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Why Bharat Jodo Yatra Shouldn’t be Seen in Terms of Immediate Votes

Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd

By November 2, Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, by then 55 days old, had covered about 45 per cent of its targeted distance, as it went through Telangana. The yatra started on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and is expected to end in Kashmir, covering 3500 km.

It is a marathon walk in which hundreds of people have joined Rahul. Thousands throng the roadsides to meet and greet the Congress leader.

I joined him to wish the yatra well on the outskirts of Hyderabad on the evening of November 2. The march was on the way to Sangareddy. It was a spectacle to see. There were thousands of people—women, men, and children—lining either side of the road with enthusiasm to catch a glimpse of Rahul, click photos on their phones and, if possible, meet him. The security was so tight that nobody could reach him unless he himself broke the security cardon and reached out.

Rahul’s motive

Many are comparing this south-to-north padayatra to Adi Shankara’s journey in the 8th century to spread Shaivism, and also casteism, with a determined plan to uproot Buddhism from India. In my 20-minute discussion with him as I walked alongside, I realised that Rahul’s motive was the opposite of Adi Shankara’s.

This padayatra is meant to free present India from fear. Various sections of India, not just minorities like Muslims and Christians, are fear-stricken about what might happen to the Indian democracy, to the Constitution our great founding fathers and mothers put in place, with equal rights for every individual.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which was opposed to this kind of democratic system—and also to the Constitution—in the 1940s and 1950s, is not only ruling but deploying very suspicious methods to rule India. Somebody must emerge as a moral leader to change this political atmosphere and give confidence to the masses, who are fear-stricken.

Message of fearless India

Before Rahul’s long march, two great Indians walked at length on this land to spread the idea of freedom, equality, and fearlessness. The first was Gautam Buddha. He roamed the eastern part of India on foot to spread the idea of samata, non-violence, and human equality. He established egalitarian sanghas without caring for caste inequalities. Dr BR Ambedkar re-invoked the Buddha in our freedom struggle with great legal wisdom and positive will and institutionalised a modern democratic constitutional system.

The second was Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle. He walked 350 km to initiate a salt satyagraha. He combined this long walk with spreading his ideology of non-violence and self-rule.

Rahul has undertaken this long march with a positive message of fearless India after 75 years of India’s freedom from the British. The ruling RSS-BJP nationalism is built on the ideology of communal violence. LK Advani, the real builder of the present BJP, also undertook a Rath Yatra from Somnath temple to Ayodhya Babri Masjid in 1990 to oppose the Mandal reservation movement. En route, a lot of violence was deployed.

Rahul’s padayatra is totally the opposite of that Rath Yatra in character and message.

History’s winners and losers

On several occasions in human history, violent forces had decisive victories. But finally, human society survived and developed with the spread of non-violence, peace, and the philosophy of love and human equality.

Even Jesus Christ undertook a lot of foot travel from one end of Israel to the other, from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem, spreading the idea of peace and non-violence. He was brutally crucified. But that did not make him a loser in history. He became a winner, and murderers became losers in the long run. The ideology of hatred and bigotry cannot make positive history.

History did not care whether the agents of peace and human equality came from a dynasty of rulers or from among the poor and destitute. In human history, brutal killers came from royal families and so did great humanists. History has also shown us brutal dictators who came from very ordinary middle-class families without any record of political rule and destroyed nations. Hitler and Mussolini did not come from ruling dynasties. They came from very ordinary middle-class families, in Germany and Italy, respectively. We know what they did to their countries and the world.

In our own country, the Buddha came from a ruling family and became a great agent of peace, non-violence, and equality. King Ashoka came from a ruling dynasty and lived a very violent life until he became a Buddhist. But afterwards, he became a great Buddhist agent of peace, non-violence, and positive welfare state.

Mahatma Gandhi came from a Kathiawar ruling Bania family and became an agent of non-violence. Ambedkar came from the most “untouchable” family background, owned the Buddhist-Ashokan vision, and became the father of the Indian Constitution. Now, Indians in a big way own the Buddha-Ashoka-Ambedkar heritage in many spheres of life.

