Page 19 - Pakistan Link - March 17, 2023

COMMENTARY PAKISTAN LINK - MARCH 17, 2023 - P19
n By Dr Ahmed S. Khan Book & Author together with his idea of a modernity
Chicago, IL based upon scientific rather than hu-
manistic values, led to what perhaps the
“This is an extraordinarily interest- most serious defect in the new nation:
ing book on a very difficult subject. Mar- Martha Nussbaum: The Clash Within: Democracy, the failure to create a liberal-pluralistic
tha Nussbaum’s commanding familiar- public rhetorical and imaginative cul-
ity with culturally related political issues Religious Violence, and India’s Future ture whose ideas could have worked at
across the world, past and present, com- the grassroots level to oppose those of
bines immensely fruitfully here with her the Hindu right.”
involvement and understanding of India.” The author starts the chapter titled
— Amartya Sen, Harvard University “The Rise of The Hindu Right” by cit-
ing a quote of M.S. Golwalkar (Bunch
he Clash Within — Democ- of Thoughts): “To remain weak is the
racy, Religious Violence, and most heinous sin in this world,” and ob-
T India’s Future by Professor serves: “In 1992 there were 33,000 RSS
Martha Nussbaum presents an in- shakhas in India. All over the country,
depth analysis of the role of Hindu but particularly in the northern and
right — viz a viz religion, politics, western states, the organization qui-
philosophy and law — in undermin- etly laid down firm roots through disci-
ing democratic norms and attenuating pline, energy, and concerted grassroots
pluralism in contemporary India. Pro- work. The philosophy of the shakhas
fessor Nussbaum expounds —through is both simple and sophisticated: lure
her narrative based on qualitative data boys in with fun and games, and gradu-
and analysis — while America is fo- ally insert into games the essential val-
cused too much on the Middle East, ues of the RSS: discipline, obedience
democracy has been under threat from and the idea that the future of India de-
religious extremism in another criti- pends on unity among Hindus and the
cal part of the world — India, where marginalization of alien groups. Move-
the Hindu right poses a major threat ment architect Golwalkar compares the
to its democratic traditions and secu- strategy to that of a man who wants to
lar identity. Since long before the 2002 get a peacock to visit his garden regu-
Gujarat riots — in which thousands of larly. He gives the peacock food mixed
Muslims were killed by Hindu extrem- examine the eruption of cultural and Reflecting on the massacre of are so many languages, forms of wor- with opium. Soon it is addicted, and it
ists —the power of the Hindu right, religious conflicts within democra- Muslims in Gujrat (What Really Hap- ship, castes, the country is vast, so there returns every day.”
led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), cies around the world. The author — a pened at Godhra) the author observes: is also regional tradition. So, in all this Expounding further on the mo-
has been growing, threatening India’s well-informed outsider and a friend of “Both theories of the crime should diversity it is only intense patriotism dus operandi of brainwashing young
secular democracy and jeopardizing India — looks inside India and builds have been dispassionately investigated. for the Land which can unite us… kids, the author states: “So in this lo-
coexistence by seeking the subordina- a powerful profile of Hindu right and They were not, because a panic against The Islamic identity everywhere in the cal branch: boys have so much fun
tion of other religious groups espe- its rage against foreign conquests. The Muslims had been successfully spread world is a disruptive and separatist ide- that they don’t mind what the teachers
cially Muslims — who are labelled as author presents her narrative — cov- by political forces. Now that the inves- ology. You see that all over the world. want to teach. Lalit, the most appeal-
troublemakers and alien polluters, who ering a wide spectrum of topics — in tigation has been completed by two in- I am not aware of any country; where ing of the three instructors—possibly
need to be purged at all costs to attain ten chapters: 1. Genocide in Gujarat 2. dependent groups, the overwhelming- the Muslims have been able to live in because of his sense of humor and
a “pure” India. The Hindu extremism The Human Face of the Hindu Right 3. ly more likely story is that negligence peaceful coexistence with non-Mus- certain lightness of touch—observes,
and exclusivity pose a serious threat to Tagore, Gandhi, Nehru 4. A Democ- and accident were the primary causes. lims. Do you know of any country?” ‘You can teach a lot of things to young
peace and harmony in South Asia. racy of Pluralism, Respect, Equality 5. It has proven very difficult to secure In chapter titled “Tagore, Gan- kids, like what the RSS is about, the
Martha C. Nussbaum is the Ernst The Rise of the Hindu Right 6. Fanta- justice for the victims of Gujarat. So dhi, Nehru” the author comparing the problems facing the nation, and those
Freund Distinguished Service Profes- sies of Purity and Domination 7. The many witnesses to the crimes were strengths of three “founders” observes: created by the Congress Party. So, you
sor of Law and Ethics, appointed in the Assault on History 8. The Education themselves killed; so many delays oc- “Ultimately I shall argue that India’s have many things.’ They begin, he says,
Law School and Philosophy Depart- Wars 9. The Diaspora Community, and curred in the registering of complaints strength as a democrat owes much to by playing a lot of tiring games to get
ment. She received her BA from NYU, 10. The Clash Within. and the taking down of evidence; so each of the three men: to Tagore’s pre- the boys ready for control…. The boys
and her MA and PhD from Harvard. Describing her faith and interest in many victims had lost their homes and scient and sub thought about religious turn to politics. ‘Whom does Kashmir
Professor Nussbaum has taught at India, the author states: “(I am a ratio- moved away from the area. Added to pluralism, his development of a school belong to?’ Instructors. ‘To us,’ shout
Harvard University, Brown Univer- nalistic Reform Jew who thinks of the these difficulties was the widespread that focused on critical thinking and the boys, giggling. ‘Whom does It be-
sity, and Oxford University. She is the moral law as the core of what religion use of fire, which destroyed most of the the development of sympathy, and cre- long to?’ ‘To us,’ they shout louder. And
