MNS defends shopkeeper assault, warns against insulting Marathi
The Allahabad High Court has rejected a petition filed by the Hindu side in the Mathura Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah dispute requesting that the term 'disputed structure' be used instead of 'Shahi Idgah mosque' in all further proceedings.
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News18
38 minutes ago
- News18
Decoding RSS: Ten Key Tenets Of World's Largest Voluntary Movement
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the RSS for its selfless contribution to nation-building from the ramparts of the Red Fort during his Independence Day speech It is very difficult to understand the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) but very easy to misunderstand it. This is what can be said about the largest voluntary movement in the world that is completing 100 years on this year's Vijayadashami. That is also the reason for a political debate that has started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the RSS for its selfless contribution to nation-building from the ramparts of the Red Fort during his Independence Day speech. Let us take a look at 10 key tenets that are key to understanding the RSS: First, RSS is not an organisation in society, but it is organising society. So, it can't be looked at from the traditional or any other existing lens of analysing non-governmental organisations or, in fact, any other organisation. Second, RSS's only work is to create people with strong character who are committed to the service of the society and nation. Whatever work is done, it is done by the RSS volunteers known as 'swayamsevaks". And as they work closely with society in different fields, the credit for any change or betterment goes to society itself. Thus, neither the RSS nor its volunteers seek recognition for any achievements. Third, the objective of the RSS is to transform society. This 'transformation" would be achieved, according to the RSS, when every individual would get an opportunity to realise their full potential. Fourth, when this objective is achieved, the RSS should just merge with the whole society and vanish. And when history is recorded, no credit should be given to the RSS, as it is the society that has transformed itself. Fifth, the RSS believes in a holistic perspective and not a binary vision. It doesn't believe in the fragmented vision of 'majority vs minority" or 'left vs right". For the RSS, all Bharatiyas are part of one nation. Sixth, when the RSS talks about Hindu unity, it doesn't associate the word 'Hindu" with a religion or a way of worship. For the RSS, the word 'Hindu" denotes all those who consider Bharat to be their motherland and are committed to serving her. An individual going to the mosque or a church or even an atheist is as much a 'Hindu" for the RSS as an individual going to the temple if he or she is ready to live and die for Bharat. Seventh, the RSS believes that the concept of 'secularism" was picked up from the West and imposed on India in the post-Independence era by politicians and intellectuals who were not rooted in the cultural ethos of Bharat. The concept of 'secularism" as it is applied today was a typical Christian response to intra-Christianity wars and the dominance of the Church in Europe. The Christian wars in the 16th and 17th centuries had ravaged Europe, as the Church was intertwined with the State in such a manner that one couldn't segregate the two. The French Revolution laid down the foundation for the principle of laïcité—the separation of religion and the State. In 1905, France formally codified it as a law. The rest of Europe broadly followed this principle. Indian intellectuals and politicians who were in awe of 'Western liberalism" or 'Marxism" picked up this idea and thrust it upon India. In the Indian civilisational construct dating back several millennia, religion never dominated the State because we were ruled by the concept of 'dharma"—a set of eternal values that has nothing to do with any particular way of worship. Eighth, the RSS associates 'religion" with a way of worship and 'dharma" with a set of eternal values that have been driving Bharat's civilisational journey since the beginning. This set of eternal values is 'Hindu Dharma". So, when the RSS talks about the concept of 'Hindu Rashtra", it implies a nation that is constantly guided by 'dharma", not by any 'religion". Ninth, the RSS believes that we as a 'nation" are different from the modern 'nation-states". Our idea of nationalism is different from the West's idea of nationalism. Noted historian David Sasson, who earned his PhD under Eric Hobsbawm, one of the foremost authorities on Western nationalism, observed in his introduction to a collection of essays and lectures by Hobsbawm, 'On Nationalism", 'In Europe, nationalism was the product of the 'dual revolutions', the French Revolution and the British Industrial Revolution. The rise of the 'White man's nationalism' in Europe resulted in colonisation of large parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, civil wars within the Western nation-states, countless military conflicts between nations, at least two world wars and ethnic cleansing of minorities in the Western countries by the dominant political powers who had captured the power riding on the wave of 'nationalism'. That is why significant sections of the society as well as the academia, media and intelligentsia in the West are wary of 'nationalism'. In the West, utterance of the word 'nationalism' brings back memories of loot, plunder, bloody wars and a quest for material wealth and military superiority. 'Hindu Nationalism' is quite different from European or Western Nationalism. The trajectory of European nationalism and Hindu nationalism are altogether different. Radha Kumud Mookerji, known for his monumental work on history and culture of India. has explained the difference in his seminal work Nationalism in Hindu Culture published in 1921. According to Mookerji, it is a mistake readily to assume that the origin of that remarkable social phenomenon of nationalism is to be found in the West; that it is a genuinely Western product imported into the Eastern countries long after their growth and development; that the Eastern mind was completely a stranger to the very conception of the mother country, a sense of natural attachment to her, and a corresponding sense of duties and obligations which the children of the soil owe to her. Such misconceptions are due to a colossal ignorance of the culture of the East. Even in the dim and distant age of remote antiquity, unillumined by the light of historical knowledge, we find the underlying principles of nationalism chanted forth in the hymns of the Rig Veda embodying the very first utterance of humanity itself. That book, one of the oldest literary records of humanity, reveals conscious and fervent attempts made by the Rishis (seers), those profoundly wise organisers of Hindu polity and culture, to visualise the unity of their mother-country, nay, to transfigure the mother earth into a living deity and enshrine her in the loving heart of the worshipper." Tenth, and the most interesting tenet of the RSS philosophy, is that there are two kinds of people in our society—those who have joined the RSS and those who would ultimately join it. That is why the RSS doesn't respond to even its most vicious critiques, and history has been a witness—there is no dearth of RSS-baiters who later became the most committed swayamsevaks. The writer is an author and columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. tags : hindu Narendra Modi rss view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 20, 2025, 04:29 IST News opinion Right Word | Decoding RSS: Ten Key Tenets Of World's Largest Voluntary Movement Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Bhanu Attri makes history as British Royal Navy's first-ever Hindu chaplain
