Sometimes, a little motivational thought or slogan becomes so efficacious and strong, no one can imagine its coming impact. To substantiate my this statement, I am going to relate an axiomatic event. The event, I witnessed and experienced as a transformer of mind set of millions of million in India, and, around the World. The good number of people, who are properly acquainted with the political cum sociological resurgence in Indian political domain, will agree with me.
The resurgence, which began to take place at the end of the decade of the 1980. To begin with, the Indian political scenario and specifically of Hindu masses. The Hindu masses, about its religious identity, never had been aggressive in the independent India. Rather, they had been administered with the dose of secularism.In the name of secularism, it was taught, religion was a personal choice to be observed inside the premise of house. This dose, made Hindus for a long period, to remain in a dormant state of mind.
By the years of decade of 1980, Indian national Congress, had once again been emerged as a strong political party whole through the span of Indian territory. But side by side, the regional political parties, too, had begun to emerge as a strong participants. And in true sense, the germination of idea of “coalition government” was in process. By the end of the year of 1989, a decaying process of Indian National Party, too, had been initiated. How this decaying was to take shape ,had to be proven by the events of later period of time.
The issue that propped the Hindu’s political party
The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), who at that time claimed herself as the sole political party to protect the interest of Hindu community. Though, it was not in a position to register its efficacious political presence. But, at that time, she was having issue of Lord Rama birth place in Ayodhya, as Rama temple Vs Babri mosque, in hands as a major political agenda. That issue, too was not ably delivering the properly desired result. As a main political party, BJP was to tread with calculative measurements. On the one hand, she was to display herself as a Hindu party, but side by side, too had to maintain its get up of not being a communal one.
Mean while, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) or World Hindus’ Council, as a Hindu Organization snatched this agenda from the hands of BJP. Apparently, it sounded that VHP was an independent organization, but it was blamed as a sister organization of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP.) And, why the the Rama temple issue was not gaining the proper momentum, had the reasons. The common Hindu mindset in itself was bifurcated. In his personal life, when observing the religious rituals, inside the home, Hindus were religious. But, the democratic and secular aspect of political life, were overtaken and greatly impressed by the concept of “secularism.” To them, religion could not be the part and parcel of the political life.
Adamant secularist view point
The genetic code of common Hindus as a secularist, from the beginning had been of such a kind. Because of this mindset, India as the main land of majority of Hindus had suffered a major setback. Never, they came out of their slumber of dormant mindset, for their religious issues. Such a dormant state of mind, we never found in the history of any other civilization. Hindu mindset was so adamant with the concept of “secularism.” So that, he considered everything backward, that was prognostic of Hindu culture. Like, smearing his forehead with dot or sandal paste. Or raise a tuft of hair on the top of the head or to follow the customary Hindu dress code etc. Everything, that assigned the Hindu’s religiousness, he ignored.
Instead, he preferred to wear the Western dress code of pant and shirt, and in his demeanor, adopted all things that was far away from his religious identity. No doubt, inside the house he observed and followed all rituals. But, out in the public life, he was a complete democrat cum secular one. On the contrary, other minority communities used to observe their religious dress code, in this or that way, with a religious proud.
Introduction of ‘classic’ one liner
Then came a small sticker, released by the VHP (World Hindu Council). It introduced this small sticker, as its political cum Socio-religious awakening tool. It was a small sticker, in size of two inches by six inches. This sticker, had a small slogan imprinted upon it, as one liner, ” assert with a proud that I am a Hindu!” When this sticker was introduced, at the initial stage, big shop owners did not show any interest to permit this sticker get pasted on their premises. But, petty shop keepers, kiosk owners assented to get it pasted on their front wall or inside, from where it could catch the attention of visitors. This too was permitted with a mocking gesture, “come on you people of World Hindus’ Council, try your luck; but be sure, it,s not going to generate any viable effect.”
But, when sticker got glued to the front wall, it began to go through the eyes of customers and passerby. At the initial stage, majority of people, who, but natural were secular by their mindset too mocked at the sticker. But, the adhesive of the sticker was so strong that once it got glued to the wall, never, it could be removed from there. Likewise, the same effect it began to create into the mindset of Hindus’ majority.
Gradually, in subconscious mind of Hindu community, this slogan began to occupy a deep place. The name of VHP (World Hindu Council) as convener, too, played an important role. In a slow manner, this one liner began to display its under current. The slogan, ” Assert with proud that I am a Hindu,” generated the grand effect. With in three years of its launching, in the year of 1992 it motivated and helped to resurge the Hindu community. And that to such an extent, in the same year, in a great agitation Babri Mosque got demolished.
The emblematic and iconic impact
This was the first emblematic and iconic impact of this one liner slogan, in the resurgence of the Hindu mindset. Even, as on today, the vital role played by this iconic slogan, yet has not been affirmed by the Bhartiya Janta party. But the VHP (World Hindu Council) kept on alive its this one liner, as the role model of Hindu mindset resurgence forever. Not only this, with the passing of time, it generated such a huge impact. This one liner explicitly or implicitly became an all time classic slogan for Hindu mindset. With an outcome that with in next coming twenty five years, in the year of 2014 it brought the BJP into the central pivotal role. This one liner established the BJP as the party, who was eager to look after the interests of Hindus’community.
This all I am describing upon my own personal experiences, as well as, by having observed the mass people. Further, how this one liner impelled people of Muslim community, that, I too relate from my own witnessed example. I was purchasing green groceries at the green grocery mart of my city as usual. This mart has got vendors of both the communities, Hindus as well as the Muslims. I happened to purchase my green groceries from my Muslim vendor.
As I was on the process busied on his kiosk, a Muslim young man who was an attendant in a near by Mosque, approached him. there, he whispered something into in his ear. Al though, in a proper sense, it was not a whispering sound, for the reason it too filtered into my ears, a little louder it was. He said in Urdu, ” brother, say with proud that you are a Muslim.” When he said this, it made me feel proud, how the duplicate of the original one liner been taken cognizance of. Any how, the vendor seemed to pay no attention to the suggestion, as it was obvious by the nonchalant expressions of his face. He remained busy with me in haggling about the prices of the green grocery. Penned by — Vinay Pharasi…..
