Participants at the Sangh Shiksha Varg (File Image)
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) initiated its first training camp, known as Sangh Shiksha Varg, in Nagpur in 1927. These early camps, referred to as summer camps, lasted for three weeks. Over the years, they evolved and were renamed ‘Adhikari Shiksha Varg’. By 1950, they came to be known as ‘Sangh Shiksha Varg’.
In the initial years, meals were provided by local households, and trainees were accommodated in local schools like Lokanchi Shala, Dhanwate Nagar School (then known as Mill City School), and New English School. These facilities were offered free of charge. However, expenses for medical services, electricity, and water during the camps were covered by fees collected from the participants.
Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of RSS, received significant support from Anna Sohni and Martandrao Jog to ensure the success of these camps. In the early years, after the physical training sessions, Dr. Hedgewar would take all the volunteers to a pond in Chitnispura for swimming. As the number of participants grew, these visits to the pond were discontinued.
Around 1939, the camps began to be held at the Hedgewar Smriti Mandir in Reshimbagh, Nagpur. This land, approximately one acre, was purchased by Dr. Hedgewar for ₹700. Since then, the RSS training camps have continued to be held at this location.
Program Structure
The camps run from 5 AM to 9 PM, encompassing both physical and intellectual training. Initially, two and a half hours in the morning and one and a half hours in the evening were dedicated to physical exercises. The afternoons, from 12:30 PM to 5 PM, were reserved for rest, discussions, and note-taking by the volunteers.
Expansion Beyond Nagpur
Following the success of these camps in Nagpur, the first training camp outside Nagpur was held in Pune in 1934. By the following year, Pune hosted both first and second-year training camps. The Pune camp was scheduled from April 22 to June 2, while the Nagpur camp ran from May 1 to June 10, accommodating the summer vacation period. Dr. Hedgewar would spend time in Pune until May 15 and then move to Nagpur.
Subsequently, camps were also organized in Nashik. By 1942-43, the number of volunteers attending these camps had reached nearly 2,750. In 1938, the first camp outside Maharashtra was held in Lahore. As the organization expanded, first and second-year training camps were organized in other states. However, attendance at the Nagpur camp remained mandatory for third-year training.
Nationwide Expansion of RSS Training Camps
Nagpur, India [1940]: The RSS training camps, known as Sangh Shiksha Varg, witnessed a significant nationwide expansion in 1940. Volunteers from across India, from the northern to southern regions and eastern to western provinces, attended the training camp held in Nagpur that year. Unfortunately, shortly after the camp concluded, the RSS founder, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, passed away on June 21, 1940.
Why May-June?
The training camps are held during May and June to coincide with the summer vacations of schools and colleges. With examinations completed, students are free during these months. This timing was chosen to introduce young people to the working methods of the RSS, a practice that continues to this day.
Interruptions in the Continuous Flow
Over the years, several interruptions have impacted the continuous flow of these training camps. The RSS faced bans during 1948-1949, 1976-1977 during the Emergency, and again in 1993. In 1991, the camps were disrupted due to special national circumstances, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the Lok Sabha elections. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of these training camps in 2020-2021.
RSS Training Camps Undergo Structural Changes in 2024
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has announced significant changes to the structure of its training camps starting this year. The new format includes several types of camps with varying durations:
Previously, the Nagpur camp, now known as Worker Development Camp-2, lasted 40 days. In the years preceding India’s independence, the duration was temporarily reduced to 30 days. The RSS offers two types of Sangh Shiksha Varg: one for volunteers aged 18 to 40, and another special camp for those aged 41 to 65. Participants over 65 years old are not admitted.
Activities and Closing Ceremonies
During the 25-day Sangh Shiksha Varg, participants engage in a route march (path sanchalan) in full RSS uniform. The closing ceremony of the camp is a significant event organized by the city of Nagpur. The Sarsanghchalak (chief) of the RSS delivers an address, providing an in-depth perspective on current national and international issues from the RSS’s viewpoint. The speech also outlines the organization’s stance on social issues directly impacting India and its citizens, offering valuable insights to the volunteers.
Distinguished Guests
The closing ceremonies often feature a prominent guest speaker. Over the past decade, several notable individuals have been invited to address the participants. These guests have contributed to the comprehensive educational experience offered at the camps, reinforcing the RSS’s commitment to developing informed and dedicated volunteers.
RSS Training Camps Lay Focus On Social Harmony and Discipline
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organised its Third Year Training Camps twice in 2022, once in May and again in December. These camps, pivotal in the training of RSS volunteers, offer a unique blend of activities and experiences aimed at fostering social harmony, discipline, and a sense of national unity.
Key Features of the Camps
Social Harmony: The camps bring together trainees from across India, transcending caste and color barriers, promoting a sense of unity and equality.
Community Meals: Volunteers dine together, reinforcing the principle of equality and breaking down social barriers.
Collective Living: Participants live and engage in all activities together, fostering a spirit of camaraderie.
National Perspective: Trainees gain a broad understanding of national issues, enhancing their awareness of India’s diverse cultural and geographical landscape.
Discipline: The structured environment instills a strong sense of discipline among the volunteers.
Knowledge Sharing: Participants receive comprehensive knowledge about the organizational structure and geographical reach of the RSS.
Problem-Solving: The camps address various challenges faced by society and the nation, equipping volunteers with problem-solving skills.
Skill Development: The training enhances the efficiency and skillset of the volunteers.
Sense of Organization: A feeling of belonging and oneness is cultivated among all participants.
Self-Reliance: Volunteers perform all tasks themselves, promoting self-sufficiency and independence.
Speeches by the Sarsanghchalak
RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, in his address at the Third Year Camp in Nagpur on June 6, 2022, emphasized the purpose of the training. “Why do we conduct this training? It is to ensure that Bharat Mata’s glory is recognized worldwide. Are we aiming to become conquerors? No, our goal is not to conquer but to unite. The work of the RSS is also aimed at uniting people, not conquering them. Historically, Bharatvarsha has aimed to unite the world, not to dominate it.”
In another significant speech during the Lok Satta-Idea Exchange on October 22, 2012, Bhagwat remarked on the primary training camps: “Our primary education camps select volunteers who have been with the RSS for two to three years. Every year, thousands of volunteers, with an average age of 30—90% of whom are between 20 and 25—participate in these camps.”
These training camps are integral to the RSS’s mission of creating a disciplined, self-reliant, and united volunteer force dedicated to the service of the nation. Through rigorous training and fostering a spirit of unity, the RSS continues to shape individuals who are committed to the ideals of social harmony and national development.
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