Varghese Theckanath S.G.
Montfort Social Institute (MSI), Hyderabad

The BJP has captured the whole country, especially the Hindi heart-land. What does it mean?
The immediate thought that comes to my mind is that the traditional, liberal, political discourse will have little space in the overall political discourse of the country. Although we have been brought up in that tradition, something has gone wrong in the overall context of people’s participation. So, if the constitutional values still protect us, then we need to serve the government. In that context, there are a few things that we need to take very seriously. Firstly, nationalism: the freedom movement was based on nationalism, and nationalism has once again played a very important role in the present context. But the concept of nationalism has been taken over by a group that never supported the national freedom movement. Now they have usurped it. Nationalism in itself is still important and relevant. We have to rethink what nationalism means if want to see India survive. The second is religion: we have two contrasting inspirational sources; one is Gandhi and the other is Nehru. Gandhi was very spiritual, but, Nehru was basically an agnostic. In the freedom movement, there was a coming together of these two – very spiritual discourse and liberal thinking. This religious thinking has been upheld at least for fifty years and it means a lot to the people. Now again that religious, spiritual element has been taken over by another force altogether and they are harvesting the fruits of it. Now we think again of a new India, which we want to build. We need to take religion and spirituality seriously. But how should that be articulated? This is again a huge challenge that remains before the minorities. The third element is a rational scientific mind. The Nehruvian legacy was a scientific rationalism that was mirrored in the Constitution, and this is what is being challenged by the Hindutva forces. Rational enquiry and an argumentative minds are a part of the Indian identity. It may have been hijacked by some group. This is something that we need to defend and re-articulate. That will obviously involve a lot of suffering for the minorities, dalits, tribals and all marginalized people. The current trend is one of hegemony of the dominant flock over the country.

Is it some sort of Ghar Vapsi, return to the old things?
Yeah, the society is extremely stratified, inspired by the Manu concept of return to ancient traditions, where society was organized according to castes. I think we need to create a new future by re-capturing the three element of nationalism, religion and science and rational mindset. I think our country will make a comeback in a new form and a new shape. But it will take time. Ultimately, people know how to mobilize religious sentiments and patriotism around this. We need to re-imagine, re-invent and re-articulate nationalism to the people.

Do you think the Constitution of India will remain intact?
It will suffer. The Constitution will not be touched or will be marginally touched. But they will circumvent it and destroy its spirit to a great extent. So we need to find new ways of understanding and re-articulating our Constitutional values; we need to find new expressions. Finally, listen to the people.

Subramanian Swamy has said the BJP should not turn to dictatorship. What is its implication?
Subramanian Swamy is only occasionally rational, and at one of those occasions he said this. In the present context, you don’t need to declare dictatorship. The minds of the people, especially of the youth in the north have been captured. Now people are mesmerised by Narendra Modi, who is hailed as a figure that symbolizes national pride and strength. We have heard of a golden past, and that golden past is coming back. This is the feeling that seems to be spreading even the minds of the ordinary people. So dictatorship is spreading unannounced. How to counter it is the biggest challenge.

What should be our response as Christians in such a situation?
There is now a dominant feeling in the country that some people need to be taught a lesson, definitely the Muslims and the Christians. This is taught not by bloodthirsty people. You will find it if you dig a little deep into people who associate with us very closely, especially the upper caste. There seems to be a thinking pattern that the minorities should be shown their place. Modi is able to do that. So, let us give him a chance. I think we need to re-examine our own experiences and our own role. In the north, there are mostly dalits who are left with no option, but in the south we have our tradition of pride that we carry along. But Christians face a risk to their life. I am speaking of ordinary Christian dalits and tribals who reside in the villages. I have been following them very closely. For example, in Kandhamal they all have left their villages. We have to be realistic. Perhaps we can no more rely on the protection that the state, the constitution, the legal mechanisms and the law and order mechanisms offered us upto now. Basically, people of good will survive. Our own institutions has given us so much of power. We have veritably educated the country. All that is being rubbished. We need to build new mechanisms and new institutions. Now we have to re-think on who we should be with, on the burdens that we must share. Re-think on what we want to be and where we want to go. I am not really clear where we should place ourselves and how we will do that. But the traditional mechanisms we relied on have got exhausted even in Kerala and Goa. The time has indeed come for us to re-assess our traditional operational mechanisms.