers who initially printed 9,000 copies. Gauri Media Trust, named after the slain journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh is also one of the publishers. All copies are sold out and publishers are publishing the book on a large scale. The book is also set for multiple translations. The book is now made ready for translation to five languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and English.

Commenting on his book author Devanur Mahadeva said; my inner conscience was in a dilemma and I decided to pacify it by expressing it, and that’s why I decided to write the book- “RSS Aala, Agala” (RSS- The Depth and Breadth).

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[Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com]