The narrative of semi-educated unemployed youth with a saffron tilak matching the colour of “gamchha” on his shoulders and a scowl on his face matching the angry Hanuman on his T-shirt appears seeking a relook. If the recent recipients of the ‘Trishul Diksha” organised by the Bajrang dal are anything to go by as per claims made, it leads to confirm that Hindutva is succeeding in attracting the layers of the society, hitherto thought to be averse to the hardline aspect of the ideology.
Trishul Diksha is a ceremonial bestowing of a trident to the member taking the pledge to propagate the ideals of VHP and BD and safeguard the interests of Hindus.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal sources inform that as many as 50 advocates, 15 engineers and 10 doctors were among the people who took ‘Trishul Diksha” held recently at Himmatnagar in North Gujarat. It is said that 10% of the Trishul Diksha recipients have completed education up to Standard 12 and at least 5% are graduates or postgraduates.
The saffron organisations in Gujarat have planned a Trishul Diksha planned exclusively for the college students at Rangmanch in the state capital Gandhinagar on 16th April. Most college students are in the age group of 19-22.
Read Also: Gujarat: Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Bajrang Dal Recruits 5100 Youths In Its Trishul Diksha Program
