Sullia, a remote taluka centre in coastal Karnataka, witnessed a mammoth RSS gathering on Republic Day. It also marked the 50 years of Sangh work in this taluka. The day was celebrated as Sankalp Samaves. It is perhaps the first taluka in the country, which orgainsed such a huge route march. More than five thousand swayamsevaks in full uniform participated in the route march.
The regular Sangh shakha was started in this taluka in 1966 and the work expanded in great speed. Veteran Pracharaks like Baba Sahib Apte, Moropant Pingale, HV Seshadri, Madhav Rao and many others guided the workers in this taluka, which has only two lakh population with 44 revenue villages.
The function was unique one and all time record. Since last three months hundreds of swayamsevaks worked hard for expansion of the shakhas, as a result 117 bastis represented the programme. The pathsanchalan (route march) started from three different places of the town and finally assembled at Kurunjibagh playground.
Addressing the swayamsevaks and the equal number of public gathering, veteran Sangh Pracharak Shri K Suryanarayan Rao emphasised the importance of duty towards the nation. He expressed concern over the anti-national activities going on in the country. He appealed to the youth to discharge their duty to the nation in this hour of great need. He reiterated that immediate task before the swayamsevaks is to organise the Hindu society against foreign cultural and religious onslaughts.
Col. (Retd) AJ Bhandari, who attended the function as chief guest, appealed to the audience to extend full support to the armed forces in the fight against terrorism, Naxalism and corruption.
The Matri Samaves was also held exclusively for women in the fore noon session. The turnout of women in large number was observed as Sangh has deep roots among the rural masses. Smt. Sheelavathi Kolambe presided over the function. Veteran social activist Dr Gowri Pai inaugurated the meeting. Shri Kurunji Venkatramana Gowda, president of Accademy of Liberal Education, gladly let the college premises at the disposal of Sangh for the purpose.
Prant Prachar Pramukh Shri Chandrashekara Bandari, Sanghachalak Sri Vaman Shenoy, Shri Kalladka Prabhakara Bhat, Prant Vyavastha Pramukh Shri Gopal Chettiar, Shri Nirmal Kumar of Janaseva Bangalore and many other Pracharaks and Sangh activists graced the occasion.
(By Shivarama Gowda)
