Abhinav Bharat
Encyclopedia
Abhinav Bharat can refer to two organizations one of which is an Hindu nationalist organisation based mainly in Maharashtra
in India
. The Hindu nationalist organization gained prominence when its members were arrested for allegedly perpetrating the Malegoan bombing
. The other Abhinav Bharat is a Public Charitable Trust which is in no way connected with any act of violence or any illegal activity of any kind. Abhinav Bharat - the Trust has filed a WP PIL 02 of 2009 in Bombay High Court against the use of name "Abhinav Bharat" by the Hindu nationalist organization.
The group was born again in another form decades after partition. Abhinav Bharat - the Trust was formed in January 2002. Details of the Trust are available on www.abhinavbharat.org. Abhinav Bharat - the Hindu nationalist organization was born in 2007. There is no connection of any kind between the two organizations. Abhinav Bharat - the Trust works for a Plural, Peaceful Just and Humane society. The Hindu nationalist organization is led and presided by Savarkar's granddaughter, Himani Savarkar. She is also related to Nathuram Godse
, the man who assassinated M K Gandhi
on 30 January 1948.
All references to "Abhinav Bharat" in the article hereafter are to the Hindu nationalist organization and not to "Abhinav Bharat" - the Trust.
representatives have distanced themselves from Abhinav Bharat, and stated that Abhinav Bharat and other groups operated on the periphery of Hindu nationalism. Praveen Togadia
, head of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), was afraid Abhinav Bharat was weaning away radicals from the VHP, from where much of the Abhinav Bharat membership originated. Amongst these included Sameer Kulkarni, the pointman for Abhinav Bharat in Madhya Pradesh
, who was also expelled from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in June 2008 for not following protocol within the organization. Abhinav Bharat has also been accused of plotting to kill senior RSS
leaders who they thought "weren’t doing enough for Hindutva.". These plots include allegations from an arrested Abhinav Bharat member in June 2010 that members were involved in a plot to kill President Mohan Bhagwat
.
bombing, the group became the target of sustained investigations for its alleged role in several other terror attacks across the country. Several serving and retired army officers are also believed to have hastened the radicalisation of the group. However, Swapan Dasgupta
notes that the group seemed little more "than a letterhead or part of a fantasy world" ...
Following the investigation, the group's website was mysteriously shut down.....
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The Hindu nationalist organization gained prominence when its members were arrested for allegedly perpetrating the Malegoan bombing
29 September 2008 western India bombings
In the 29 September 2008 Western India bombings, three bombs exploded in the States of Gujarat and Maharashtra of India killing 8 persons and injuring 80...
. The other Abhinav Bharat is a Public Charitable Trust which is in no way connected with any act of violence or any illegal activity of any kind. Abhinav Bharat - the Trust has filed a WP PIL 02 of 2009 in Bombay High Court against the use of name "Abhinav Bharat" by the Hindu nationalist organization.
History
In its first appearance, the group, born before Independence, was led by Vinayak Savarkar. In this form, it called for an "armed struggle" against the British Indian state. After independence, the group was dissolved by Savarkar stating that its aim has been achieved and it is no more needed.The group was born again in another form decades after partition. Abhinav Bharat - the Trust was formed in January 2002. Details of the Trust are available on www.abhinavbharat.org. Abhinav Bharat - the Hindu nationalist organization was born in 2007. There is no connection of any kind between the two organizations. Abhinav Bharat - the Trust works for a Plural, Peaceful Just and Humane society. The Hindu nationalist organization is led and presided by Savarkar's granddaughter, Himani Savarkar. She is also related to Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Vinayak Godse , from the city of Pune, India was a Hindutva activist and journalist, who was the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. Along with his brother Gopal Godse and six other co-conspirators, he executed a plot to assassinate Gandhi.-Early life:Nathuram Godse was born in Baramati, Pune...
, the man who assassinated M K Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
on 30 January 1948.
All references to "Abhinav Bharat" in the article hereafter are to the Hindu nationalist organization and not to "Abhinav Bharat" - the Trust.
Relationship with Sangh Parivar groups
Sangh ParivarSangh Parivar
The Sangh Parivar refers to the family of organisations of Hindu nationalists which have been started by members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or are inspired by its ideas. The Sangh Parivar represents the Hindu nationalist movement. It includes the RSS and several dozen smaller...
representatives have distanced themselves from Abhinav Bharat, and stated that Abhinav Bharat and other groups operated on the periphery of Hindu nationalism. Praveen Togadia
Praveen Togadia
Praveen Togadia is the International General Secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad , Hindu religious organization. A 'Cancer Surgeon' by profession, he was appointed chief instructor of an RSS officers training camp in 1979 at the age 22....
, head of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), was afraid Abhinav Bharat was weaning away radicals from the VHP, from where much of the Abhinav Bharat membership originated. Amongst these included Sameer Kulkarni, the pointman for Abhinav Bharat in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, who was also expelled from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in June 2008 for not following protocol within the organization. Abhinav Bharat has also been accused of plotting to kill senior RSS
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
leaders who they thought "weren’t doing enough for Hindutva.". These plots include allegations from an arrested Abhinav Bharat member in June 2010 that members were involved in a plot to kill President Mohan Bhagwat
Mohan Bhagwat
Mohan Madhukar Bhagawat is a veterinary doctor and the current Sarsanghachalak, since 2009, of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He is seen as a pragmatic leader. He was chosen by K S Sudarshan as his successor upon his retirement.-Early life:...
.
Alleged activities and arrests
Following the arrest and investigation of several of its functionaries in connection with the MalegaonMalegaon
Malegaon is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the Nashik district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.Malegaon is one of the largest cities in northwest Maharashtra with an estimated population of 12 lakh to 14 lakh...
bombing, the group became the target of sustained investigations for its alleged role in several other terror attacks across the country. Several serving and retired army officers are also believed to have hastened the radicalisation of the group. However, Swapan Dasgupta
Swapan Dasgupta
Swapan Dasgupta is a senior conservative Indian journalist. At various points in his career, he has held senior editorial posts at The Statesman, The Telegraph, The Times of India, The Indian Express and most recently India Today, where he was Managing Editor till 2003...
notes that the group seemed little more "than a letterhead or part of a fantasy world" ...
Following the investigation, the group's website was mysteriously shut down.....
See also
- 2006 Malegaon blasts2006 Malegaon blastsThe 2006 Malegaon bombings were a series of bomb blasts that took place on 8 September 2006 in Malegaon, a town in the Nashik district of the Indian state of Maharashtra, located at some 290 km to the northeast of state capital Mumbai....
- 2007 Mecca Masjid bombing
- 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings2007 Samjhauta Express bombingsThe 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings were a terrorist attack that occurred around midnight on 18 February 2007 on the Samjhauta Express, a twice-weekly train service connecting Delhi, India, and Lahore, Pakistan. Bombs were set off in two carriages, both filled with passengers, just after the train...
- 2008 Malegoan & Modasa bombing29 September 2008 western India bombingsIn the 29 September 2008 Western India bombings, three bombs exploded in the States of Gujarat and Maharashtra of India killing 8 persons and injuring 80...
- Saffron TerrorSaffron TerrorSaffron terror is a controversial phrase used to describe acts of Right-wing terrorism in India, allegedly inspired by Hindu nationalism. The phrase "saffron terror" is a neologism which entered public debate in India following the 29 September 2008 western India bombings.The Home Minister of...