SAFFRON WAVE

 

Last year, I went for the Delhi Book Fair, out of curiosity to explore a variety of books from different genres. But what struck me right away was the overwhelming presence of saffron; a sea of books with cover pages inked in different hues of saffron. After that, I found some time to check out a few more book exhibitions and fairs. There too, I encountered rows of books, boldly wrapped in saffron shades and written in multiple languages. Some book covers shouted heroism, featuring words like Veer, Icon, forgotten freedom fighter, and true patriot.

While I was doing my academic research, I tried to learn about the histories of major political parties in India. I wanted to understand not only their political ideologies but also how they’ve generated their propaganda through media, and cultural narratives over the years to sway voters, shape public opinion, to influence young minds and selectively highlight parts of history that align with their agendas. I analyzed how they create heroes, defame their opponents, and simplify complex events to rally support and legitimize their power. I came across writings about Savarkar, the author of ‘Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?’, a book that lays the ideological groundwork for today’s majoritarian politics. It is an unaccepted truth for some groups that there’s a concerted effort now to rewrite Indian history to fit a specific political-communal narrative.

Savarkar is everywhere, not because new facts have surfaced, but because new agendas have taken root. In the context of the movie ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’, he’s portrayed as a tragic hero, misunderstood by history and let down by his fellow freedom fighters. Meanwhile, the market is flooded with books that echo the same points, that his mercy petitions to the British were strategic rather than cowardly, that he had no involvement in Gandhi’s assassination, and that he was a pioneer of modern Indian nationalism. Savarkarites and saffron lovers who used to cry in corners are now writers and directors who are eligible to get national awards for spitting out glorified narratives. Many crucial facts are missing from these narratives beyond any doubt.

There’s hardly any space in these pages for his support of caste hierarchy, his communal speeches, or the ideological connections that tie him to the rising religious intolerance we see today. All these stories resonate because people crave heroes, they long for gods to worship. It becomes quite simple to spread ideologies through these heroes when they’re depicted as flagbearers of what’s right, as individuals who’ve done something significant for the masses or their country. And those in power will ensure that these heroic figures are meticulously crafted to embody boldness and nationalism, even if it means glossing over uncomfortable truths. The flooding of saffron-coloured books and films isn’t about aesthetics, it’s a signal, a branding of history designed as propaganda to indoctrinate. The moment we start passively consuming information, we risk losing sight of whose version of history is being told and who stands to gain from our belief in it.