ABPS 2024: Unleashing the transformative energy

“The Sangh is touching the hearts of people, and the impact of the Sangh can be seen in all walks of life. The way people welcomed us across the country during the Akshat Vitaran before the Pran Pratistha of Ram Lalla shows the environment of the country,” said RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale on March 17, 2024, at the conclusion of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS). The mega event was held at Dayanand Saraswati Hall of the historical Smruti Mandir, Reshimbagh ground, Nagpur from March 15-17.

Smruti Mandir is a memorial in Reshimbagh dedicated to the founder and first Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Dr KB Hedgewar and the second Sarsanghchalak MS Golwalkar, popularly known as ‘Shri Guruji’.

Addressing the press gathering, newly re-elected RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale said, “Ram temple is the symbol of Bharat’s civilisation and culture. Shri Ram is the civilisational identity of the country; this has been proven time and again and also proven on January 22. Approximately 20 crore households were contacted by the RSS or people from our ideological fraternity for the campaign. It is a record by itself in Bharat’s history and in any part of the world that such a thing has happened in just 15 days.” “The RSS is not just an organisation within society; it organises the whole society. We have to make Bharat Samruddhshali (prosperous), Samarthyashali (powerful), Swabhimani (self-respecting).”

Talking about bringing society together for social transformation, RSS Sarkaryavah said: “Samajik Samrasta (social harmony) is not a strategy, but an article of faith. Samajik Parivartan (social transformation) will be realised after bringing Sajjan Shakti (righteous power) together with their collective efforts. RSS has pledged to join the whole society and move towards Samajik Parivartan.”

Notably, Dattatreya Hosabale ji has been unanimously re-elected as the Sarkaryavah for the next three years (2024- 2027) at the recently concluded three-day-long annual ABPS.

Strengthening the nation’s democracy

As the nation gears up for Parliamentary elections starting April 19, the RSS will be actively involved in grassroot efforts to encourage 100 per cent voter turnout.

The RSS is planning to send its Swayamsewaks door-to-door to create awareness about voting and request people to franchise their electoral duty.

While replying to a question on Parliamentary polls 2024, RSS Sarkaryavah stated that election is a big festival of democracy. It is essential to strengthen the nation’s democracy and unity, and maintain the pace of progress. Swayamsevaks will spread awareness for cent per cent polling. The society should be vigilant that there are no aspects of enmity, separatism, divisive attempts or anything else that goes against the unity and integrity of Bharat.

RSS stands with the victims of Sandeshkhali

Since January, West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali has been in the spotlight after a storm broke out over allegations of sexual assault and corruption against a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader. After almost three months of being on the run, Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested recently.

RSS Sarkaryavah extended support to the victimised women of Sandeshkhali in their movement for justice. He said that the horrific incident has shaken the conscience of the entire society.

Talking about the Sandeshkhali horror, RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale highlighted the recent meeting of Sandeshkhali women representatives with the President of India, demanding stringent punishment for the perpetrators.

“Sandeshkhali women representatives had met the President of Bharat, demanding stringent punishment for the perpetrators of the incidents. All Sangh Swayamsevaks and Sangh-inspired organisations are supporting this,” he said.

When asked whether the Sangh would strive to stop Sandeshkhali-like incidents, Shri Hosabale replied, “Our sisters are capable enough to take such initiatives, they will take up these issues and we will stand by them”.

Electoral Bonds, Just an Experiment

Electoral bonds were introduced by the Government of India in 2018 as a mechanism for individuals and corporations to make anonymous donations to political parties. The stated aim was to promote transparency and curb the influence of black money in political funding.

However, the recent controversy arises from concerns raised regarding the lack of transparency and accountability associated with electoral bonds. Recently, the Election Commission released the State Bank of India (SBI)-provided data on the electoral bonds on its website after the Supreme Court asked the public sector bank to make it public.

RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale reacted to the concerns raised about the electoral bond data, saying that it is just an “experiment”, adding that “questions are raised when a new thing comes up”. Such experiments are required, he said. He cited the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as one such instance and said that questions were raised about these too.

“People may have such questions in their minds, but time will tell how beneficial and effective the new system is. So, we should allow such experiments to take place. That is the Sangh’s view,” he said.

Concept of minorities needs a rethink

In recent years, individuals from diverse backgrounds have been advocating reconsideration of the concept of minorities.

Shri Dattatreya Hosabale suggested, “We need to reconsider (punarvichar) the concept of minority (alpasankhyak) in the light of the spirit of the Constitution. The country belongs to all (irrespective of numerical strength). When we say ‘minority’, it promotes separatism… then who does the country belong to? It’s everyone’s.”

