Militarising Minds: 75 Years of Bhonsala Military School

By Dilip -

.. A close look at the goings on in the institute, the work of indoctrination packaged as education, its vision of ‘regenerating India’ makes it amply clear that the seven plus decadal journey of the institution, has made no difference to its core weltanshauung.
One is reminded of its founders’ yearning for the ‘military regeneration of Hindus : so that the artificial distinction emphasised by the British of marital and non-marital classes amongst Hindus may disappear’ and his fascination for the goings on in Italy under the leadership of Mussolini and its military and paramilitary organisations. It is now history how Dr Moonje, learnt his skills when he got a chance to visit Mussolini and Italy’s Central Military School of Physical Education, the fascist academy of Physical Education and Balilla and Avanguardisti, organisations which influenced many a rightwing initiatives in India which he used in not only developing RSS but also laying down the foundation of this military school.
Celebrations held on the occasion of platinum jubilee rather reinforced its image as a modern institution bearing a medieval mindset. It was quite symptomatic that barring the real claimants to this legacy not many people joined the celebrations. Sangh Supremo Mohan Bhagwat, who was recently chided by the supreme court for his remarks on Malegaon blast case (ET Bureau Mar 1, 2012) happened to be the chief guest for the programme. Stirring up a heated political debate, Mr Bhagwat said India was in a much better situation under the British rule. Underlining the fact that the School which was founded ‘to protect the nation’ and has been acting as a ‘feeder institute to fulfill backlog of military officials’ he stressed the need for imparting military education to kids citing “rising” threat to internal security... 

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