“The courage displayed by unarmed RSS pracharaks working in hostile environments deserves the same respect accorded to soldiers,” said retired Army officer Col N. S. Rao, describing them as “unsung heroes of national unity” who contribute quietly to national integration and operate without publicity or personal gain in some of the country’s most hostile regions.
His remarks were made at the launch of the Telugu book ‘Assam Gathalu’ in Hyderabad, which documents how ordinary citizens and selfless RSS pracharaks and swayamsevaks stood firm against terrorism and separatist violence in Assam during the turbulent 1990s.
Speakers at the event underlined the often unrecorded sacrifices of Sangh pracharaks and seva workers who worked in insurgency-hit regions at great personal risk.
The book, authored by senior journalist Raka Sudhakar Rao, who worked in Assam for 13 years as a Sangh pracharak, was released at a programme organised by Samvit Prakashan, a publishing house, in Hyderabad on December 26.
The army officer noted that RSS pracharaks function without salaries, weapons, medals, or public recognition, often risking their lives while remaining away from family comforts.
Col. Rao also commended the author’s command over multiple Indian languages and his clear, impactful Telugu writing. He said the book reflects deep understanding and lived experience, while documenting sacrifices that are rarely recorded. Referring to Raka Sudhakar Rao as a committed RSS pracharak and a true son of Bharat Mata, he said the book would inspire readers across the country.
Speaking on the content of the book, author Raka Sudhakar Rao said school textbooks in Assam had falsely taught students that Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by RSS activists, a claim that continued until 1975, during which Sangh pracharaks faced hardships due to such false narratives.
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He said Assam Gathalu documents the severe hardships faced by several RSS pracharaks and swayamsevaks during the peak of insurgency in the state during 1980 and 90’s.
He described the dangerous conditions in areas such as Sadiya, where pracharaks worked under constant threat from ULFA militants. Many were attacked, fired upon, and forced to change identities to survive. He recalled pracharaks such as Hemanta Gogoi and Murali Manohar, who conducted shakhas in ULFA strongholds and hoisted the RSS flag openly for the first time.
The author recalled that pracharaks even observed “Hedgewar Day”, a no-food day when food was unavailable, in addition to regular austerity practices, yet continued their work during the height of ULFA terrorism and radical Islamist encroachments.
The book also highlights the contribution of several senior RSS leaders from Maharashtra, who gave up a comfortable life to strengthen RSS work in Assam. It details how some of them learnt local languages and promoted social harmony and national awareness through Indian cultural traditions such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata.
The author also spoke about V. S. Wakankar, noting that his three-day tour of Assam revealed the archaeological depth and cultural richness of the region, while also reflecting his personal humility.
Eminent author Ratan Sharda, who released the book, spoke about the prolonged crisis in the Eastern region and said separatist elements, particularly those supported by Christian evangelical forces, had posed a serious threat to social stability over the last five decades. He also referred to large-scale migration into the Assam region by Muslims with British support, and the emergence of demographic dominance in certain locations during the 1930s and 1940s, which he said was designed by British colonialists to destabilise the region.
#NewArrival
1990వ దశకంలో అస్సాం రాష్ట్రంలో తీవ్రతరమైన ఉగ్రవాదం, వేర్పాటువాదాలను రాష్ట్రీయ్ స్వయంసేవక్ సంఘ్ స్పూర్తితో ధీటుగా ఎదుర్కొన్న సామాన్య వ్యక్తుల జీవితాల్లోని పోరాట ఘట్టాలు శ్రీ @rakasudhakarrao గారు ఈ పుస్తకం మన ముందుకు తీసుకొని వచ్చారు. https://t.co/Qs3Op5XSDx— Hindu eShop (@hindueshop) December 6, 2025
He further spoke about how Sangh pracharak Eknath Ranade had warned about the situation in the North East after a month-long visit in the 1960s, highlighting how deeply separatist seeds had been sown among sections of the local population, while underlining the sacrifices made by RSS and its pracharaks who worked tirelessly on the ground.
Referring to student exchange initiatives, he said programmes run by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad helped bridge gaps between regions. He noted that people from the North East were once derogatorily labelled as Mongoloids, and that their deep connections with Indian Puranic heritage were sidelined under Nehruvian policies. With the sustained work of countless selfless workers, he said, the situation has significantly improved despite ongoing challenges, offering a positive outlook for the future.
Introducing the publisher, Samvit Prakashan, Managing Director N. Parimala said the organisation is committed to authentic research and factual intellectual discourse on Bharat. Established in 2020, she said Samvit Prakashan focuses on recovering forgotten histories, correcting distorted narratives, and publishing socio-cultural and economic research. The publishing house has so far brought out over 60 works in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and English, with a growing readership among younger generations.
Speakers at the event praised Samvit Prakashan for bringing out what they described as a factual and courageous work that places uncomfortable truths in the public domain, while honouring many unknown individuals who served the nation at great personal risk.
