DISASTER B H A Disaster Relief and the RSS: Resurrecting 'Religion' through T T Humanitarianism studies the political implications of the A C humanitarian work of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) by H RELIEF and examining the institution of seva (service) in disaster situations. A R This book provides a refreshingly new perspective of the RSS by J E recognizing its ‘compassionate’ aspects and understanding its E appeal from the point of view of its benefactors. It examines the tHE RSS religious, moral, intellectual and instrumental heritage of seva D and discusses the possible reasons for its continual resurrection I S in modern India. A S By highlighting the under-analysed aspects of the moral T complexity of evaluating the RSS’s humanitarian work, the book E Resurrecting 'Religion' provokes the larger question of whether there is a need to move R beyond the stereotypical understanding of Hindutva as a R through Humanitarianism challenge to liberal democratic principles. It attempts to nudge E the reader towards some of the limitations of the ‘secular’ and L I the repercussions of the political project of secularism to E F suppress and de-recognize the non-secular experience. a n d Malini Bhattacharjee is Assistant Professor at t Azim Premji University in Bengaluru. H E R S S `850 ISBN 978-93-532-8551-7 MALINI BHATTACHARJEE 9 789353 285517 Disaster Relief and the RSS Disaster Relief and the RSS Resurrecting 'Religion' through Humanitarianism MALINI BHATTACHARJEE Copyright © Malini Bhattacharjee, 2019 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. First published in 2019 by SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd B1/I-1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044, India www.sagepub.in SAGE Publications Inc 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, California 91320, USA SAGE Publications Ltd 1 Oliver’s Yard, 55 City Road London EC1Y 1SP, United Kingdom SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd 18 Cross Street #10-10/11/12 China Square Central Singapore 048423 Published by Vivek Mehra for SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd. Typeset in 10/12.5 pt Stone Serif by Zaza Eunice, Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available ISBN: 978-93-532-8551-7 (HB) SAGE Team: Rajesh Dey, Safia Hassan and Rajinder Kaur For Ma, Baba and Sub My Home in the World Thank you for choosing a SAGE product! If you have any comment, observation or feedback, I would like to personally hear from you. Please write to me at [email protected] Vivek Mehra, Managing Director and CEO, SAGE India. 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Contents List of Illustrations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �ix List of Abbreviations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �xi Glossary of Terms � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � xiii Preface� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � xv Acknowledgements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � xix Introduction� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1 Chapter I� Disaster Relief in India: ‘Religious’, ‘Secular’ and Those ‘in Between’ � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �28 Chapter II� Unpacking a Homonym: Seva and Its Multiple Meanings � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �54 Chapter III� ‘Nation Building’ through Seva � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �79 Chapter IV� Seva after the ‘Super Cyclone’: The Case of UBSS in Odisha� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �108 Chapter V� Building a ‘Hindu’ Rashtra in Post-Earthquake Kutch� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �141 Conclusion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �174 Bibliography � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �196 Index � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �227 About the Author � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �237 viii Disaster Relief and the RSS List of Illustrations Figures 3.1 Organizational Chain of Command for Implementing Seva Activities in the RSS 100 4.1 Political Map of Odisha 110 4.2 Jashoda Sadan, Cuttack 128 4.3 UBSS Cyclone Shelter in Narua, Jagatsinghpur, Odisha 130 4.4 Keshab Dham in Gatirout Patna, Cuttack 131 4.5 Keshab Dham Memorial Plaque 132 4.6 Cardboard Standees of Religious, Nationalist and Hindu Nationalist Heroes in the Auditorium of Keshab Dham, Gatirout Patna, Cuttack 133 4.7 Sprawling Campus of UBSS Office, Bhubaneswar 135 4.8 Plaque Showing Details of UBSS Inauguration 136 4.9 A Balmiki Shiksha Yojana in Cuttack 137 5.1 Political Map of Gujarat 143