No hunger for power

Rahul has so far not shown any hunger for power. He could have become the Prime Minister in 2009 had he been hell bent on the position. He did not even opt for a Cabinet berth at that time. He could have continued as the party president after the 2019 elections. Or, he could have become that anytime later. He did not.

Yet, he was attacked, humiliated, and called names such as Pappu, Baba, Prince, and so on. His most docile mother, who never held a government office, was attacked in abusive language many times. Recently, both were interrogated by the Enforcement Directorate for several days.

All this did not go down well with millions of Indian masses. The people’s sympathy for Rahul comes from several such sources.

In this background, Rahul’s longest padayatra in modern Indian history gives a feeling of hope to millions of Indians and also foreigners, who respect human equality, human rights, and constitutionalism.

South Indian states are under attack by the present RSS/BJP regime, with the threat to impose Hindi and eliminate English from school and college education. There is a subtle opposition to South Indian advancement by the present Delhi regime, as it is North-centred.

Rahul’s position on English and Hindi is opposed to their position. He went to English-medium schools and colleges in India and abroad. He understands the avenues that are open to the future youth with English education, without giving up the home language learning.

There is no doubt that Rahul is the only Indian who has visibility within the country and outside with respect for human rights. This padayatra may reshape his role in the Indian socio-political system.

What Congress wants

He is a Congress leader. The Congress forces expect him to bring them to power in Delhi, and also in the states through which he is walking.

However, Bharat Jodo Yatra should not be seen from the point of view of immediate votes and power. The RSS/BJP remained outside power till the 1990s and spread their ideology. Now, they are in power, controlling every national institution.

The Congress, with a moral leader within, should work for a long time to undo the hate and fear-generating atmosphere created in the recent past.

Rahul and his team must learn and unlearn things by speaking to the productive and labouring masses in the different states. But ultimately, it is the people who make new history by changing the old one.

Bharat Joto Yatra is historic in many ways. It should achieve the objective of eliminating hatred, bigotry, and fear in civil society. It should embolden people to protect Indian democracy and the Constitution.

(Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd is a political theorist, social activist, and author. Courtesy: The Federal, a digital platform disseminating news, analysis and commentary; it seeks to look at India from the perspective of the states with special focus on the south.)

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MP: Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra Touches a Chord With Marginalised Sections

Kashif Kakvi

Bhopal: Nirmala Bai, 48, a dalit from Khargone’s Maniyar village, uprooted her cotton crop sowed in a one acre field to make space to set up camps for Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

For Nirmala, who is feeling the pinch of inflation, the Yatra is a ray of hope that may unite the country paving the way for Congress to return to power and put an end to the skyrocketing inflation and price rise. She believes that Congress’ policies are more inclined toward marginalised sections rather than the current dispensation.

Nirmala, who would have earned over Rs 50,000 from that crop, said: “Desh aur samvidhan bachega to khub aise fasal uga lenge.” (If the country and the Constitution is saved, I can grow more of this crop again)

The Bharat Jodo Yatra got a grand welcome as it entered Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur on November 23 — a Muslim-dominated city. The following day, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi visited the village of tribal freedom fighter Tantya Bhil in Khandwa eyeing the 21% tribals in the state. The next day, he performed Narmada aarti and visited Omkareshwar temple before reaching Mhow, the birthplace of Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

However, the Yatra got a lukewarm response in Khandwa and Khargone as it passed only the outskirts of these districts to reach Mhow on the evening of November 26, that also marked the Constitution Day for India.

At the memorial of BR Ambedkar, Rahul Gandhi was joined by newly appointed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge — one of the tallest dalit leaders of the Congress party, who administered an oath to protect the Constitution to the crowd.

“From Kerala to Madhya Pradesh, the Yatra’s route was modified only once, to reach Mhow on Constitution Day,” said Rahul Gandhi in Mhow.

