“The resurrection and the national rejuvenation of India which the R.S.S. heralds as the message and mission of the Sangha is historically based on the varied experiences and experiments India had in her long history. Its triple order is: Unity, Humanity, Freedom. With faith in the destiny of India, with transparent, uncontaminated national character, with India’s humanistic and rational Philosophy, with order, discipline and iron sense of Duty, Mother India, through her new Sangha, the R.S.S., is going to achieve her destined goal”. –Father Anthony Elenjimittam, Philosophy and Action of the RSS for the Hind Swaraj, The Laxmi Publications, Bombay, October 1951, p. 76
Since its inception, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been facing the same criticism from the people who do not understand Bharat. While marching towards its centenary year, the patriotic voluntary organisation through the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha 2024, held at Nagpur, has yet again presented a unique way of unfolding a progressive path for achieving the civilisational mission of Bharat. Though people analyse the significance of the annual meeting more from a political perspective, the real success of this historic national council lies in its ability to continuously reinvent itself organisationally and strategically to achieve the life mission of Bharat.
Sheer numbers in the annual report presented by the Sarkaryavah (General Secretary) and the amount of experimentation that has occurred through RSS are mind-boggling if one decides to analyse and understand. The number of Shakhas has increased from around sixty-eight thousand to seventy-three thousand. The institutionalised Sewa Projects (service activities related to health, education, etc.) are around 1 lakh 22 thousand. Around 16 thousand activists were involved in surveying the service activities and assessed their impact through mobile apps. If we add up the activities and numbers of other inspired organisations, the numbers and impact are astonishing. The culmination of all these numbers could be seen in the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha Griha Sampark Abhiyan (the door-to-door campaign undertaken for the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Ceremony). More than 44, 98, 334 activists participated in the campaign and contacted around 19 crore 38 lakh households. Even people from nomadic tribes were also involved in this historic event. Still, the RSS assessment of its own work, as stated by Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, is ’a matter of happiness but not satisfactory’ as the actual Shakha work has not reached every block and village. This appetite for reaching the unreached is the crux of RSS’s growth and success.
When elections are generally seen as divisive and argumentative, the way RSS has re-elected the Sarkaryavah and constituted the new team is noteworthy. The elected members propose and second a name, and as per convention, consensus is built around a name through deliberation. As per the organisational requirements, the young blood is promoted from the provincial to the national level, a fantastic exercise developed by the organisation. A perfect blend of constitutional norms and familial bonds is fundamental, based on which consensus is built in this democratic organisation.
Contrary to the grand plan of the centenary celebrations of RSS, the organisation came up with new targets and agenda for the coming years. While others keep accusing Sangh of being a patriarchal organisation, Mahila Samanvay – the women coordination activity of RSS – conducted 449 women’s conventions across the country with the participation of more than 5 lakh 50 thousand women. Even in the intellectual discourse, not to forget the fundamentals of organisation building and the ultimate objective of organising the entire society for taking the nation to the pinnacle of glory was underscored. Sangh neither gets bogged down when targeted nor gets carried away when accepted. While setting the new targets for reaching out to every block of the country and revising the syllabus with a new three days introductory programme called Prarambhik (induction), there were detailed deliberations about the Panch Parivartan (five-point agenda for transformation). Inculcating the values of Swadeshi, Environmental Conservation, Parivar Prabodhan (Strengthening familial bonds), Civic duties and Samarasta (promoting equality with fraternity) were the five fundamentals around which RSS has decided to focus in the centenary year.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, as a movement and idea, has come into existence to realise the civilisation mission of Bharat. Insistence on organisation, discipline, efficiency, and utilisation of the youthful forces in the country for the constructive side of nation-building are just instruments in realising this goal. Father Anthony Elinjimittam had elaborated this vision and mission way back in 1951. If we understand and make others understand that the primary intent behind this unique organisation is to merge into society, we can also be part of this movement for national transformation.
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