Ekatmata Yatras

The Ekatmata Yatras were a series of pilgrimages and political strategies used to promote Hindu Polity or Hindutva. The strategy involved the mobilization of large pilgrimages (Yatras) to gather support for pro-Hindu political positions. The concept of the Ekatmata Yatra was formulated by the Vishva Hindu Parishad in the early 1980s. ^[1]

Description

During the 1960s, the rise of Hindu nationalism in Indian politics resulted in several Hindu-supportive political parties and organizations growing in size and influence. One of these organisations was Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right-wing organization which mobilized support for Hindu politicians and policies. ^[2] In 1983, VHP decided to organize a widespread series of political pilgrimages across India; these Yatras were intended to galvanize public support for causes that VHP supported. In particular, the pilgrimages were organized in such a way as to be Pan-Hindu, allowing members of all castes to participate; ^[1] this was in keeping with one of VHP's long-held opinions that the caste system should be suppressed. ^[1] The march was also focused around that idea that, by reigniting interest in Hindu religious rights, Hindus would be less susceptible to conversion attempts by Christians and Muslims. ^{[1] [3] [4]}

The first pilgrimage (later referred to as the First Ekatmata Yatra, translatable to "Pilgrimage of One Soulness" ^[1] ) began in November 1983, and involved thousands of Hindus undertaking a pilgrimage to various holy sites. ^[1] The pilgrims formed three processions; one from Kathmandu to Rameshwaram, a second from Gangasagar to Somnath temple, and a third from Haridwar to Kanyakumari. ^[1] These three main pilgrim parties were supplemented by dozens of smaller groups, and carried relics and idols with them. ^[1] Many pilgrims carried water from the sacred Ganges river during the journey, and the columns of travellers often stopped at Hindu temples and holy sites to gather more sacred water. ^[1] All of the pilgrimage parties eventually congregated in Nagpur. ^[1] The event involved Hindus from Burma, Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. ^{[3] [5]}

The first of the Ekatmata Yatras was well-received by many practitioners of Hinduism, and as such the prestige of the VHP was increased. ^[3] Soon after the end of the marches, the organization was able to use the influence its high-profile pilgrimage had garnered to involve the organization in the ongoing Ayodhya dispute. ^{[1] [3]} VHP organized the Second Ekatmata Yatra in 1995, ^[3] and the organization led two further pilgrimages (known as the 1996 Amarnath Yatra and the Baba Buddha Amarnath Yatra) in 1996 and 2005. ^[3]

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References

1. Jaffrelot, Christophe (1998). The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India. Columbia University Press. ISBN   9780231103350.
2. "Archives Of RSS". www.archivesofrss.org. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
3. Mishra, Anil Kumar (2015-01-01). Vishwa Hindu Parishad : An Introduction. Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN   9789351861959.
4. JAFFRELOT, CHRISTOPHE (2009). "The Hindu nationalist reinterpretation of pilgrimage in India: the limits of Yatrapolitics". Nations and Nationalism. 15 (1): 1–19. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8129.2009.00364.x. ISSN   1354-5078.
5. Doniger, Wendy; Nussbaum, Martha C. (2015-02-09). Pluralism and Democracy in India: Debating the Hindu Right. Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780199380930.