Power Gurus and Hindutva : "The Week" story

Here is my letter to The Week, regarding their recent cover story "The Power Gurus" .

Dear Editor,

Whatever maybe the motives behind this cover story, please accept my compliments for such a wide coverage. Your story will serve to highligh the need for Hindu Gurus to be concerned not just about the Hindu religion and spirituality, but also the challenges, pains and aspirations of the Hindu society. Needs that cover politics as well as social reforms. This time around, such "alerts" will not make the Gurus and their followers to move away from the social mobilization, as many in the "secular" side would wish, but will hopefully serve as further impetus to get deeper and broader into it.

The interview with Mata Amritanandamayi is a gem. Thank you for publishing the full text version as well. To a leading question on the difference between Hinduism and Hindutva, her answer ".. selflessly serving one's nation and its people is Hindutva" conveys a divine blessing and reassurance for countless Hindutva activists across the world, including those inside and outside the Sangh Parivar.

The perspective of Koenraad Elst that Hindutva does find very many vibrant experssions and is not just confined to the grand old, elephantine organisation called RSS is very refreshing. RSS leadership should take his harsh criticism in the right sprit, as a doctor's prescription, as Elst, the author of "Decolonizing the Hindu mind" deeply knows the symptoms of the diseases that ail the self alienated Hindu society.

Thanks,
Jataayu