2023 ODAKKUZHAL AWARD WINNER P.N. GOPIKRISHNAN WARNS OF RESURGENCE: `HINDUTVA FASCISM RETURNS, URGES RECOGNITION OF HISTORICAL TRUTHS`

"Hindutva fascism comes back from the forgetfulness of the past," says 2023 Odakkuzhal Award Winner P.N. Gopikrishnan.

The focus of the session, centered on Gopikrishnan`s book `Story of Hindutva Politics,` delves into the origins of Hinduism in India and Savarkar`s role in its popularization. In the light of his book, he says, "In 1946, when it was about the time the British would leave India, freedom fighters including Gandhi had fought against Hindutva fascism from 1946 to the date of Gandhi`s assassination in 1948." Describing the book as a `compilation of facts,` Gopikrishnan traces the trajectory of Hindutva politics, spotlighting Savarkar`s waning influence post-Gandhi. The introduction of another party by Hindutva communalists, aimed at perpetuating Hindutva, is discussed, along with symbolic gestures like Savarkar`s recognition in Parliament and the Andaman International Airport. He mentions the incidents of Savarkar`s photo raised in the Parliament building in 2003 and the Veer Savarkar International Airport, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in recent years, showing highlights of the presence of Hindutva fascism. Finally, Gopikrishnan recalls the unsettling reality that India tends to forget its truths, exemplified by events such as the Parliament`s opening ceremony on March 28, 2023, Savarkar`s birthday. The book sheds light on undocumented historical facts, distinguishing Hindutva fascism from dictators like Hitler and Mussolini. The discussion concluded with an interactive session.