Since its inception in 1925, the RSS has held that no matter what religion one may follow in Bharath, no one should be seen from the prism of “majority” or “minority”.

According to Shri Hosabale, the RSS considers everyone as Hindus based on their nationality, even though they might be following a different religion. “Even those who don’t consider themselves as Hindus, we have a dialogue with them. When Manmohan Vaidyaji said that minorities are coming closer to the Sangh, he meant Muslims and Christians. Sangh has always protested minority politics. We have had interactions with Christians in Kerala as well as Muslims in Maharashtra,” he said.

On the Uniform Civil Code, Shri Hosabale said, “We welcome the Uniform Civil Code. What Uttrakhand has done should be studied. We urge that it be implemented across the country.”

Massive increase in RSS’s footprint and enthusiasm among youth

The organisation has seen exponential growth in the last 10-12 years as people’s zeal to know and participate in the organisation has grown rapidly. Among the new people who have joined the RSS, it is the youth whose number has increased manifold. Most of these applicants were aged between 20 and 35 years, looking to join the RSS with the aim to serving society.

Addressing the media on the first day of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha conclave on March 15, Shri Manmohan Vaidya, the former RSS Sahsarkaryavah, said a large number of people are searching for the RSS and seeking to join the nationalist organisation through the digital medium ‘Join RSS’. The organisation receives about one lakh requests a year from such individuals to join the Sangh.

He said that daily, 73,117 Sangh shakhas are held across the country, and students comprise about 60 per cent of these assemblies. In the past year, the number of shakhas has gone up by 4,466.

Similarly, 27,717 weekly shakhas are also conducted across the country, said Shri Vaidya.

“Between 2017 and 2023, the RSS received an average of one lakh requests a year from people who want to be a part of the Sangh. In the first two months of this year, 27,362 such requests were received,” he said.

Shri Vaidya said that youth in large numbers are attending the Sangh training programmes. Every year, 15,000 to 17,000 young individuals participate in the Pratham Varsh Sangh Shiksha Varg (First Year OTC Camp) and about 1 lakh in the Prathamik Shiksha Varg (7 days’ introductory programme), he said.

Talking about the RSS’s Shakhas, a senior RSS pracharak said to the Organiser, “Shakhas are centres for character development. Individuals who attend shakhas imbibe great values and later play a critical role in social transformation by awakening thoughts and taking the society along.”

New Syllabus and Nomenclature

The RSS has brought about changes in the content and nomenclature of its yearly training programmes, and the revisions will be implemented from this year.

Addressing the media on the first day of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha conclave on March 15, Shri Vaidya said that slight changes have been introduced in their seven-day Prathamik Shiksha Varg, 20-day Sangh Shiksha Varg-Pratham Varsh, 20-day Sangh Shiksha Varg-Dvitya Varsh and 25-day Sangh Shiksha Varg-Tritiya Varsh training programmes.

According to him, they now have a three-day Prarambhik Varg programme for newcomers. They will then take part in the Prathamik Shiksha Varg of seven days followed by a 15-day Sangh Shiksha Varg, which was earlier called ‘Sangh Shiksha Varg-Pratham Varsh’ and had a duration of 20 days.

“The earlier training classes of Dvitya Varsha and Tritya Varsh will now be called Karyakarta Vikas Varg-1and ‘Karyakarta Vikas Varg-2’, respectively,” said Shri Vaidya.

Shri Vaidya said that the content of Tritya Varsh which will now be now Karyakarta Vikas Varg-2 has been tweaked a bit to provide behavioural training to the trainees by taking them to the field for 5 days.

This new syllabus and nomenclature will be implemented from this year. Resolution on Ram Mandir and Statement on Devi Ahilyabai Holkar The ABPS also passed a resolution on the inauguration of the Ram Mandir, which it called “an ethereal and golden page of world history”. It said that the participation of the “entire gamut” of Indian social life in the inauguration ceremony was “an indication of the beginning of a glorious epoch of national resurgence of Bharat”.

“With the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, society is coming out of the lack of confidence and self-oblivion that arose during the period of foreign rule and struggle. The entire society immersed in the spirit of Hindutva is preparing to recognise its ‘swa’ (selfhood) and getting ready to live accordingly,” it said.

In addition to the resolution, one statement was issued on pioneer of women education Devi Ahilyabai Holkar.

The 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, who contributed immensely to society and the country, will begin in May. As part of the year-long celebrations, which will be supported and organised by Sangh workers, multiple programmes will be organised across the country.