recipient of three of the world’s most is about.) My interest in India began forensic evidence that might have been ation of a “public poetry” in which to should a temple be built at Ayodhya,
significant awards for humanities and in 1986 during my work with Amartya gathered…The national BJP govern- embody the vision of a pluralistic vi- displacing the mosque that is currently
social science — the Kyoto Prize in Sen, and the passion for justice that has ment made no effort to conduct a se- sion; to Gandhi’s passionate egalitari- there? ‘Yes,’ says one boy, ‘it should be
Arts and Philosophy (2016), the Berg- animated Sen’s career is also the motive rious investigation into the crimes and anism, his rhetorical brilliance, and his built and there should be unity. There
gruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture that leads me to love India. My first writ- repeatedly refused calls for Modi’s res- compelling critique of the desire for shouldn’t be a mosque there.’ ‘The
(2018), and the Holberg Prize (2021). ing on India was an article co-authored ignation, even after the electoral defeat domination; and to Nehru’s practical Muslims already have a mosque,’ adds
Professor Nussbaum is a pro- with Sen, concerning cultural traditions’ of May 2004. Gujarat has been called a political vision, his personal integrity another boy. Kali agrees that the temple
lific writer. She has authored/edited internal self-criticism. Sen’s own interest ‘blot’ and a ‘blemish,’ but the killings as a lead and his (qualified) embrace should be built, ‘because we are united
twenty-one books and published over in India’s traditions of criticism, rational have never been given the strong moral of a non-Gandhian yet still egalitarian, in this, we worship the Lord’ (that is,
500 articles. Her major works include: debate, and public deliberation shaped and legal condemnation they deserve.” modernity. All three rightly saw the Rama). Already they have learned
The Fragility of Goodness: Luck and my own relationship to India from the Reflecting on her talk with De- “clash” that the new democracy faced about a unity that excludes. Now we
Ethics in Greek Tragedy and Philoso- first, as did my deep ties to the culture vendra Swarup, RSS Scholar, the au- as one among groups of different sorts see one of the instructors take the oath
phy (1986 & 2000); Love’s Knowledge of Santiniketan and the legacy of Rabi- thor notes: “Swarup and I talk about within the society, as well among dif- of RSS membership…”
(1990); Poetic Justice (1996); For Love ndranath Tagore—not to mention my many aspects of Indian politics and ferent desires and tendencies within The author notes that India has
of Country (1996); Cultivating Hu- long engagement with the energy and Constitutional history, but a focus on the individual self.” been far more fortunate than Pakistan
manity: A Classical Defense of Reform creativity of the Indian women’s move- the danger posed by Muslims rapidly Commenting on the faults of the in the caliber of the people it elevated
in Liberal Education (1997); Women ment. As a young girl, I was ill at ease emerges. Like Shastri, he insists that three founders, the author states: “In to power, and also very shrewd in its
and Human Development (2000); Up- with my elite WASP heritage, which Hindutva is not a race-based ideol- each, however, one can locate faults choices, furthermore, the education
heavals of Thought: The Intelligence traced its origins to the Mayflower… ogy but rather a cultural one, “rooted that help explain the rise and limited system in India should not be based
of Emotions (2001); Liberty of Con- Just as I converted to Judaism, married in patriotism, in spiritual value, mid success of the Hindu right. Tagore’s on rote learning and BJP’s politically
science: In Defense of America’s Tradi- a Jew, and joined the cause of the un- in character building,” values that, in educational experiments, so crucial for authored textbooks, rather they should
tion of Religious Equality (2008); The derdog in my own country, and just as his view, must be transmitted through a budding democracy, failed to spread promote critical thinking.
New Religious Intolerance: Overcom- I take delight in the comparative noisi- a participatory movement, because outside Bengal, in part because of his The Clash Within — Democracy,
ing the Politics of Fear in an Anxious ness and emotional openness of Ameri- they can be learned only behaviorally own unwillingness to delegate leader- Religious Violence, and India’s Future
Age (2012); The Monarchy of Fear: A can Jewish culture, so too I am sure that and “through contact.” The basic RSS ship to others. Gandhi’s repudiation by Professor Martha Nussbaum is an
Philosopher Looks at Our Political my passion for India (and particularly idea, he says, is to live not for one’s own of modernity led to no constructive important work that negates Samuel
Crisis (2018); and The Cosmopolitan for Bengali culture) reflects a similar group, but “for some higher group of economic program, and his asceticism P. Huntington’s thesis of ‘clash of civi-
Tradition: A Noble but Flawed Ideal enthusiasm for the colonial underdog; humanity for my nation, for mankind, led to a vision of gender relations that lizations’ and builds a case for “clash of
(2019); and Justice for Animals: Our for the freedom struggle, which I cel- and I’m ready to gradually sacrifice was not helpful in forging an inclusive cultures and religions within a coun-
Collective Responsibility (2022). ebrate enthusiastically every August 15; my personal and family interest for a democracy. Nehru economic policies try,” and presents an in-depth analysis
The author notes that during the and, very significantly, for the emotional bigger cause . . . This comes from an often come in for criticism, and some of democracy and religious extremism
last three decades many academics openness and sheer love of talk that I as- intense feeling of patriotism. In RSS of this criticism is justified. A deeper in contemporary India. It is an essen-
have focused on the theme of “clash sociate with Indian (perhaps especially methodology patriotism was the key fault, however, has less frequently been tial read for students of history as well
of civilizations” — but they failed to Bengali) social life.” point . . . You see in this country there discussed. His disdain for religion, as general readers.
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