RSS Takes on the Internet

Mumbai: March 31, 2003: (Morning News)

In a very surprising move, the chief brain behind RSS, Sri Sudarshan comdemned the recent spurt in networked computers saying that it is against Hindu tradition.

"We value hindu tradition," he said, "and Internet is clearly dividing the people. With the number of computers increasing without bounds, the number of people whiling away quality time in the cyberspace is also increasing thereby reducing interaction amongst even family members forget about outsiders."

Sudarshan appeared pretty relaxed after his decision of banning the Honeymoon culture had been met with enthusiastic response from both the Hindu and the Islam commmunities of the country.

"Our intentions are pretty clear and secular. We feel India has a way of life called Hinduism. It is possible that Moslems and Christians can live with us without degrading their values. The only thing is they need to get into the system of Hinduism. Be a Roman in Rome!"

We asked him casually about the explosion of Internet in India. He was quick to respond, "In a way it is nice because people are exposed to information which would otherwise be locked in seldom opened books and journals. However, only 5% of the Internet has good resources. The remaining 95% is highly hazardous material and is totally unacceptable to anybody leave alone the children. We hence feel that we can do without this technology. We feel that family values and the spirit of Hinduism are much more important. Tell me, how many teenagers now participate in house warming sessions in the evenings nowadays? Everyone is happy chatting in Yahoo or visiting obscene sites. This is not Hinduism. This is western culture and we will not allow western culture to invade India through Internet. If you are a true Hindu you would burn your computer and get back your moral values."

When we reminded him that many RSS Swayamsevaks are actively participating in promoting the ideology of RSS via the Net, he didn't get agitated. "I agree many of them are using the Internet. But they use it only as a means of harmless information exchange. Every RSS swayamsevak has the self-restraint to manage himself on the cyberspace. I am not worried about them. I am worried about the common folk of India, especially the children, who cannot resist the temptation and get addicted to the cyberspace. They should realize that there is some life outside the Web and that it is much more important than anything else."

At the end of our conversation, we couldn't stop admiring his frank nature. Though most of us didn't agree with his ideology, we were mesmerized by his clarity of ideas.

"I am also a normal human being," He said smiling offering us masala chai, "I am opposing the Internet just for making the Hindus better persons. As far as I am concerned religion plays no role. It is the way of life that matters."

We then asked him what step his organization would be taking to revolt against Internet. "Nothing dramatic," He said, "We cannot go to each and every house and destroy the modems. We can only request people not to use the Net. This, we will do extensively. We hope that one day in future, children will come home from school, play in the outfield, study, spend some quality time with the elders of the family absorbing their wisdom. We believe that day would surely come. It is just," Sudarshan stopped for a brief moment, "around the corner."



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