“The author’s book is in my opinion a natural and perhaps an inevitable and much needed reply to the theory of Blank cheque which is generally attributed to Mahatma Gandhi and those who think like him. Its careful perusal will clear the mind of the readers of many undesirable preconceptions and furnish them with rich food for reflection-Existence of Hindu Nation in a position of domination in India or Hindusthan will not only be a salvation to the Hindus only but it alone can be an unfailing guarantee to all the minorities of different nations living in this country for the preservation of their religious and cultural rights’.-M. S. ANEY (1939)
Read: Bunch of Thoughts – Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar-1960
PREFACE
It is with a deep sense of relief that I place this little work in the hands of the readers. After all that is written in the pages following, it seems superfluous for me to write anything in particular at length. However, I take the opportunity of this preface, to explain the limits which I had set myself when penning this work. I have throughout the work scrupulously stuck to one idea “Nation” and except where it was unavoidable have given no consideration to the allied concept, the “State.”
“Nation” being a cultural unit, and “State” a political one, the two concepts are clearly distinguishable, although there is certainly a good deal of mutual overlapping. Considerations about the “Hindu State” or as people now please to call it, the “Indian State,” have been reserved. If it is possible, the question may form the subject matter of another book. And yet, in applying the Nation Concept to our present day conditions, there is a discussion of the relations of the various communities to the Hindu Nation – but not from the political point of view – not from the standpoint of the State, though to some of the readers it may appear to be so, but solely from the point of view of the unit called the ” Nation”.
Hence all passing remarks to the relations between the “Nation” and the “Minority Communities” as appearing in this work are to be understood in this light, without confusing the question of the Minorities’ political status with that of their inclusion or otherwise into the body of the “Nation.”
Such is the scope of this book. I pray the reader to remember that this work aims only at analysing the “Nation” concept, applying it to our present day problems and establishing the proposition that in this country, our “Nation” means, and independently of the question of majority always must mean the Hindu Nation and nought else. Incidentally in doing this, I have had to resort to certain strong expressions and to lay bare, once again, the intentions which led to the foundation of the Congress. I hope, however, that I have paid my humble respects to those Nationalist giants, who despite this handicap, have, all down these years, We or Our Nationhood defined – M. S. Golwalkar been putting up a gallant fight in the cause of the Motherland. Some of these I have mentioned and it is not out of any want of reverence that numerous other names have not been put down, but for certain reasons of my own. All the same, I Sincerely beg to be excused, if inadvertently the book seems to countenance any disparagement of those noble souls, who in various ways strove and are striving to keep the national pulse beating unintermittently in our land.
It is a matter of personal gratification to me that this maiden attempt of mine—an author unknown in this line—has been graced by a foreword by Loknayak M. S. Aney. Himself a great and selfless patriot, an erudite scholar and a deep thinker, his foreword has, as I had expected, materially enhanced the value of the book. He has candidly expressed where he does not agree with the author, but the reader will agree with me that it is such a learned essay that it will substantially add to his knowledge and make him think. And so far as the main proposition of the Hindu Nationhood of Hindusthan goes, he has incontrovertibly substantiated it, in addition to his own views, with those of a number of modern political philosophers. How can I adequately express my thankfulness to him? He agreed to write this foreword and in spite of his being overworked during the last few weeks with the Assembly Session at New Delhi and later with the prospect of the Congress Session at Tripura, sent the same to me in good time. I have been laid under such a deep debt of gratitude to him! How can I repay it? I can only pray to him to overlook the want of words and accept my heartfelt thanks bare though their expression may be.
In compiling this work, I have received help from numerous quarters, too many to mention. I thank them all heartily; but I cannot help separately naming one and expressing my gratefulness to him – Deshbhakta G. D. Savarkar. His work Rashtra Meemansa in Marathi has been one of my chief sources of inspiration and help. An English translation of this work is due to be shortly out and I take this opportunity of directing the reader to that book for a more exhaustive study of the subject.
The manuscript of this book was ready as early as the first week of November 1938, but its appearance earlier, however desirable, was not possible due to many difficulties. And even now, singlehanded, I would not have undertaken all this trouble and would have let the work lie idle. But the Bharat Prakashan which has set out to publish treatises inculcating and feeding the truly national point of view, came to my help and undertook to bring it out as its first publication. The concern has so promptly executed the work, that within a few days from the time it was entrusted with this work, it has brought out the book in this elegant form. For its timely service I cannot be too thankful to
this institution.
It is hoped that this work fulfill its mission. If it stimulates thought and provokes the public to sift matters for themselves, and come to the right Nationalistic outlook, I shall have become fully paid for the labours.
Whatever its merits or demerits, I offer this work to the public as an humble offering at the holy feet of the Divine Mother – the Hindu Nation in the hope that She will graciously accept this worship from an undeserving child of Her Own. For the rest, let the public judge.
M. S. Golwalkar
Nagpur,
Varsha Pratipada 1861
22nd March 1939
