by B. R. GOWANI
Ramdev followers helped Narendra Modi’s rise to premiership in 2014
the rule in politics, business, religion, news media, and celebrity world:
you help me and I help you and vice versa
Baba Ramdev helped Modi and Ramdev’s business flourished
the business, like other corporations, uses fraudulent means
one of them was a drug named Coronil for COVID-19 treatment
it was a false claim and was banned by Maharashtra state
Ramdev also invoked the word “swadeshi” <1>, i.e., from one’s own country
Ramdev’s goal was to sell the merchandise his company made in India
he runs a huge business empire — his net worth is more than $120 million
his initial fame came through his Youtube videos on yoga
later, he went into business producing things with false claims
one of them was Putrajeevak Beej or “the seed that gives life to a son”
like many parts of the world, many South Asians wish a male child
beside business, Ramdev, like Modi, is a Hindu zealot
Modi has succeeded in making secularism disappear to a great extent
Hindutva forces are gaining more and more power all over India
Ramdev wants to see India as a “Hindu Rashtra”, that is, a Hindu Nation
Nishchalananda Saraswati is the 145th Jagadguru Shankaracharya
in 2026, on Nishchalananda Saraswati’s birth anniversary, Ramdev said:
“There is a Deoband [an Islamic seminary] near Haridwar. I was invited there in 2009, and I told them, ‘Our religions [Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and other] may differ, but our ancestors are the same. There is no need for anyone to fear the concept of a “Hindu Rashtra”. The ancestors of us all were Sanatani Hindu Arya-Vedics.'”
“Some people ask, if a Hindu Rashtra is established, where will Muslims go? Simply embrace the [Hindu] traditions of your ancestors. You may keep a beard or shave it off; wear any attire you choose, but maintain a character like that of your ancestors. There is no danger in Hindustan for Muslims or Christians.”
In the speech, he also says our “DNA” is the same
Congress Party leader Salman Khurshid, a Muslim, countered:
“There is no need to panic, but ask those who talk about a Hindu Rashtra. Ask them, ask Baba Ramdev. He has made this statement, hasn’t he? How can I tell what is in their minds or in what context they are saying this? If everyone is Sanatani, then why are attempts being made to create so many divisions here? Accept everyone as Sanatani, why are attempts being made to create divisions?”
Waris Pathan, national spokesperson of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) asked:
“First of all this country runs on the Constitution and will continue to do so; who told you it has become a ‘Hindu Rashtra’? I would like to ask the PM, has our country been declared a Hindu nation? A Muslim does not fear anyone. We abide by the law and express our views within the framework of the Constitution… Do you even realise what you are saying? Respect the Constitution. Speak within the confines of the Constitution. Stop spreading hatred like this.”
let’s now come back to Ramdev’s nonsense of “Hindu Rashtra”
he makes every Indian a part of the Hindu Nation
how come?
Ramdev’s logic is that ancestors were Hindu, thus every Indian is Hindu
has there ever been a time when all Indians were Hindu?
No — India has never ever been 100% Hindu
one should also remember that the term “Hindu” is just 1500 year old
before Hinduism, there was another religion called Vedism
Vedism was introduced by Indo-European speaking people
they had come from the region what is today known as Iran
before that there was the famous Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)
IVC appeared 5300 years ago and lasted for 2000 years
Indus Valley Civilization covered a vast area:
most of Pakistan, northwestern India, and northeast Afghanistan
IVC is the biggest in area vis a vis Mesopotamia, and also ancient Egypt
the Indus Valley Civilization language has not yet been deciphered
not much is known about religion of the IVC people
some even speculate that religion may have have been a private affair
if you go further back, then there are the tribal people of South Asia
they can can say too that Indians should follow there ancestors’ religion
it’s an unending rubbish cycle that makes no sense
Ramdev should come out of the delusional “Hindu Rashtra” thing
he should instead declare India as a “Manav Rashtra” or Human Nation
Note
<1> The people in the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan) were frustrated and unsatisfied with the British colonial rule. The British, to avoid any kind of revolt, announced in December 1903, the partition of Bengal and carried it out in August 1905.
The same year, the Indian National Congress announced the Swadeshi Movement whereby direction Indians to boycott foreign goods and instead buy the locally made products.
Later on, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi led the Swadeshi Movement though not all were on board.
Filmmaker Satyajit Ray has brilliantly explored this subject in his movie Ghare Baire or The Home and the World. (You can watch it here — in Bengali with English subtitles.)
The mostly Muslim populated eastern areas were separated from the largely Hindu inhabited western areas. Due to heavy opposition, the Bengal was reunited in 1911.
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com