Sangh Samachar Sangh Shiksha Vargs held countrywide

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By Pramod Kumar

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been organising Sangh Shiksha Vargs (training camps) to impart organisational training to its cadre since 1928. Training camps are organised mostly in the months of May and June every year. Since the Prathamik Shiksha Vargs (primary training camps) are held at the local level, the first and second-year camps are held at Prant level. Sometimes more than one camp is organised in one Prant. The third-year camp is held only in Nagpur, mostly in the month of May every year.

This year´s third-year camp was held from May 12 to June 13 at Nagpur in which a total of 1,141 shiksharthis from all Prants of the country participa-ted. The 86-year-old renowned Yogacharya, Dr B.K. Das Iyengar, presided over the concluding ceremony.

The RSS has divided the whole country into 38 Prants and 11 Kshetras for conducting the organisational activities.

The number of shiksharthis in the first-year camp has increased from 11,816 in 2003 to 13,305 this year. In the second-year camp, the number has increased from 3,300 last year to 3,782 this year. Similarly, there were 1,141 Swayamsevaks at the third-year camp as compared to 962 in 2003.

The first and second-year training camps were held at Prant level in which senior Sangh adhikaris guided the Swayamsevaks. This year there were 64 Swayamsevaks in first year, 11 Swayamsevaks in second year and two Swayam-sevaks in third year from Nepal also. The number of shiksharthis in the first-year camp has increased from 11,816 in 2003 to 13,305 this year. In the second-year camp, the number has increased from 3,300 last year to 3,782 this year. Similarly, there were 1,141 Swayamsevaks at the third-year camp this year as compared to 962 in 2003 (for details see Table).

A total of 73 Sangh Shiksha Vargs were held all over the country this year. It included 45 first-year, 27 second-year and one third-year shiksharthis. A total of 13,305 shiksharthis in the first year and 3,782 shiksharthis in the second year were imparted training in the camps.

Delhi Prant´s camp was held from June 7 to 28 in which 267 shiksharthis in the first-year and 93 shiksharthis in the second-year participated. It included 17 shiksharthis from other Prants also. All the shiksharthis were below the age of 45 years. The number of college and school students was higher than the working Swayamsevaks. Apart from the physical and intellectual activities the shiksharthis were also imparted training in journalism and some other social activities. Tree plantation ceremony and matrihasthe bhojan were the other attractions at the camp. Under the matrihasthe bhojan programme, women from the nearby areas brought food from their homes and had sahabhoj with the shiksharthis at the camp. A route march was also taken out in the city. The camps concluded on June 28 with the shiksharthis taking pledge at the Dikshant Samaroh (passing-out ceremony) to extend the Sangh work in different fields.

Apart from other senior Sangh adhikaris, the Sarsangh-chalak, Shri K.S. Sudarshan also stayed at the camp full time for three days, i.e. from June 25 to 27. Former Lt. Governor of Delhi, Vijay Kapoor presided over the concluding ceremony.

Sarsanghchalak Shri Sudarshan called upon the countrymen to teach their children only in Indian languages. He warned people to be careful of the designs of the Marxputras who are out to destroy the Indian culture. (See excerpts of the Sarsanghchalak´s speech.)

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vijay Kapoor called upon the Sangh Swayamsevaks to work for strengthening of prestige of the country. He said India and its centuries-old culture had never been fundamentalist and this tradition should continue. He advised the Swayamsevaks to keep in mind the ethics of the culture while working for progress. Stressing the need to encourage women´s participation in development of the country, he said that the country had now rediscovered its self-respect. He said the Sangh had been working by taking all sections of the society with its activities. Mentioning the widespread Indian culture and its worldwide effect, Shri Kapoor said that he had personally witnessed the impact of Indian culture in different parts of the world, including the communist-ruled China. Recalling his visit to Guhan city of Central China when he was associated with the UNO, he said that he felt proud at seeing a historical temple in that region.

Number of shiksharthis at Sangh Shiksha Vargs in 2003 and 2004