In four days of the Yatra, Gandhi did seem to touch a chord with Muslims, tribals and dalits, who account for 43-44 % of the state’s population. He spoke about inflation, unemployment caused by GST (goods and services tax) and demonetisation, hike in petroleum and LPG price. Simultaneously, in light of ongoing issues, he made a scathing attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh– the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Apart from reviving the party cadre, the former Congress president has been attacking BJP’s ideology and its ideologue, the RSS.

Addressing tribals in Khandwa, Rahul Gandhi attacked RSS and BJP for calling adivasi (original inhabitants) as ‘vanvasi’ (forest dwellers) and demanded an apology. He referred to the “relations” between RSS and the British Raj while referring to the martyrdom of Tantya Bhil, who was hanged by the British.

In Mhow, the Congress leader spoke about the Constitution and its importance. He targeted the RSS for not hoisting the national flag for decades after the Independence. Attacking BJP and RSS, he said: “They worship BR Ambedkar but oppose his Constitution. They worship Gandhi who gave a message of non-violence and to be fearless but spread hatred and violence. RSS peeth mein chura ghopne ka kaam karti hai, samne se waar nahi karti,” (RSS has always been a back-stabber) he said Mhow.

“This is not a political but an ideological Yatra,” said Chauleshwar Chandrakar, one of the nine permanent yatris from Chhattisgarh, old NewsClick. He said he has been walking with Gandhi from the inception of the yatra in Kanyakumari told Newslick.

A day after Gandhi made a scathing attack on BJP over ‘adivasi’ and ‘vanvasi’ in Khandwa, a video of the Yatra tweeted by the BJP IT Cell in-charge sparked a controversy. Sharing a video, he alleged that slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ were raised in the Yatra and attacked Congress for being “anti-national.”

In response, Congress rebuffed the allegations and warned of legal action. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan too threatened action in a tweet.

The following day, Congress lodged an FIR in Raipur’s Civil Line police station against BJP’s state media in-charge Lokendra Prashar under five sections of the IPC for tweeting a doctored video. A day later, the Bhopal Crime Branch lodged an FIR under the same sections of the IPC against two Congress functionaries, Piyush Babele and Abhay Tiwari.

After walking almost 24-km a day and meeting members of various social groups, individuals, associations and community leaders, Gandhi emphasising that he was walking to listen to the ‘mann ki baat’ of citizens instead of his own.

At the end of each day of the Yatra, Gandhi addresses a gathering for 15-20 minutes where he explains the reason for carrying out Yatra and its significance. He also criticises the policies of the Union government which have “cast a shadow on common citizens.”

To convey his points effectively, he often switches off his mic during the speech to draw attention to the biased approach of the media and the BJP government which had “stifled the voices” of the Opposition. After switching off the mic for nearly 15 to 20 seconds when the public begins to complain, mistaking it as a technical snag, he switches on the mic, saying: “This is what happens when the Opposition tries to raise your voice in Parliament. They switch off our mics like I just demonstrated.”

Gandhi’s speech also dwells on how media is being :throttled” from highlighting the plight of people, how they (the ruling regime) control autonomous institutions including the highest court in the country, and how dissent is being quelled by “misusing” central agencies against the Opposition and dissenters.

“Those critical of the ruling government and its policies are framed in FIRs. Left without option, we started the Yatra to unite people, convey our messages and draw public support,” he said.

As Yatra entered Khandwa district on November 24, a man aged over 60, walking alongside the Yatra with a bunch of farmers, was heard saying that he gave his youth to the Congress. But after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and the subsequent fight for the succession, drove him away from the party. With time, he inclined towards the BJP in the elections.

The farmer, who was walking with his sons, grandsons and a bunch of villagers, in a white turban, was heard explaining to other yatris how Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra had “awakened his inner consciousness to return to his roots.”

Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Indore and Ujjain — where the Yatra has passed — all fall under the Malwa-Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh, an RSS stronghold. The Malwa-Nimar region accounts for 66 of the 230 seats in the Assembly and is also communally sensitive with a history of communal riots.

Out of nine Assembly seats of Burhanpur, Khandwa and Khargone that the Yatra crossed, five have been won by the ruling BJP, three by Congress and one by an independent candidate.

