Hindus, Eat Beef and Atone For Your Sins: the New Call of the Parivar

 

Hindus, Eat Beef and Atone For Your Sins: the New Call of the Parivar

Shrikant G. Talageri

 

The BJP Parivar − as I have pointed out so many times before, it is the BJP with its political-power agenda which calls the shots in what people erroneously refer to as the Sangh Parivar − has issued its latest fatwa to its bhakts through the mouth of the person who calls the shots and plays the tune to which millions of swayamsevaks dance: "learn to eat beef and be treated like animals for two hundred years: you deserve it".

https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-quotas-8928819/

At a point of time when Udhayanidhi Stalin of the DMK has called for the uprooting of "Sanatana Dharma"  (another more Sanskritish and scripture-oriented name for mainstream Hinduism) during a Seminar of Breaking India Forces which called for the dismantling of "Sanatana Dharma" (on the lines of the earlier international seminar in the USA on dismantling Hindutva) − in which, incidentally a speaker described Hindu idols in temples (comparing Hindu temples unfavorably with churches and mosques) as "dirty dolls" − and a wave of resentment is sweeping certain wide-awake (as opposed to "woke") sections of Hindus, this fatwa comes as a shot in the arm for these Breaking India Forces. All the facts, data and logic − which shows that all the evils in Hinduism are but a molehill in comparison with the mountain of evils in Christianity and Islam − are swept away by this fatwa. People like J. Sai Deepak who are struggling against the tide of anti-Hindu propaganda and trying to point out the truth, are branded as fools:

https://youtu.be/Eg9M1Oz9NJw?si=O_saUY8GtEHHdITk

Hindutva certainly does not mean ignoring, justifying or glorifying the less savory aspects of Hinduism. I myself have always been an advocate of looking with open and honest eyes at all the scriptures and books (and histories) of all religions, including Hinduism − see my various books and articles like "Karṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira in the Mahabharata" or on Dr. Ambedkar or on tribals (including isolated tribes like the Andamanese). But these attacks from within by the Trojan-Horse Parivar are based on nothing else but greed for more and more votes from new vote-banks (knowing that nothing can shake the foundations of the permanent Bhakt vote banks among Hindus, which will continue to vote for the Parivar even if the Parivar were to open up concentration camps and gas-chambers to torture and gas Hindu activists to death) and for approval-certificates from sections of the breaking-India Forces. In the process, all those fighting for Hinduism on any issue are left looking like idiots!

I had decided not to write anything more on political issues, but it is difficult to remain silent when such blatant attempts are made to destroy the morale of those fighting for Hindu issues at the risk of their lives. I can only hope that the government (after the 2024 elections, of course) does not pass a bill to make it compulsory to serve beef in all government-sponsored midday-meal-schemes for school children, and to make it compulsory for Hindus to make beef a compulsory ingredient in the Prasad offered in all Hindu temples!

APPENDIX ADDED 1 September 2026:

After noticing that the above Indian express news item was no longer visible, I turned to Google Search which always provides an answer (not necessarily always right, but useful to think about).

I asked “Did Mohan Bhagwat ask swayamsewaks to eat beef to atone for past sins against dalits?”

The answer:

“No, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat did not ask swayamsevaks to eat beef to atone for past sins against Dalits. [1]

The claim stems from a distorted interpretation of a speech he delivered in September 2023 regarding caste discrimination, social harmony, and reservations. [, 2]

The Context of the Speech

During an address in Nagpur, Mohan Bhagwat spoke extensively about the 2,000-year history of caste discrimination in India. He noted that upper castes historically neglected underprivileged communities, stating that "we must be prepared to suffer for 200 years" to atone for past injustices and strongly endorsed the continuation of reservations. [1, 2]

The Beef Controversy Explained

While discussing social harmony, Bhagwat narrated an old anecdotal story rather than issuing an order or directive for swayamsevaks to change their diets. [1]

·         The Anecdote: He recounted an old incident involving a group of vegetarian RSS volunteers (swayamsevaks) who attended an inter-caste community feast (sahbhojan) organized by a marginalized community. [1, 2]

·         The Dilemma: Upon arriving, the volunteers realized they were served non-vegetarian food. To avoid offending their hosts or disrupting the spirit of integration, they began eating. [1, 2]

·         The Provocation: One of the hosts testing their sincerity falsely told them the food was laced with cow meat and remarked that they would "rot in hell for 42 generations". An elder volunteer responded that if rotting in hell for 42 generations was required to achieve complete social assimilation, they would accept it. [1, 2]

·         The Resolution: Bhagwat clarified in his speech that it was not actually cow meat and that the host was merely testing the volunteers' genuine dedication to social kinship.”

 

Interesting, but not quite well thought of as a denial. Even if the Indian Express had made it appear that Bhagwat had specifically asked swayamsewaks to eat beef when he had apparently not done so, does the clarification change matters fundamentally? It is clear that whether for “testing” purpose or not, the vegetarian swayamsewaks were indeed knowingly served meat (whether beef or not), that they did knowingly eat it, that they were later told (for whatever purpose) that it was beef, that an elderly swayamsewak did say that “if rotting in hell for 42 generations was required to achieve complete social assimilation” it was acceptable, and that Bhagwat did recommend that attitude.

If such an incident did indeed take place, what was the exact purpose of raking it up and recommending that attitude? A more sincere way would be to fight caste discrimination without advocating that vegetarians should eat meat to promote integration. By and large, and I have pointed this out in my articles, it is perfectly true that the RSS swayamsewaks in generally do tend to be more caste-integrative than non-swayamsewaks (though, human nature being what it is, aberrations will always be there). But the BJP Parivar as a whole is not helping matters by strengthening draconian laws (where false accusations of caste-discrimination automatically lead to non-bailable arrests and punishments) and strengthening discriminative, divisive and resentment-instigating caste reservation systems.

And the Abrahamic concept of people having to be punished (whether by “rotting in hell” or whatever) for the sins of their ancestors is hardly something to be promoted, which is certainly being done in the above incident.

Also, the Parivar has countless adherents who believe that fake and motivated  interpolated stories in our ancient texts (such as the story of Shambuka in the Valmiki Ramayan) are true and then defend or glorify them under the mistaken belief that they are actually defending and glorifying our Hindu personalities (like Rama in that particular story)! Giving some buddhi to such people would be more sensible than recommending fake activities such as vegetarians eating meat to avoid offending hosts: surely it would be perfectly normal and acceptable to politely ask the hosts to serve the vegetarian items only as they were vegetarians. Even as a staunch Hindutvawadi, I would not blame Muslims being served pork and ham if they asked to be served other food because eating pig was against their sentiments.

And ultimately, reducing dalit sentiments to beef-eating (or even meat-eating) and suggesting that dalits would be offended by someone not eating beef or meat is rather demeaning to them, and amounts to making a caricature of the whole issue. Being treated equally is the right of all human beings, but making other people eat food going against their ethical beliefs or eating habits cannot be treated as anyone’s right.