Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao Discusses Savarkar and Gandhi at Book Launch
In Bengaluru, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao shared his views on Vinayak Savarkar’s ideology, stating it differs from Indian culture despite Savarkar being a nationalist. Rao emphasized that Mahatma Gandhi’s democratic beliefs should prevail in India. He spoke at the launch of the Kannada version of “Gandhi’s Assassin: The Making of Nathuram Godse and His Idea of India” by journalist Dhirendra K. Jha.
Rao highlighted that Savarkar’s modernist yet fundamentalist views, including his stance on beef consumption, contrast with Gandhi’s conservative yet democratic approach. He also mentioned Muhammad Ali Jinnah, noting that despite being a devout Muslim, Jinnah ate pork and was not a fundamentalist, but sought political power and a separate nation.
Rao criticized right-wing groups like the RSS and Hindu Mahasabha for promoting fundamentalism and stressed the importance of social and political awareness to counter these ideologies. The book launch, organized by Jagrita Karnataka and Aharnishi Prakashana, marked Mahatma Gandhi’s 155th birth anniversary. The book, translated by A Narayan and Manoj Kumar Guddi, explores how Savarkar influenced Godse’s mindset.
On social media platform X, Rao stated that the book provides a detailed account of Nathuram Godse’s mindset and the influence of Savarkar’s ideology, highlighting Gandhi’s democratic beliefs as a counter to rising fundamentalism.
Doubts Revealed
Karnataka Health Minister -: The Health Minister is a person in charge of health-related matters in the state of Karnataka, which is a region in southern India.
Dinesh Gundu Rao -: Dinesh Gundu Rao is a politician from Karnataka, India, who is currently serving as the Health Minister of the state.
Savarkar -: Vinayak Savarkar was an Indian independence activist and a proponent of Hindutva, which is a form of Hindu nationalism.
Gandhi -: Mahatma Gandhi was a leader in India’s struggle for independence from British rule, known for his non-violent approach and democratic beliefs.
Book Launch -: A book launch is an event where a new book is introduced to the public, often with discussions or speeches about its content.
Bengaluru -: Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, is the capital city of the Indian state of Karnataka.
Democratic beliefs -: Democratic beliefs refer to the principles of democracy, which include freedom, equality, and the right for people to have a say in how they are governed.
Fundamentalist views -: Fundamentalist views are strict and literal interpretations of a set of beliefs, often not open to change or different perspectives.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah -: Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a leader who played a key role in the creation of Pakistan, a country that was formed when India was divided in 1947.
Right-wing groups -: Right-wing groups are political groups that often support traditional values and may resist changes to social norms.
Gandhi’s 155th birth anniversary -: This marks 155 years since the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, who was born on October 2, 1869.
Kannada version -: Kannada is a language spoken in Karnataka, and the Kannada version of a book means it has been translated into this language.
Gandhi’s Assassin -: This refers to a book that explores the events and people involved in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, including Nathuram Godse.
Nathuram Godse -: Nathuram Godse was the person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.