Speaking on the importance of the Yatra in a polarised district like Khandwa, Deepak Arjare (48), manager of a well-known city restaurant, observed: “Despite all odds, Congress is getting traction on the Yatra. It is crossing the outskirts of Khandwa, yet, people are curious to listen issues being raised by Rahul Gandhi. As far as polarisation is concerned, they (Congress) are not leaving any stone unturned to woo Hindu voters as well.”

He further said, “The Yatra is an overhaul of Congress and Rahul Gandhi. With this yatra, Gandhi will understand the internal politics of the party, weaknesses of the party and issues of the states he is passing through. This will help him strengthen the party’s top leadership.”

When asked about the ‘Brand Rahul Gandhi’ against ‘Brand Narendra Modi’, he said: “I have been following this yatra for a long time. Gandhi is overcoming the image of a non-serious politician. He takes strong decisions like Modi and pulls crowds as well. Like Modi, he has learnt to attack the Opposition parties with their own weapons, like he attacked BJP for calling ‘adivasis’ as ‘vanvasis’. He looks more sensitive and kinder than Modi.”

When Yatra was camping at Khargone’s Mortakka village on November 25, a debate broke out at midnight at a restaurant, nearly 100 meters away from the camp, between the staff of the tea stall and police officers. It began when a customer sought their opinion over the impact of Yatra, they began talking about price rise, LPG, inflation, costly electricity and others.

Hearing this, the utensil cleaner of the restaurant, Ravi (40) started speaking about notebandi, lockdown and price rise. The officials were concerned over the future of their children as education was getting costlier and the job market was shrinking. “The Yatra has created a momentum. If Congress manages to maintain it, we can witness a big change in Madhya Pradesh,” said a 50-year-old transport officer from Khandwa, who was on duty there.

In one of the events, a Congress veteran, who was addressing a small group of workers, was heard explaining the BJP government’s privatisation and inflation drive linking it with one of the strategies of Chambal’s dacoits.

A Congress veteran from Bhind — infamous for dacoits in the 1990s, said: “In Chambal, when dacoits plan to loot the wealth of the villagers without spilling blood, they first organised a dance party (known as Bai ka Naach) on the outskirts of the village. When all the men and women gathered at the event, they sneaked out and ran away with all the wealth. PM Modi is doing the same to the country by pitching one community against another using media and social media and slowly selling off the nation’s wealth to his industrialist friends and party leaders.”

After Omkareshwar, on November 29, Gandhi offered puja at Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga — the second Jyotirlinga of the state.

Before visiting Mahakal Temple, he visited Jain Muni Swami Praygya Sagarji Maharaj and spent almost 30 minutes there.

Addressing a rally after his temple visit, Gandhi said: “All gods of Hindu dharma have done tapasya (penance). There is no match of tapasya of Lord Shiva, Krishna and Ram. But the country has more tapasvis and they are labourers, farmers, shopkeepers, students, etc., but they are getting nothing from the government. Those who are worshiping Modi are getting all.”

Ujjain and Indore districts, where the Yatra has witnessed an overwhelming response, have 16 Assembly seats. The BJP has the bulk of nine seats while Congress has won seven seats in the 2018 Assembly elections.

Speaking over the impact of Yatra, an Indore-based businessman Dhananjay Aggawal said: “It’s true that Yatra is getting public attention and people are listening to the new avatar of Rahul Gandhi. Whether the crowd in the yatra translates into votes or not, only time will tell. But the Yatra will strengthen the party and its cadres and the Opposition in the country.”

Overwhelmed by the response in Indore and Ujjain, Gandhi said: “When I started from Kerala, I presumed that we will not see such response in other states. But Maharashtra took the lead on Kerala. Now I can say, what I saw in Indore and other parts of Madhya Pradesh is more overwhelming.”

The last leg of the Yatra will pass through Agar Malwa district before entering Rajasthan’s Jhalawad on December 4.

(Courtesy: Newsclick.)