Sudarshan's vision

By John Cheeran
If you can't beat them, join them.
That seems to be the sentiment that is driving Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS) supremo K S Sudharshan these days.
Otherwise he would not have bothered to tell his brethren to quicken the Hindu rate of growth. Reports say that RSS Chief K S Sudarshan in Delhi asked Hindus to produce not less than three children and called for an end to the majority-minority concept.
He has expressed serious concern over India's changing demographic profile. I don't know about the changing demographic profile. It must be changing, but the only question in whose favour.
Whichever community stands to benefit in the body count, I'm not greatly interested.
I, however, have some interest in what Sudarshan said.
Here are the quotes: “Don't get into the trap of two child or one child norm. If you go by the one child norm, in the next 120 years, there won't be any successors in your family. You should not have less than three children and if you have more, the merrier it is,” he said after releasing a publication 'Religious Demography of India 2001' brought out by the Centre for Policy Studies in New Delhi.
I can't agree with Sudarshan more.
But Congress spokesperson Ambika Soni, UP Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and a host of others have ridiculed Sudarshan for making such an appeal. Ambika said such sentiments have no relevance in a modern India. She feels Sudarshan's opinion is too conservative.
Really?
Some others point out Sudarshan's appeal is in opposition to Indian state's declared family planning programme which gives stress not to overshoot the two children norm.
TV channels that make Sania Mirza turning 19 their lead story have reacted in predictable fashion. So are rest of the media.
I ask what do they know about life?
I believe 40 per cent of Indian couples battles infertility. Leave alone three and two, they can't have one. So what's the harm in Sudarshan urging those who can, really go for it? More the merrier is not a bad idea at all.
I salute Sudarshan especially in the aftermath of devastating tsunamis and earthquakes which have left many childless. I think natural calamities are taking care of population explosion much better than India's family planning.
At the other end of the spectrum we have female infanticide and foeticide.Would you call it family planning? If not, what's the harm in having three or more children, Congress Party?
So if you are a conscientious objector to foeticide, aren't you opposing family planning?
If you are campaigning against the trend to kill the girl child, aren't you at some level agreeing with uncle Sudarshan?
Yes, you are.
Those who can afford it, let them do it.
Fuck the family planning.