Recently, VIGIL, an organization in Chennai, dedicated to spreading pro-Bharat thoughts and fostering nationalism, hosted an enlightening event featuring prominent speakers addressing the concerning trends of wokeism and cultural Marxism. This gathering, part of VIGIL’s ongoing efforts to combat anti-Bharat sentiments prevalent in social media, provided a platform for deep insights into these ideologies and their impact on our society.
The event’s main speaker, RSS ideologue Shri J Nandakumar, brought a wealth of experience to the discussion. Hailing from Pandalam, Kerala, Shri Nandakumar is deeply aware of the challenges of Abrahamic religions in Kerala. As the editor of the weekly magazine Kesari and the national convener for the Pragya Pravah, he has been on a mission to spread awareness about Hindutva nationwide. His books, including Swa: Struggle for National Selfhood Past, Present and Future, Hindutva for the Changing Times, Contours of Hindu Rashtra, to name a few, have contributed significantly to the discourse on Bharatiya cultural identity.
Shri Nandakumar’s presence and presentation at the event were particularly noteworthy given his efforts to spread awareness about historical events like the Moplah-led massacre, which are often overlooked in mainstream narratives. His insights provided a crucial historical context for Bharat’s current ideological battles.
The presentation astutely pointed out that cultural Marxism thrives on societal anarchy, using chaos as a springboard for political takeover. This strategy directly impacts Bharatiya traditions and culture, systematically undermining family values and eroding trust in societal institutions. As he explained, the ultimate goal is destroying a society’s culture, language, nature, and traditions.
The speakers at the event collectively painted a vivid picture of how cultural Marxism operates. It targets the very foundations of society – religion, family, education, media, and law. By infiltrating these institutions, often through the back door when direct entry is denied, cultural Marxists aim to reshape the social fabric from within.
Shri Nandakumar provided several poignant examples of wokeism in action. He recalled a seminar organized recently at Azim Premji University titled “Annihilating Hinduism,” highlighting the blatant targeting of Hindu culture under the guise of academic discourse.
He didn’t shy away from addressing contemporary manifestations of wokeism. He also discussed how small children in schools are being encouraged to claim their own pronouns and how woke theory posits that gender can change in mere hours. These examples underscored the rapid and concerning spread of these ideologies, particularly among the youth.
Importantly, the event drew a clear line between the positive aspects of being woke – as in “awake” or aware, as exemplified in Bharatiya scriptures and Swami Vivekananda’s famous call to उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत, क्षुरासन्न धारा निशिता दुरत्यद्दुर्गम पथ: तत् कवयो वदन्ति that translates to “Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached,” and the narrow-mindedness and intolerance that characterize modern wokeism.
Shri Nandakumar traced the genesis of wokeism back to the failure of classical Marxism. He said as communism fell out of favour, its proponents sought new avenues to spread their ideas. This led to the birth of cultural Marxism, which shifted focus from the working class to intellectuals and students. He then detailed how this ideology transformed into academic study materials, infiltrating fields like gender studies, anthropology, and political science.
One of the most alarming aspects highlighted was the strategy of “capturing the means of knowledge production.” By controlling educational curricula and media narratives, cultural Marxists aim to shape societal perceptions and values. This approach has led to the promotion of “critical consciousness” over traditional or what they term “false consciousness.”
The event also addressed the key components of wokeism: its divisiveness, its obstruction of honest communication, the phenomenon of “pronoun wars,” the inscription of identity illusions, its propagation through films, cancel culture, and the concepts of cultural sensitivity and appropriation. Shri Nandakumar emphasized how these elements combine to create a toxic ideology threatening social harmony and individual freedom.
In response to these challenges, the speakers proposed several counter-strategies. Education was highlighted as a crucial battleground, with calls to reclaim traditional educational systems (Indic knowledge systems) while blending them with modern knowledge. The establishment of new universities and the promotion of online learning platforms were suggested as ways to offer alternative perspectives.
He also advocated for economic action, encouraging the audience to boycott corporate brands involved in woke propaganda and instead support smaller and medium-sized businesses that align with traditional values.
Perhaps most importantly, the event served as a wake-up call to the silent majority. The speaker emphasized that wokeism is spreading not because there are more malevolent actors but because good people remain silent. They urged the audience to find their voice and actively participate in shaping cultural narratives.
The speakers’ message was clear: it’s time for those who value traditional Bharatiya culture and social harmony to stand up, speak out, and actively work to preserve our heritage while addressing genuine social issues in a balanced and constructive manner. Only through such concerted efforts can we, as the Hindu Samaj, hope to counter the tide of wokeism and cultural Marxism and build a truly inclusive society that is respectful of diverse viewpoints and grounded in the timeless principles of Bharatiya civilization.
