“Do you love your country?” Then come, let us strive for greater and better things; don’t turn back, not even if you see your dearest and nearest crying. “Look forward, not back!” — Swami Vivekananda
Many political parties, foreign-funded intellectuals and non-governmental organisations benefit from the slavish and selfish attitude of some Hindus. As a result, it is natural for them to resist and act politically against individuals or organisations they perceive as a threat to their “Self or Family First” agenda. What is happening is a war for Bharat’s soul.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is one such organisation that many political parties, non-governmental organisations and so-called intellectuals frequently target. The DMK-led administration in Tamil Nadu recently banned route marches. After a long battle to prohibit the route march, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the route march and even questioned the DMK Government’s claims. Swayamsevaks marched on 45 routes across the State, and it was as calm and enthusiastic as normal. Society and intellectuals with open minds must investigate the intent of various factions to denigrate RSS and poison the people’s minds against RSS.
Seeing the activities and initiatives of RSS, the society at large gained a strong faith and thinks that Sangh, with the participation of society on a bigger scale, will take the nation to greater heights and Bharat will once again become Vishwa Guru. Is this faith unsettling many political parties, non-governmental organisations and so-called intellectuals? The Sangh is not only restricted to Shakha and Seva activities, but it has also built and developed organisations and institutes in nearly every sector and area where society and the nation require assistance to uplift each segment socio-economically and spiritually.
Ban without Evidence
Following the killing of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, the Indian Government disbanded the Sangh and arrested 20,000 Swayamsevaks without investigating the facts. Those who went underground discovered that no significant political entity was willing to advocate for the RSS’s agenda in Parliament or elsewhere. These individuals, who had broken free from the RSS hierarchy following the first wave of arrests, advocated for their movement to become political. KR Malkani was one of them, and he wrote in 1949, “Sangh must participate in politics not only to protect itself from the greedy designs of politicians but also to stop the Government’s un-Bharatiya and anti-Bharatiya policies and to advance and expedite the cause of Bharatiya through state machinery side by side with official effort in the same direction…Sangh must remain a “Ashram” for the national cultural education of the entire populace, but it must also create a political wing to realise its aims more effectively and quickly.’ (Organiser Weekly, December 1, 1949)
Attempt to Malign Sangh
The Sangh has always been maligned by many Communists and Congress leaders, even before the foundation of Jan Sangh. Were they afraid that the activities of RSS would strengthen each member of society in order to build a better nation? The selfish agenda will not work in the long run if the RSS continues to spread its wings deep throughout the country, thereby using Government machinery to sabotage the Sangh and its vision and mission, banning or targeting various activities through judicial means, but the judiciary had always acted judiciously and given verdicts in favour of the RSS even when Governments were very powerful. The Congress party and its Marxist offshoots have dominated Indian politics since India’s Independence in 1947.
Correspondence Between Guruji, the then-Prime Minister, and HM
There was a lot of correspondence between then Sarsanghchalak Shri Guruji Golwalkar, then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and then Prime Minister Nehru when Sangh was banned for the first time in 1948, before the ban was lifted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s Government. Sardar Patel requested that the Sangh be merged into Congress in one of his official letters dated September 11, 1948 to Guruji. Few lines from the letter drafted by Sardar Patel. “I am thoroughly convinced that the RSS men can carry on their patriotic endeavour only by joining the Congress and not by keeping separate or by opposing. I am glad that you have been released. I hope that you will arrive at proper decision after due consideration of what I have said above.” What does it represent? Congress was fully aware of the strength of RSS Swayamsevaks to work on the ground for the upliftment of every Bharatiya, even when there is no financial gain and even when the situation is life-threatening. What message does it communicate at the time that you merge with us or get perished? Despite this, the Sangh persisted in its efforts, and a seed planted by Param Pujya Doctor Hedgewar Ji has grown into a large and broad tree.
Why Does the Sangh not use Media Publicity Despite being Criticised?
Based on their findings of leaders who gained more media attention and built a favourable image from 1975 to 1985, the India Today group wrote an essay titled “Where are they?” It was concluded that people and organisations, who worked on the ground for the welfare of society and country without media publicity, strengthened their standing in the minds of people and the overall society, whereas those who craved day and night media publicity lost ground or suffered a significant loss in the image making process. As a result, while tempting and ego-satisfying, this image-building process ultimately causes more misery for everyone influenced by it.
Expectations from the Political Arena
After studying the Sangh, I discovered that the Sangh is not hostile to any party and has never prevented anyone from joining any party. Nonetheless, the Sangh has and wishes political parties to work for the nation based on Sanatan values. It supports and will support any political party that makes “Nation first” their vision and mission, rather than “family or self first.” The Sangh opposes vote bank politics that divides people based on caste and religious bias.
The Sangh aims for Samrasata (Equanimity) to bring Samta and Mamta together based on Aham Brahmasmi, Tatvamasi, which simply means “You and I are one.” The Sangh is opposed to religious conversions by coercion and hatred. It believes in the authority of the Constitution. No law or scheme should be enacted to promote any particular religion. Isn’t it true that some laws and programmes enacted unconstitutionally to assist specific religions, such as the 1995 Waqf Board Act, should be repealed? The Sangh desires and works to develop each individual socio-economically and spiritually so that we once again become Vishwa Guru.
The Sangh has no political ambition but believes that politics should be used for nation-building and nothing else.
