The suicide of Mr Anandu Aji, a 26 year old software engineer from Kerala, due to childhood and continued trauma including sexual abuse, which he blamed on the RSS functionaries of his state is horrific and warrants immediate and thorough investigation into the matter.
In his suicide note Mr Aji has stated that during his long term and intimate association with the RSS including attending its various training camps like the OTC and ITC, he experienced abuse including sexual assault by senior members He also stated that it was a common occurrence in these camps.
Reports of abuse of children have caused great scandals in many organizations especially those having cult following like religious bodies and other social groups which demand high levels of faith and loyalty.
There have been instances where the Church and organizations like ISKCON had to pay millions of dollars as compensation to the victims of such abuse.
Back home we have many controversial godmen serving, life sentences for sexual abuse of their disciples and followers.
These organizations enjoy blind faith and loyalty from their followers, who initiate their children early into the fold, and place them in vulnerable situations.
Such bodies also enjoy high social and political influence, due to their follower base and ideological reach in the state apparatus.
The senior leaders of these bodies are often too powerful to be opposed and the power inequity makes such abuse a matter of greater concern.
The RSS is a unique body with no formal legal structure which can be held accountable for any of its or its members actions.
It’s today at the highest level of power and is often seen as the real power behind the political establishment. There have been instances where it has been accused of crimes like spreading social and religious enmity and orchestrating riots and also propagating anti constitutional ideas, but it is too amorphous to be acted against.
There is another issue, where such incidents, especially involving boys and men, are not questioned by its members and the society at large, who see this as a proof of their claimed celibacy.
This is again a display of deep seated patriarchal prejudice, which such bodies further. The opposition and social media have expressed rightful outrage over the incident.
The state must initiate immediate investigation not only into the specifics of this incident but the circumstances making such cases possible, including the structure and functioning of the RSS. The highest functionaries cannot escape vicarious responsibility for such cases.
