A new Kannada book called “RSS: Aala Mattu Agala” (The Depth and Breadth of RSS) by Dalit writer and activist, Devanuru Mahadeva, has received a massive response across Karnataka. The 72-pager book has created history, with thousands of copies being sold.
According to official sources, Mahadeva’s recent book on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the best-selling book of all time in Kannada, with an estimated 90,000 copies sold and distributed.
Abhiruchi Prakashana, Odu Vinimaya, Nade-Nudi, Gouri Media Trust, Janaspandana Trust, Manava Bandutva Vedike and Bharatiya Parivarthana Sangha, all came together to print these. The book has made a lot of sound because of its unique publishing model.
The PDF version of the book has been uploaded online. It has gone viral on social media. Thousands of people have downloaded it.
Mahadeva allowed multiple publishers to publish the book in different regions of Karnataka. He is not expecting any royalty. Big and small groups are distributing these books across the state. It is also getting translated from Kannada to Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, and English. Several translations are in the pipeline as books have been flying off the shelves.
The book quotes the writings of Golwalkar, Savarkar and Hegdewar. It shows how they justified the caste system and opposed the constitution. It briefly touches upon the life of RSS founder KB Hegdewar, inception of RSS, and its history too.
On one hand Karnataka’s civil society talks positively about books; on the other hand it has shaken up the state’s right-wing forces. Vishweshwara Bhat, senior journalist and chief-editor of the Kannada daily paper Vishwawani, called it “a piece of trash”.
Rohit Chakratirtha, who is a staunch supporter of the RSS, attacked Mahadeva for this book.
Talking to the media, the book’s author said that, “I have written this book addressing the entire mankind, including the sensible Brahmins. They must read it. I have kept writing mainly for students and the children who are our country’s future. It’s not a book, it has become a movement of sorts now.”
Who Is Devanuru Mahadeva?
Devanuru Mahadeva born in 1948. His native is Devanooru, in Nanjanagood taluk, Mysore district in Karnataka. He won the central Sahitya Akademi award for his well-known novel “Kusuma Baale“. He has been awarded with the fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri.
He rejected the Nrupatunga award in 2010 and Rajya Sabha’s nomination too. He is one of Karnataka’s foremost writers. His literary works include “Dyavanuru“, “Odalaala“, “Edege Bidda Akshara“, “Kusuma Baale“, “Devanura Mahadeva Avara Krithigalu“.
He is recognized as an iconic Dalit writer and activist. He always takes an anti-establishment stand.