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Current Scenario The social atmosphere that followed Independence and the preceding generation laid stress on commitment to nation and social causes, moral values etc. That generation worried less about material gains and did not mind foregoing material growth for social good. …..Critics as also well wishers talk about the decline in RSS these days as reflected through its shakhas on open grounds and its presence in the middle class areas, its natural recruiting ground in its earlier phases. Thus, even as recruitment to its ideological school of thought is taking place through different associate and sister organisations, visible presence through shakhas on playgrounds is not as impressive as it was once. I view it as a fall out of the change in the whole social dynamics in last few decades. The social atmosphere that followed Independence and the preceding generation laid stress on commitment to nation and social causes, moral values etc. That generation worried less about material gains and did not mind foregoing material growth for social good. Middle class of the time represented this approach. One could find even elitist members sacrificing their comfortable life to do something for the society. But, in the intervening period, with high influence of consumerist culture, success has come to be measured in terms of money and political power, resulting in a near amoral society. The present middle class has become so enamoured by career of the child and earning money that there is no time or inclination for social work at a larger social level. There will always be exceptions and there still are. But, it doesn’t detract from this basic submission. Children are put into coaching classes right from 9th standard, and they don’t get out of this vicious circle of coaching, entrance exams, hunting for best colleges and courses till they get settled and married. Let me share a simple fact. Each year around 16000 new volunteers go for Sangh Shiksha Varg (approx. one month training for workers) across the country. They are always fresh faces as there is no provision of repeat course in this. Generally, 1 out of 5 volunteers who undergo one week primary training workshops ultimately go for the first year training. This means that nearly 80000 new volunteers qualify each year to take up some responsibility or the other in the organisation. These are young people who have decided consciously to dedicate their time and energy for the society. I am not sure if there is any other organisation in the world, let alone India, which can boast of such a large number of dedicated joinees each year. Sangh Samachar Three-day Vanvasi conference on terrorism Defeat the Maoists so that progress and harmony could spread in Vanvasi areas —Bhaiyaji Joshi “NAXALITES want to establish their rule on gun point. There is a need to crush this terrorism with iron hand as it is not an ideology but a gang of professional killers,” said RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi. He was inaugurating a three-day Vanvasi conference on terrorism organised at Information Technology Institute in Dehradun on January 8. About 50 MPs, MLAs and State Cabinet Ministers also attended the conference. President of Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram Shri Jagdeo Ram Oraon was also present on the occasion. Shri Joshi also cautioned the nation against Chinese aggression. He said China wants to divide India into 25 pieces and Naxalism and Maoism are part of this larger game plan. He stressed the need to keep a close watch on the activities of China. About the Vanvasis, he said they are under threat from various anti-national forces and it is for the citizens of the country to ensure their safety and protection of their traditions and culture. Home Minister of Chhattisgarh Shri Nanaki Ram Kunwar, Panchayati Raj Minister of Chhattisgarh Shri Ramvichar Netam, MP from Jharkhand Shri Sudarshan Bhagat, MP from Chhattisgarh Shri Nand Kumar Say, MLA from Bihar Shri Sone Lal Hembram, Shri Abdul Ali Khatana from J&K and Shri Yograj Bodh from Himachal Pradesh also spoke at the inaugural session. Shri Jagdeo Ram Oraon said division of the society on the basis of caste and creed must go and the emphasis should be on developing harmonious relations among various sections of the society. Shri Tarun Vijay, MP from Uttarakhand, said 8 per cent of the Vanvasi population is facing tremendous pressure from fissiparous elements and more than 95 per cent of terrorism is found amongst them. It only showed that Indian people and state power didn’t care for this section of the society. Shri KS Tolia, veteran Vanvasi leader and a scholar from Uttarakhand, spoke about the pains and the struggles of the state’s Vanvasis. Uttarakhand Prant Sanghachalak Shri Chandrapal Singh Negi proposed a vote of thanks. On January 10, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Leader of Opposition Shri Harak Singh Rawat, Rajya Sabha MP Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Lt Gen Shri KK Khanna, former Commandant, IMA, addressed the conference. (By Ravindra Saini)

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