Balasaheb Deoras had appealed to the swayamsevaks in 1977 to look at the homeless, penniless and vulnerable people as Sudama and become Krishna to serve them. The seed of service emerging out of his mind has now grown into a big tree
Mayaram Patang
It was the month of March in 1977. The venue was Delhi. While the summer was knocking at the door, the RSS swayamsewaks were busy in the preparations of a function to be held at Ambedkar Stadium near Delhi Gate. Sarsanghachalak Shri Balasaheb Deoras was to address the function. Hence, the preparations were on full swing day and night. Finally, the day came, which the swayamsewaks waited with baited breath.
The Stadium brimmed with the swayamsewaks. Balasaheb arrived there. He started his speech after a couple of speakers. He started with congratulating the swayamsewaks for the unparalleled satyagrah movement during the Emergency and success in it. Then he explained the noble aim of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He said the RSS wanted to create a homogenous society where none would be discriminated because of his or her caste. Homogenous or affluent society cannot be created through speeches or slogans. A hard penance is required for the creation of such a society. He declared in no uncertain terms that caste-based discrimination and untouchability were the deadly diseases of our society. Now the time has come for Krishna to go to Sudama”s house himself. The RSS swayamsevaks will have to go to the colonies of the deprived, repressed and backward people to serve them and will have to raise their quality of life.
The political parties take advantage of their poverty, illiteracy and ignorance for their power. RSS will have to adopt such a way that they are able to fight against their poverty and ignorance themselves. This awareness would not come just by wishing for it. Firm steps will have to be taken for the same. Service work will have to be done among them. Their sense of begging will have to be removed. Awareness will have to be created for their self-reliance.
Now, let us pause briefly here for the things said in his speech and know something about Deorasji.
Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras, popularly known as Balasaheb Deoras, worked as a teacher in an orphanage at Nagpur after completing his graduation. He witnessed there the problems faced by the orphans, repressed, deprived and poor people. Therefore, he inspired the swayamsevaks to move towards that class with sympathy. His address had a tremendous impact on the swayamsevaks.
During that time, the Prant Pracharak of Haryana Prant was Shri Ashok Singhal while Shri Vishwanath was the Pracharak of Delhi. Both of them deliberated deeply over how the swayamsevaks should enter the service sector. To realise these thoughts, Ashok Singhalji called Shri Vishnu Kumar, who was a Pracharak in Kanpur to Delhi. Vishnuji started his work as soon as he got the orders. He stayed in Room No. 13 at Jhandewalan Sangh Karyalaya and started laying the network of the service projects.
At first, the Sewa Pramukhs were appointed instead of Praudh Pramukh in every district. Then Vishnuji had meetings with everyone of them. Shri Shravan Kumar was deployed as assistant to Vishnuji. I was also made Sewa Pramukh of Shahdara District. All Praudh Shakhas were instructed to select the volunteering swayamsevaks and contact the Sewa Pramukhs. Thereafter, Vishnuji asked all of them to conduct service work as per their reach, thoughts and resources.
All Sewa Pramukhs conducted different kinds of works. Some organised cleaning drives in the backward communities, while some held langars. Some of them distributed books and notebooks to the deprived children. Some went to the hospitals to distribute fruits and medicines. In the meanwhile, Vishnuji had contact with all of them and provided required cooperation and guidance. I contacted some Primary and Secondary schools in my district, prepared a list of deprived children and distributed sweaters to them. All the seniors were impressed with Vishnuji”s initiative. Thereafter, all Sewa Pramukhs started opening coaching centres in their respective areas after finding places like temples.
A parent in a colony told Vishnuji that even though he had started teaching the grown up children, there were many kids whose parents went to work elsewhere and none was there to look after them. He requested Vishnuji to do something for them also. Then the decision to start Balwadi was taken.
The first Balwadi was started in Jehangir Puri with the efforts of senior worker Shri Brijmohan. It was inaugurated by Balasaheb Deoras himself on October 2, 1979. The idea of service that Balasaheb Deorasji had seemed to be realising. The people of Jehangir Puri and the swayamsevaks became a witness to that day.
The work was growing. The need of a regulatory body that could assist in the operations of these projects was felt. All the workers were called at Jhandewalan office on October 14, 1979. The Sewa Bharati was founded the same day after having discussion with all. Yet, October 2 is celebrated as the foundation day of Sewa Bharati because the utmost need for Sewa Bharati was felt on that day.
Even though service projects had been started in all parts of the Delhi, prior to this all those projects were called as service projects of RSS. In the meantime, Shri Ashwini Kumar Khanna suggested the name of Sewa Bharati and it was given the shape of a registered organisation after preparing the constitution. Vishnuji was appointed its organising secretary, while Shri Vishwamitra Pushkarana was entrusted with the task of joint organising secretary. Shri Karmchand Mehra was appointed president and Shri Sardarilal Gupta secretary. Shri Ramavatar Gupta was appointed publicity secretary who became the first editor of Sewa Samarpan magazine.
Vishnuji dedicated his life playing a pivotal role in the Sewa Bharati. He never went on the dais; no speech, no garland, no honour, only work, work and work! Blessings from Shri Ashok Singhal were received as long as he was alive. The inspirational blessings from senior Pracharak Shri Premchand Goyal are still being received.
Sewa Bharati is working today in many provinces, though there are separate units in many States. All of them are realising the dream of Balasaheb Deoras through the service projects at their respective level.
(The writer is one of the members of Delhi Sewa Bharati who started service projects)
