Since its inception, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has adhered to Swami Vivekananda’s principles. Swami Vivekananda’s vision was to restore the nation’s glory, and he emphasised many aspects with a strong cultural and Dharmic foundation to instil in our youth the belief in self-reliance in India. RSS is not only a believer in self-sufficiency in India, but it is also working on the ground with youths, encouraging industrialists, and engaging with governments to focus more on self-sufficiency in India.
RSS top leadership and functionaries unanimously passed a resolution to focus and work for self-reliant Bharat rigorously in its “Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha” on 11th to 13th March 2022. RSS’s multifaceted approach attracts over a lakh youths each year.
Why is self-sufficiency in India necessary for growth?
Let us clarify things on a broader scale. For a long time, we were economically and socially destroyed by Mughals and then by Britishers. Even after independence, we have been brainwashed into believing that we cannot compete with China and other developed nations in terms of manufacturing and service sector. Slowly, we became addicted to Chinese products; just look around your home to see how many commodities are made in China; we even started buying idols and worshipping material, such mental slavery and dependency on China for our living and other requirements, a country that has always betrayed us, supported our enemy nation Pakistan and its terrorists in their attempts to kill our civilians and soldiers. China creates and supports naxalism in India. Never supported India on a global scale, but rather opposed and assisted in terrorising our people. They never consider parts of the North East and J&K to be a part of India. Still, the laws and structures set by our previous governments created difficult situations and literally mental torture by many bureaucrats and politicians to anyone who wished to start a manufacturing or service industry, Keeping our economy much weaker than China. Thanks to the resilience and perseverance of our stalwarts like Tata, Ambani, Aziz Premji, Mahindra and many more who brought glory and confidence in Indians about our capabilities even under adverse conditions.
With India’s rapidly growing population, any government would find it impossible to create an equal number of jobs. Rather than having only job seekers, the emphasis should be on developing more entrepreneurs with the necessary knowledge and skills. This is where RSS is concentrating its efforts. The recent crisis in Russia and Ukraine emphasises the importance of self-sufficiency; it is risky to rely heavily on imports for fuel and other essential commodities. Surprisingly, we import many things that were essentially developed in India many centuries ago with the necessary skills. As a result, entrepreneurs and jobs that could easily be created in India have been imported. The RSS, as an organisation, collaborates with the government and other organisations to provide our youth with the necessary knowledge and skills.
One example of self sufficiency set by RSS Pracharak
On November 1, 2006, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the then-President of India, visited Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh, where he met RSS Pracharak and social reformer Nanaji Deshmukh. Dr. Kalam lauded Nanaji Deshmukh’s efforts and RSS-inspired initiatives for comprehensive rural development.
What Shri Abdul Kalam said,
I recently visited Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, where I met Shri Nana Deshmukhji, RSS pracharak (Age 90), and members of his Deendayal Research Institute team (DRI). DRI is a one-of-a-kind organisation that is developing and implementing a village development model that is best suited for India. DRI recognises that popular power is more potent, stable, and long-lasting than political power. One gains administration and governance skills by becoming one with the oppressed and depressed. Only by instilling in the younger generation the spirit of self-reliance and excellence will social advancement and prosperity be possible. Using this principle, DRI intends to develop one hundred clusters of villages, each with about five villages, around Chitrakoot. They have already built 80 villages in 16 clusters with a total population of about 50,000 people. I visited one of the villages called Patni, where the institute has promoted sustainable development based on indigenous and traditional technology. Field studies help to develop replicable and tangible models for achieving self-sufficiency in villages. The programme aims to generate income through value addition, innovative agricultural practises, instilling a scientific mindset in the villagers, improving health and hygiene, and striving for 100 percent literacy. Aside from all of these development activities, the institute promotes a cohesive, conflict-free society. As a result, I understand that the eighty villages surrounding Chitrakoot are almost entirely free of litigation. The villagers have agreed unanimously that no dispute will be resolved in court. Nana Deshmikh Ji explains that if people fight among themselves, there is no time for development. They are unable to develop either themselves or the community. This message has been received by society, and they have decided not to engage in any combat. All of this was accomplished through DRI’s ‘Samaj Shilpi Dampati’ (a graduate married couple), a new counselling and intervention concept promoted by DRI. Friends, you will see more heroes and smiles in Nanaji’s villages. Isn’t it a fertile ground for a screenwriter, a poet, or a director?
You will then achieve new heights. Such conviction and brotherhood are essential for building a strong nation. Your accomplishments inspire me to believe that a country of one billion people can do the same.
Sangh and its close associate Shiksha Sanskruti Utthan Nyas, as well as other organisations, are working around the clock to implement a new education policy that will produce researchers, innovators, and skilled youths who will be job creators rather than job seekers. The ongoing effort by industries and the government to support independently developed products in order to build a strong economy and reduce reliance on China is consistent with the “Swadeshi Movement” run by the RSS for many decades and the work of its wing “Vigyan Bharati.”
The situation is changing, and more such products are being encouraged to be manufactured in-house and promoted with strong emotional ties to “Make in India” products. An increase in people’s national feelings and pride in Bharatatva, as well as an increase in anger toward enemy nations China and Pakistan. The stronger the relationship between buyer and seller of Indian-made products, the stronger the economy will be year after year, with increased employment. This will essentially turn us into net exporters.
It is time for every youth, industry, government, and social organisation to come forward and work with the RSS team to develop each village into a self-reliant Bharat.