She is a revered figure, who fought for women’s education at a time when it was forbidden and also worked towards women’s empowerment.

The RSS’s focus on Ahilyabai Holkar is also significant given the ongoing legal battle over the Gyanvapi at the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, which is among the many temples Holkar renovated across the country.

Objective of Purna Nagar, Purna Mandal and Purna Khand in Centenary Year

The RSS, whose seeds were sown by Dr KB Hedgewar ji in 1925, has now flourished into a sprawling tree. With a year to go for its centenary celebrations, the RSS has planned an outreach programme by the Swayamsewaks across the country. The centenary year will start from Vijayadashami 2025.

‘Cutting South’, unrest in Manipur, Haryana and Rajasthan have been highlighted in the Annual report

“In Mewat area, where a section of the Muslim community violently attacked the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP ) yatra and helped spread violence. The social tension prevailed for months and the issue is not settled. The situation in Manipur has created mistrust between the two sections of the society — Meitei and Kuki — causing deep wounds. It is unfortunate that the border state is undergoing a deep, inexplicable pain and the psychological division of society is dangerous,” said the annual report.

It added that “separatist terrorism” in Punjab has resurfaced months before the Lok Sabha elections under the “pretext of farmers agitation”.

“In Mewat and Manipur, Sangh karyakartas, on the basis of their communication with relevant people, have tried to save the situation, strengthen the society by morale-boosting, and create an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and coexistence. The separatist terrorism in Punjab has again raised its ugly head. Under the pretext of farmers’ agitation, especially in Punjab, attempts have been restarted to spread anarchy, just two months before the Lok Sabha elections,” it said.

“The forces that are inimical to anything that is Bharat, Hindutva or Sangh, are ever-active in search of newer plans and designs to disrupt or denigrate these three. The frequent rising of [issues] such as Sanatana Dharma is the cause for all ills of our nation’, or the separatist issue of cutting south, or the play of politics in the sensitive matter of caste census — all these are aimed at disunity of the nation through distorted narratives,” it added.

What is ABPS and How Sarkaryavaha is elected?

For a better understanding of the RSS and its functioning, we need to understand the nature of ABPS. Since 1950, barring the emergency period, the annual meeting of the Pratinidhi Sabha has been taking place regularly every year. In March 1950, the first ABPS meeting was held at Nagpur and Shri Bhaiyyaji Dani was elected Sarkaryavah (General Secretary).

The annual Pratinidhi Sabha normally occurs every year, with a triennial occurrence in Nagpur. However, this time, it convened in Nagpur after a gap of six years. The previous session, slated for Nagpur, was relocated to Bengaluru due to Covid-19 restrictions. Amidst the pandemic, the Sabha transitioned to online format in 2020 and adopted a hybrid model in 2021.

As per Article 15 of the RSS Constitution, the ABPS is elected by Prantiya Pratinidhi Sabhas – elected representatives of the regional bodies.

“The elected members of a Prantiya Pratinidhi Sabha elect from among themselves one-eighth of their number as representatives of the Province on the ABPS”, says the article. The Prantiya Sabhas are elected by Swayamsevaks right from the Shakha level (local unit level), on an average of 1 representative behind 50 active swayamsevaks.

All members of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (All India Executive Committee comprising national and zonal level office bearers and invited members) are de-facto members of the Pratinidhi Sabha, as per the Constitution. The Sarkaryavah (General Secretary, who is the elected executive authority of the organisation) presides over the proceedings. Generally, for Sarkaryavah elections, the Pratinidhi Sabha takes place every third year in Nagpur, at the Reshimbagh premises to facilitate the process of election.

As per Article 13 of the Constitution of RSS, the elected members of the ABPS shall elect the Sarkaryavah. The Sarkaryavah shall act in consultation with the Sarsanghchalak.

ABPS consists of representatives of the delegates, Sanghchalaks and pracharaks of divisions and provincial centres, and members of the Kendriya Karyakari Mandal.

Shri Dattatreya Hosabale was first elected as Sarkaryavah in Bengaluru in 2021–this was for the first time in the RSS’s history that the Sarkaryavah was elected outside Nagpur.

Shri Dattatreya Hosabale has been re-elected to serve as the Sarkaryavah of the RSS from 2024 to 2027. The Sangh’s supervisory and executive body, ABPS, re-elected Hosabale as ‘Sarkaryavah’ popularly known as ‘Datta Ji’.

This year, 1465 pratinidhis (representatives) from 35 diverse organisations spanning various sectors across the country, took part in the three-day long ABPS 2024.