If Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is a family, then the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is the youth of this family. The ideal of this youth is Swami Vivekananda. The core of what the Sangh has taught this young member of its family is :
काक चेष्टा, बको ध्यानं, स्वान निद्रा तथैव च।
अल्पहारी, गृहत्यागी, विद्यार्थी पंच लक्षणं ॥
कौवे की तरह जानने की चेष्टा वाला, बगुले की तरह ध्यान लगाने वाले, कुत्ते की तरह जागृत अवस्था में सोने वाला व अल्पाहारी होकर आवश्यकतानुसार खाने वाला और गृह-त्यागी यही विद्यार्थी के पंच लक्षण हैं।
The continuous journey of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in the last sixty-nine years has been accompanied by these five characteristics only. So much fame, bravery, restraint, glory, virtue, achievement, breadth, expansion, flight, depth, flow, rise, maturity, carelfulness, and most of all, a beautiful song-like form, is not found in any organisation just like that. ABVP has acquired all these qualities from its five basic qualities, which it has learned from its mother organisation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, which is also known as ABVP in short, is organising its 69th session from December 7-10, 2023. It is the largest student organisation not only in India but in the world. The Student Council, which was established on July 9, 1949, today stands ready to convene its sixty-ninth national convention with the amazing youth and energy of a sixteen-year-old. The country’s Home Minister, Amit Shah is attending the inaugural session of this convention, and the country’s radiant and poppier Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending the closing session.
Moving forward with the words or mantra of knowledge, modesty, and unity, this student organisation is moving towards accomplishing the goals which it had set. This organisation, which has many goals, has only one goal at its core: to place Bharat Mata at the pinnacle of ultimate glory. Bangladeshi illegal infiltration, abolition of Article 370 from Kashmir, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, Satyagraha against giving three bighas of land to Bangladesh, appeasement, Indianization of education, New Education Policy, opposition to terrorism, purity-discipline-dignity in educational institutions, development of educational institutions. This organisation has reached here by achieving so many goals and movements, like opposition to commercialisation, spread of education in every nook and corner of rural areas, etc. etc., this organisation has now become a huge banyan tree.
What the Vidyarthi Parishad has achieved in its 69 years of tireless, enduring, and wonderful journey is like becoming a bridge between two poles. On one hand, this organisation is establishing India’s basic knowledge tradition at the pinnacle of its wisdom, while on the other hand, it is also assimilating international-level and global education methods. Although the work of integrating Indian knowledge traditions and global modern education has not been completed yet, through the new education policy, Vidyarthi Parishad has taken this work far ahead.
While the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was worried and thoughtful about the need for many reforms in the Bharatiya education system, the Vidyarthi Parishad has proved to be a great medium to convert this concern of the Sangh into a favourable one. The ABVP itself has started achieving the goals of the new education policy of the Union. The continuous involvement of not only the students but also the teachers in this organisation has proved helpful in achieving the goal of implementing the new education policy.
The basic identity of any nation is determined by its education system. This has been the unshakable belief of the Sangh and the entire organisation of the Student Council has been the bearer and conductor of this belief. Swami Vivekananda has said about education, “Manifestation of perfection already in a man!” Taking this forward, education has the ability to transform a Nar into the Narayan, this has been the belief of the Sangh Parivar. This ideology of the Sangh has also been reflected by the Kothari Commission in its report, “Destiny of the nation is shaped in classes”. The Englishman Thomas Macaulay, who has penetrated deep into the blood cells and arteries of this nation, has not been thrown out for no reason in the last decade. Behind this is the invaluable contribution of the Vidyarthi Parishad, the Sangh Parivar and the hundred years of penance.
One of the most prominent achievements of the Narendra Modi government, which will continue to shine and dazzle the nation for centuries to come, is the “New Education Policy”. The contribution of the Student Council has been very important in determining this new education policy. K Kasturirangan is preparing the draft of the new education system. Kasturirangan Committee has also mentioned Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in its report and expressed its gratitude towards it.
Vidyarthi Parishad, which has expanded its existence in all the states across India, has fulfilled its basic function of student organisation just as Shri Ram had moved ahead and formed his Vanar Sena and killed Ravana. Today, the flag of Vidyarthi Parishad is placed on the posts of student organisations in all the prestigious, huge and countable educational institutions of the country, so it is indicative of its virtuous deeds.
In its contribution to the new education system, tried to make it holistic by incorporating everything from ABVP Chandrayaan Abhiyan and Swami Vivekananda to Indian knowledge tradition, Indian Rishi Parampra, Gurukul tradition, Acharya Chanakya, Vedic elements, mythological narratives and now even artificial intelligence.
In its 69 years of journey, the ABVP has done the work of improving our society and nation by inviting countless campaigns, movements, and calls. If a list of all these is made, then perhaps the ink of the entire sea and the paper of the entire earth will be less, but still, if we have to understand this extensive journey of Vidyarthi Parishad in three words, then only these three words of this organisation are sufficient for that. – Gyan, Sheel Ekta !!
Vidyarthi Parishad has become the carrier of new changes; it has become synonymous with social harmony; it is the infallible mantra for solving problems; it is the instrument of environmental protection; it is the source of creativity. with all these qualities, All India is moving ahead. Hearty greetings and salutations to the Vidyarthi Parishad, which is ready to convene the 69th National Convention of the Vidyarthi Parishad!!
The ABVP sets a new annual verse every year. By reading this verse of last year’s song, we come to know the essence of this organisation:
हम छात्र शक्ति के प्रखर पुंज , हम देव भूमि के हैं साधक,
हम छात्र शक्ति से राष्ट्रशक्ति , गढने वाले है आराधक!
हम तरुणाई में संस्कारों का अलख जगायेंगे ,
विश्वगुरु भारत का ध्वज लेकर जायेंगे !!
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