From a young age, children are taught that specific behaviours are linked to their gender. Boys are instructed to act tough, cold, strong, and responsible, while girls are encouraged to be gentle, sweet, and attractive.
In ‘Muscular India’, Michiel Baas writes that it took 3 movies and a magazine to popularise a new body ideal among Indian men. And it was very different from the pehlwan body type.
Contrary to naysayers, the RSS practices what it preaches. It is closer to the Gandhian teaching of improving the individual morally and spiritually to change the external environment.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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