Senior RSS functionary and BJP leaders attended the screening of documentary titled The Caste Rush directed by IIT alumnus and U.S.-trained filmmaker Nikhil Singh Rajput in Delhi on Friday (April 25, 2025).
Made with an aim to debunk ‘caste-centric politics’ and counter ‘false narratives’ against Indians in abroad, the documentary dismisses the idea of caste divide in Indian temples. The documentary was funded by Indic Dialogue, founded by former RSS member Vijay Simha and promoted by Centre For Social Development (CSD), whose chairman Rajkumar Falwaria is a BJP leader.
Nikhil Singh, the director of the documentary, said in 2021 the controversy of Swaminarayan Temple in New Jersey where the temple authorities faced allegations of forced labour, low wages, and poor working conditions, with claims that Dalit workers were specifically targeted, was the point when he decided to do something to debunk the narrative which is being set in the western world.
“U.S. media depicted India’s ancient temples as hotbeds of caste discrimination, alleging Dalits were underpaid and denied entry. This is misleading. Our temples are far less cattiest than portrayed, and priesthood is not exclusive to Brahmins,” said Mr. Singh.
He added that his 60 minutes documentary aims to provide a truthful portrayal of these issues, countering stereotypes and misinformation.
Removing caste discrimination from the Hindu society has been a long pending agenda of the RSS as its chief Mohan Bhagwat, on several occasions in the past, had pitched for “ek mandir, ek kuan, ek shamshaan” (one temple, one well and one cremation ground).
The screening of the documentary was attended by RSS national publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar, BJP MP from Uttarakhand Anil Baluni, party’s media cell co-convener Sanjay Mayukh, among others.
Published – April 26, 2025 03:02 am IST
