Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh: How the world’s largest NGO has changed the face of Indian democracy

[Prem Lulla]

Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh: How the world’s largest NGO has changed
the face of Indian democracy
Thursday, 15 May 2014 - 8:03pm IST | Agency: DNA


* Priti Gandhi




* RNA Research & Archives
In October 1947, soon after India became independent, Pakistani troops
had reached the borders of Kashmir. All the efforts of political
leaders had failed. Time was ticking. In these conditions Sardar Patel
sent a message to the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS),
MS Golwalker, requesting him to use his influence to prevail upon the
Maharaja to accede to India. ‘Guruji’, as he was fondly called,
cancelled all engagements and rushed to Srinagar from Nagpur to
resolve the delicate matter. A meeting between Guruji and Maharaja
Hari Singh was arranged. This historic meeting on the issue of
national honour ended successfully, after which the Maharaja sent the
accession proposal to Delhi, and Guruji directed the RSS workers in
Jammu and Kashmir to shed their blood to the last drop for the
integrity of the nation.
Thanks to the important contribution of these unsung heroes, along
with that of our army, we were able to save Kashmir from the clutches
of Pakistan and protect and preserve our national honour.
Today, with over 5 million active members assembling in 40-50,000
shakhas each day across India and over 100 affiliate bodies, the RSS
is certainly a force to reckon with. With such an extensive network
they have successfully conducted mass movements for the greater good
of societies. The RSS runs 27,000 Ekal Vidyalayas (schools) in remote
tribal areas where more than 8 lakh socially deprived tribal students
are enrolled. This is just one of their many initiatives.
The sacrifices rendered by RSS activists and their contribution in
protecting India during Partition deserves special mention in India’s
history. Whether it was charging the entire atmosphere by taking out
processions during the independence struggle, or collecting
information about Pakistan’s military activities and of the possible
Kashmir invasion, or even the famous ‘Martyrs of Kotli’ incident where
the heroism and gallantry of swayamsevaks proved they are even ready
to lay down their lives to protect the honour of their Motherland.
During the Sino-Indian War in 1962, the contribution of the RSS was
immense. Swayamsevaks from across the nation assembled in the
northeast of India to help the army as well as the locals during those
trying times. Their dedicated contribution was recognised by the whole
nation when then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, as a special
gesture, invited the RSS to take part in the Indian Republic Day
parade of 1963. In fact, it is believed Nehru was against the RSS
purely for political reasons. The RSS was banned on Nehru’s orders
because he suspected Vallabhbhai Patel would form a political alliance
with them and challenge the Congress.
During Partition, when Nehru was finding it extremely difficult to
stop the bloodshed, it was the RSS that helped organise over 3,000
relief camps for the refugees from Pakistan. During the 1965
India-Pakistan war, at the request of then PM Lal Bahudar Shastri, RSS
volunteers successfully maintained law and order in the country and
are said to be the first to donate blood. When Pakistanis were trying
to take over Jammu and Kashmir, it was the dedicated and sacrificing
swayamsevaks who cleared the snow from the airstrips and repaired
airfields so that the Indian air force could land their aircraft.
Also, not many people know the RSS also actively participated in the
liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli from Portuguese occupation. Noted
journalist Kushwant Singh, who had otherwise been openly critical of
the RSS, acknowledged the fact that the RSS was instrumental in
helping Sikhs in large numbers when murderers went on rampage to kill
them in Delhi in
the gruesome 1984 anti-Sikh riots, where even government machinery failed.
Even today, whether it is natural disasters like the Tamil Nadu
Tsunami, the Gujarat earthquake, the Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand
floods, or manmade disasters like the Bhopal gas tragedy or the recent
Assam riots, RSS swayamsevaks are the first to reach those in need of
help.
In spite of their selfless service to the nation and immense
contribution to nation-building, the RSS is among the most infamous
outfits in the country today. It is panned as an intolerant, extremist
group that is, sadly, even compared to militant organisations at
times. Bashing the RSS has become fashion. Many feel this fear is
being deliberately stoked among people for vested political interests
by those who want to make the foundation of their political careers by
practising the ‘divide and rule’ policy.
Following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948 by a “former” member
of the RSS, Nathuram Godse, many prominent RSS leaders were arrested
and it was banned as an organisation. A commission of inquiry into the
conspiracy of murder of Gandhi was set up and its report was published
by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs in 1970. The ‘Justice Kapur
commission’ noted that the RSS was not responsible for the murder of
Mahatma Gandhi.
Basically, the RSS is a pro-Hindu organisation, and being pro-Hindu
doesn’t mean it is anti-Muslim or anti-Christian. In fact the basic
founding principle of the RSS is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the vision
of the whole world as one family. The guiding principles towards this
vision are voluntary service to the nation for socio-economic welfare
and development. Their ultimate goal is to inspire in every Indian the
spirit of unity, self confidence and the feeling of national pride.
They strive to make India most prosperous and a powerful world leader.
It is these strong ideals of the RSS that have gone into the making of
great visionary leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the soon to
become Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, whose popularity has
created ripples not just in India, but across the world. Their
policies of inclusive growth have become a benchmark for all and their
good governance is talked about in very high regard. The strong
character of a swayamsevak is built by inculcating the virtues of
nationalism, selfless service and discipline, all three of which are
equally important in the upliftment of society and walking the path of
‘sab ka saath, sab ka vikas’.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own.
Priti Gandhi is co-convener, BJP Communication Cell, Maharashtra. She
tweets at @MrsGandhi.



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