Nagpur, Oct 12: Blasting the oft-repeated myth about non-participation of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in India’s Freedom Struggle, Satya Prakash Rai, President of All India Safai Kamgar Sangh vouched that the RSS swayamsevaks participated in the Freedom Struggle with increased vigour and valour. Shri Rai was addressing the annual Vijayadashami celebrations of the RSS at Reshimbagh on 11.10.2016. RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, Western Kshetra Sanghachalak Shri Jayantibhai Bhadesiya and others were prominently present.
Shri Rai, a former bureaucrat, said that Dr Hedgewar founded the RSS with the primary objective of freeing the motherland from the clutches of slavery. Strong patriotism, character building and selfless service to the society formed the edifice of the RSS. Every swayamsevak was administered the oath to play his role in the Freedom Struggle.
Citing examples he said that the RSS swayamsevaks participated in protest demonstrations against the Simon Commission in 1928; in 1930 actively supported the Satyagraha under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi; played a major role in 1942 Quit India Movement and after Independence participated in freeing Goa, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli from the clutches of the Portuguese.
Quoting the late Pt. Banarasi Das Chaturvedi, an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, Shri Rai said that he (Chaturvedi) had said on many occasions how the RSS swayamsevaks helped and assisted revolutionaries like Thakur Roshan Singh, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Chandra Shekhar Azad, besides cooperating with Veer Savarkar, and others in Maharashtra. “I have seen how RSS swayasmevaks served mother of Bhagat Singh and elder brother of Ashfaqulla Khan in Delhi”, Shri Rai said. Shri Rai also mentioned about the service projects of the RSS and said that the RSS swayamsevaks conduct over 1.5 lakh service projects for the benefit of mainly Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and poor sections of the society rising above the considerations of caste, religion, language and region. Recalling RSS Chief Shri Mohan Bhagwat’s call for ending social inequality in the villages, Shri Rai noted with pleasure that the RSS has been engaged sincerely in the task of eradication of this inequality and restoring honour and respect to the neglected sections.
Saluting the spirit of the selfless service Shri Rai said that even Mahatma Gandhi in 1935 praised the RSS for its important contribution in the national Freedom Struggle. He expressed concern over the prevalence of over 250 types of discriminations in our country even after the Independence of seven decades.
Equating safai karamacharis with soldiers guarding borders Shri Rai said that as the soldiers guard our freedom from the invaders, these safai kamgars protect us from various ailments and diseases by keeping our surroundings clean and tidy. The only difference is that soldiers are always given respect while the safai kamgars are looked down by the society, he added. Shri Rai lamented that no government, no agency nor any NGO ever directed their attention in developing the condition of these safai karamacharis. They remain the most exploited, oppressed, neglected and exploited lot of the society, he said.
He said that untouchability is a curse of the society and all great personalities like Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Shri Golwalkar Guruji, and Shri Balasaheb Deoras have worked relentlessly to end this inhuman tradition. He quoted extensively from the VHP resolution adopted at Udupi Session and appealed to the religious leaders to take the initiative in eradication of this outdated practice. He appealed to the RSS swayamsevaks to
accelerate the speed of their mission to make Bharat a strong, vibrant, united and a prosperous country and a world leader.