The UK's Royal Navy has appointed Bhanu Attri, originally from Himachal Pradesh, as its first-ever Hindu chaplain, marking the first time a non-Christian has been officially entrusted with offering spiritual support within the naval force.39-year-old Attri will provide pastoral care and guidance to officers and sailors based on the teachings of Hinduism, reflecting the Navy's broader commitment to diversity and appointment follows a rigorous pathway distinct from other cadets. He completed six weeks of officer instruction, including survival training and four weeks at sea aboard the warship HMS Iron Duke, before undertaking three weeks of specialised chaplaincy training to prepare for his unique responsibilities. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu congratulated Bhanu Attri on his achievement, describing it as a matter of pride for both the state and the the role as 'a profound honour,' Attri said, 'As a Hindu brought up in India, the opportunity to represent individuals from diverse religions brings meaningful representation for the Hindu community and reflects the Navy's commitment to spiritual care for all. My family feels immense pride, a pride grounded in generations of faith, service, and resilience.'The Hindu Council UK (HCUK) welcomed the milestone, having recommended Attri for the post. The council outlined stringent criteria for the chaplaincy, including physical and mental fitness, deep grounding in Hindu philosophy, leadership experience, pastoral abilities, and strong interfaith and cultural integration skills.'The training can be arduous, requiring medical fitness standards and readiness for duty 24/7 at short notice,' noted Anil Bhanot, HCUK's advisor to the Ministry of Defence. He added that Attri's appointment could encourage more young British Hindus to explore military careers, emphasising, 'Although our spiritual bhoomi (land) is India, our karmabhoomi is the United Kingdom — and the MoD represents our protective arm.'Attri was among 148 new officers who completed the Royal Navy's Initial Officer Training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth. Over 29 weeks, cadets were trained in leadership, naval history, seafaring, survival, and teamwork. The course culminated in a formal passing-out ceremony attended by families, friends, and senior naval leaders, where the new officers were recognised as the 'leaders of tomorrow.'- Ends
India Today
5 hours ago
- India Today
Troubling sign: Not civilian government, Pak Army chief is face of diplomacy
Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir got promoted to the rank of Field Marshal after the 4-day war with India. That's not all. As the head of an institution that is notorious for toppling and shadow running civilian governments, Munir has grown more powerful since then – even injecting himself to foreign Pakistani Army has often been accused of sabotaging efforts to engage with India, and is known as Pakistan's real power centre. This reality was reflected in the decision of US President Donald Trump to invite him for a one-to-one meeting at the White House two times within two months. An analysis of Munir's official engagements and visits by India Today's Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) team suggests he concluded more foreign trips than Pakistan's Prime Minister after the Pahalgam terror attack in foreign trips taken by Asim Munir not only outpaced those of Pakistan's Prime Minister in number but also in strategic undertook nine diplomatic visits between April 23 to August 14. On the contrary, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made only eight foreign trips, as per information gathered by India Today from Pakistani media reports. Munir accompanied Sharif on at least four foreign trips after the India-Pakistan conflict to thank friendly nations for their support. MUNIR'S RISEThe Army in Pakistan has always been powerful but Munir's rise is further fuelled by a weak civilian government, economic challenges, and the conflict with India. Experts say Munir's anti-Hindu diatribe could have been a trigger for the Pahalgam terror his second visit to the US on August 9, Field Marshal Munir met the highest-ranking US military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Caine, and discussed the 'successful US-Pakistan counterterrorism cooperation efforts in the region,' as per US a five-day visit to the US on June 18, Munir met with the US President Donald Trump over lunch, the first time a Pakistani army chief had been hosted at the White his second trip to the US, Munir visited China in late also accompanied Sharif on trips to Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Tajikistan on May 25 to express gratitude for their steadfast support to Islamabad after India's Operation IN TRUMP'S GOOD GRACESIn his first term in office, Trump accused Pakistan of offering the United States 'nothing but lies and deceit.' Officials in Washington were vocal in accusing the country's leadership of being soft on terrorism. Now, in Trump's second term, US military officials have deemed a counterterrorism partnership with Pakistan as 'phenomenal.'Although it is clear that Pakistan has landed in Washington's good books again, the latest turn marks a relationship that has ebbed and flowed for GROWING HOLD ON PAKISTAN'S AFFAIRSUntil recently, Pakistan's military head only took an active role backstage, tightly controlling their public profile and limiting pronouncements mostly to choreographed addresses at set-piece military Munir has asserted his power over the civilian government, especially since Operation Sindoor. Within days of the ceasefire, the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promoted him from a Chief of Army Staff to a Field Marshal, only the second Chief of the Pak Army to be elevated to this first Pakistani Field Marshal was Ayub Khan, who was in charge during the India-Pak war of 1965. Pakistan has had a series of strong Army chiefs since 2008 — Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Gen Raheel Sharif, and Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa — but none of them was able to position themselves in the Pakistani system in the way Munir has done.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Pakistan
