Mangaluru: Prof. Anand Teltumbe on Friday said that the ‘Modi brigade’, which has been functioning ever since the parliament elections, has been ‘scapegoating’ the marginalized in the name of Nationalism’.
He was delivering the key note address in a two-day UGC-sponsored national seminar on “Nationalism as a ‘Religion’: Trends in India”.
He further said Hindutva ideology is strategically deemphasized by the Modi brigade in order to strengthen their stronghold on all the democratic institutions so that Hindu Nationalism may be firmly established within this country.
“The symbolism and institutions of the Brahminical Hinduism is successfully used by these groups with the promise of restoring the lost ‘imagined glory’ of ‘Bharat’. Thus, it tries to hide the fact that it was the caste system and the related socio-economic evils that weakened the development of this country in the past. This is made possible by ‘scapegoating’ the weaker sections and using propaganda and surveillance over human rights activists.
He also pointed out that the dynamics of Nationalism even in this decade is spearheaded by the upper caste and upper class elite to serve the agenda of dominance of Hindutva and neoliberal forces.
In the technical session, Prof. R. Shashidhar from the Department of English, Mangalore University, speaking on the topic “The Dialectic between Nationalism and Religion”, argued that “the question of religion was central to the process of building and establishing Nationalism all through Indian history. However, it needs to be recognized that the nationalist movement was fragmentary and diverse in nature. Hence, it is essential to develop new concepts and methods for countering all the versions of Hindu Nationalism that is holding back progress and development of this country”.
Dr. John C. Miranda, Principal of the College, welcomed the gathering. Dr. Victor E. Vaz, Organizing Secretary of the Seminar presented the rationale of the Seminar. Dr. Thomas G.M, proposed vote of thanks. Yogindra B. and Vishwith Shetty compeered.
Apart from the seven Plenary Sessions, thirty delegates are expected to present papers on various sub-themes in parallel sessions. Around 200 delegates comprising academics, activists, research scholars and students are taking part in the two days National Seminar.
