Four reasons why the ABVP is digging its own grave

Once again the ABVP has started a fight and been compelled to back off.  The ABVP has created many leftist heroes, and they don't seem to realise it.  If it sticks to this path, the ABVP will literally groom the ones who will vanquish it. 

The ABVP seems to forget, any organisation built on brute force and physical violence will be overthrown. There is always someone willing to fight harder. Even an organisation like the AISA will eventually succeed if the ABVP pushes them long and hard enough. 

Rioting and mindless violence not only drives away the uncommitted, but usually force moderate, and more famous members, to distance themselves from the actions, causing splits. 

So here are five reasons why the ABVP is digging it's own grave. 

1) From Zero to Hero 

Until the ABVP trained its angry eyes on several of India's current best-known college campus leaders, they were literally unknown outside the JNU campus. Whether it is Kanhaiya Kumar, Rohit Vemula or Gurmehar Kaur, it is the ABVP's thuggish over-reaction that elevated these figures to national celebrities. 

Ironically, despite being the spark for all this drama, the ABVP itself remains a relatively unknown organisation. While the opposition becomes heroes, the ABVP remains a group mostly identified by pictures of angry cadres starting another riot. In the long run, the 'heroes' may end up having long political careers, the opposite of what the ABVP wants. 

2) Attacks on women and Dalits

The RSS has always had one problem - the Nagpur Brahmins. In caste and culture sensitive India, the fact that the organisation was started by, and is dominated by, misogynistic Brahmins remains a thorn in the side. 

The ABVP, the RSS' student wing almost, shares this taint by association. Too easily and too often they are on the wrong side of history - abusing women or oppressing Dalits. This blind overlooking of the political implications of the fights the ABVP picks is extremely damaging. 

Whatever the issue, no good person with a conscience can stand by the ABVP while they make sexist, casteist attacks. It only unites the opposition.  

3) Much ado about nothing

The ABVP would like us to believe its violent, thuggish, over-the-top reactions in college campuses happen because they are the 'front line' of Indian or Hindu culture, fighting the good fight. 

But in a country which has so many horrible incidents every day, the only reason almost any of the ABVP's protests become news is the physical violence the ABVP triggers. 

But such acts only generate TRPs and not debate. The ABVP seems to be pushing the idea that if you don't fall in line, you will be physically beaten. How long can that go on? Until the next change in government? Protests have to be about substantial things, not temper tantrums. 

4) Nothing to say, then why say anything? 

The great Hindu sage Sri Adi Shankara travelled the length and breadth of this country, and it is known that wherever he went, he held discourses. He is credited with having cemented Hinduism back in India after the religion was nearly pushed out by Buddhism and Jainism. And he did it all through debate. 

The point here is, this country and the religions it created - like Hinduism or Buddhism - are built on debate. The wiser person is allocated, the greater respect. However, the ABVP fails in this respect. Its public image is one of riots and thugs and endless stings by various organisations, the latest being the one conducted by The Wire, confirm that there is little difference in thought process internally as well. 

With an inability or refusal, to debate its opponents, the ABVP will always remain a political pressure group of muscle power, and little else.