BENGALURU: On the momentous occasion of the 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, ‘Shakha to Nation’ book was released in Bengaluru on November 30. The book is edited by Ram Madhav, Head of the India Foundation, New Delhi and Dnyanashri Kulkarni. The book is an incredible illustration and compilation of the greatest speeches of the stalwarts of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh from 1925 to 2025. 30 greatest speeches in the history and journey of RSS have been inscribed in the book. It includes the speeches of Sarsanghchalak Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the second Sarsanghchalak M.S. Golwalkar to the current Sarasanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat. The speeches of other stalwarts and senior functionaries of the Sangh are also imprinted in the book ‘Shakha to Nation’.
Speaking at the book release event, Ram Madhav expressed that when RSS is at a remarkable milestone of completing 100 years of relentless and selfless service to the country, it was thought that compilation of the greatest speeches of the Sangh in the form of a book would be a remarkable contribution. With this book, the nation and the world can understand the true spirit and agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. People who are not actively part of the Sangh, that is, even the common people can get to grasp the essence of the Sangh through this book. The whole agenda of coming up with this book ‘Shakha to Nation’ is to spread the message of RSS and its service to nation-building to the masses of the country and the world.
Ram Madhav also explained the interesting aspect of the book and the speeches in it. He said that apart from two to three speeches out of the 30 speeches in the book, none of them speaks about Sangh or its philosophies or about how to grow and strengthen the organisation. All the speeches by the senior functionaries of the Sangh, speak about nation, service, civilization, fostering a united Hindu society, culture and the larger vision for nation-building, which is beyond building just an organisation. Ram Madhav thus asserted that the Sangh and the people in it, never pondered about building the Sangh or popularizing the organisation, but all they deliberated upon was how to build the nation. The Swayamsevakas exclusively were the transmitters of ancient knowledge, wisdom and Bharatiya values. They upheld the priorities of the nation and its cause, devoid of personal ambitions. This saga of selfless service to the nation is reflected in every speech inscribed in the book.
Thoughtful title, sound translation that carries the core essence of the Sangh
Speaking at the book release, V. Nagraj, President of the Mythic Society, Bengaluru expressed that the book ‘Shakha to Nation’ is a very thoughtful title. Shakas are the core and fundamental unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS). A person gets groomed into a Swayamsevak, gains the inspiration and adequate Bharatiya values from the Shaka. Throughout the nation a swayamsevak gets identified and recognised with the name of his Shakha. “I have been associated with the Sangh for more than 60 years now. Yet, my identification is, I come from Abhimanyu Shakha”, explained V. Nagraj, while asserting the role and importance of the Shakha in the Sangh. Thus, the title, ‘Shakha to Nation’, reflects the entire essence of RSS, its values and roots, where nation-building begins from. He further added that most of the speeches given in the book are originally in either Hindi or Marathi. But Ram Madhav, the editor of the book, has cautiously translated the speeches into English without disturbing the core essence, philosophy and meaning of the speeches.
The book explains the core philosophy of the Sangh and its visionary leaders. The first speech of the book is by the first Sarsanghchalak of the RSS Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. One excerpt from the book read out by V. Nagraj says, “millions of disciplined cadres trained in tens and thousands of shakhas across the country run hordes of activities in every walk of national life, with military-like precision and missionary-like dedication”. Another excerpt from the speech of Dr. Hedgewar asserts, “The Sangh aims to cultivate a singular sense of identity-Hindutva. Although the Hindu community is divided into castes, the Sangh recognises only one identity-Hindu. It doesn’t seek distinctions. Nothing is as significant as Hindutva. Unification of all Hindus is the primary goal of RSS”. These assertions by Hedgewar reflect that RSS persistently worked to eradicate untouchability and other evil practices from the society and thereby strived to unite the Hindu society. “As long as the sun and moon exists Hindustan will remain as the land of Hindus”, Dr. Hedgewar further affirms.
The book ‘Shakha to Nation”, thus echoes the unity, strength, resilience, courage and spirit of Akhand Bharat. If one has to understand the philosophy and selfless service of the Sangh towards nation-building and its strive towards the civilizational cause for a century, they have to read the book ‘Shakha to Nation’.
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