Pranab Mukherjee at RSS Event in Nagpur: Intolerance Will Lead to Dilution of Our National Identity

Pranab Mukherjee accepting the invite from the RSS generated a lot of interest as well as political controversy, with Congress leaders urging him not to attend the event in the “interest of secularism”.

Nagpur, Jun 7: Former President Pranab Mukherjee attended the concluding function of ‘Tritiya Varsh Varg’ and addressed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members at its headquarters in Reshimbagh, Nagpur on Thursday. In his address, Pranab Mukherjee said he arrived to define concepts of nation, nationalism and patriotism in the context of India.

“I am here amongst you to share my understanding with you of the concepts of nation, nationalism and patriotism in the context of India,” Mukherjee said. He spoke about ancient institutions of India that attracted students from outside as well, and touched upon about various international travellers who came to India in ancient times.

“Our national identity has emerged after a long drawn process of confluence and assimilation, the multiple cultures and faiths make us special and tolerant,” Mukherjee said at RSS’s Tritiya Varsh event in Nagpur. “Any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogma and identities or religion, region, hatred and intolerance will only lead to dilution of our identity,” he added.

Speaking on the power of tolerance, Pranab Mukherjee said, “We accept and respect our pluralism and celebrate our diversity. Our national identity has emerged after a long drawn process of confluence and assimilation, the multiple cultures and faiths make us special and tolerant.” “If we indulge in hatred and discrimination, then there’s threat to our identity,” he added.

Expressing his view on Indian nationalism, Mukherjee recalled what Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said on the sensitive issue. He said: “Indian nationalism emanated from universalism, assimilation and co-existence. As Gandhiji explained Indian nationalism was not exclusive nor aggressive nor destructive. It was this very nationalism that Pandit Nehru so vividly expressed in the book ‘Discovery of India’, he wrote, “I am convinced that nationalism can only come out of the ideological fusion of Hindu, Muslims, Sikhs and other groups in India.”

Ahead of his address, Mukherjee visited RSS founder KB Hedgewar’s birthplace in Nagpur. He was welcomed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. “Today, I came here to pay my respect and homage to a great son of Mother India,” Mukherjee wrote in visitor’s book.

Mukherjee accepting the invite from the RSS generated a lot of interest as well as political controversy, with Congress leaders urging him not to attend the event in the “interest of secularism”. Despite the reservations expressed by the Congress leaders, Mukherjee went ahead to attend the event. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram had urged him to take the opportunity to tell the RSS what is wrong with their ideology.

While Congress leaders expressed unhappiness over his acceptance, the BJP and the Sangh saw nothing wrong in it. Mukherjee, 82, worked closely with former prime minister Indira Gandhi as well as Rajiv Gandhi. He was the finance minister in the UPA-II government headed by former prime minister Manmohan Singh. Mukherjee demitted office of President in July last year.