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  SJM could have given ideological strength and a new model to the government for this segment. It is sad that SJM ended up frittering away its energies in sloganeering and agitational approach to economic issues. Thus, a golden chance to define an economic policy based on Indian ethos was lost.

  During this period, for once, the Left and the Right (by conventional idiom) were on the same side. The importance of SJM lay in raising a note of caution against unbridled liberalisation for external MNC giants without corresponding support to Indian industry that hobbled on a three legged race of red tapism and license raaj.

  As history unravelled in free India, newer organisations were born, supported by RSS with generous help of organisers and prachaaraks. All these are cadre based organisations and extension of RSS vision in action in different social spheres

  Other organisations

  Many other organisations were born in different social sectors in subsequent years. There are also organizations working in different social sectors like co-operative movement, teachers. Infact, there is hardly any facet of society that the RSS inspired organizations have not touched. The situation today is that even active members of RSS and associate organizations, sometimes, do not know which new organisations have come up and what they are doing in different sectors. People trained in the RSS or influenced by RSS philosophy are present in nearly all social fields.

  Kushtha Nivaarak Sangh, established in 1962 by Sadashiv Katre, is a lesser known organisation that is doing some sterling work in in the tribal area of Champa, Madhya Pradesh. He was a simple, common swayamsevak who was cured of leprosy but suffered hugely due to this disease. He used to volunteer at a local Christian missionary charity that worked for leprosy patients, but did not like the fact that missionaries converted those who sought treatments. Guruji asked him to put this resentment to good use and rather than fighting missionaries, start an organisation with a positive approach of ‘seva’ or service. That is how this organisation was born. He was supported by local swayamsevaks and state prachaarak in this work. Today, swayamsevaks of Uttaranchal, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Punjab are working in this neglected field with compassion. Many noble souls and good people are supporting this organisation.

  Ekal Vidyalay movement is one of the most dynamic and fast growing young organisations that has come up in recent times. This movement is supported by many associate organisations like Friends of Tribals (FTS) and Van Bandhu Parishad. A senior RSS prachaarak Shyam Gupt heads this initiative. Within a decade of its working, it established 30,000 schools, predominantly in Eastern part of India. It is poised to move into other regions also. These are single teacher schools. These teachers set up the school in a single room or under trees or in a room provided by some good samaritan or the panchayat; and teach underprivileged children at a time suitable to them. Now, they are also being trained to provide primary preventive healthcare support and simple medicines with primary health kits, this initiative is called ‘Aryogya Mitra’.

  Sanskrit (Samskrita) Bhaarati under the guidance of Shri Chamu Krishna Shastri, an RSS prachaarak, has done a great service of promoting Sanskrit by simplifying its learning. It has created thousands of Sanskrit speaking Indians with its scientific and simple technique of learning Sanskrit. Sanskrit Sambhashan Shibirs run by Sanskrit Bharati and other associates s which train you in conversational Sanskrit have been hugely popular. Sanskrit is the mother language of all Indian languages and many an Anglo-European languages also.

  We are aware that the most important Biotech research in MNC laboratories is happening on the basis of Ayurveda knowledge. The Guardian dated 22-2-2009 reports - In the first step by a developing country to stop multinational companies patenting traditional remedies from local plants and animals, the Indian government has effectively licensed 200,000 local treatments as “public property” free for anyone to use but no one to sell as a “brand”.

  The move comes after scientists in Delhi noticed an alarming trend – the “bio-prospecting” of natural remedies by companies abroad. After trawling through the records of the global trademark offices, officials found 5,000 patents had been issued — at a cost of at least $150m (£104m) — for “medical plants and traditional systems”.

  “More than 2,000 of these belong to the Indian systems of medicine. We began to ask why multinational companies were spending millions of dollars to patent treatments that so many lobbies in Europe deny work at all, ” said Dr Vinod Kumar Gupta, who heads the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, which lists in encyclopedic details of 200,000 treatments.

  It is accepted well now that Sanskrit is the most scientific language and most suitable for computer programming due to its perfect syntax. It is unfortunate that we Indians still believe that it is a language for priests. Parents and schools virtually force children to take French as it is more ‘scoring’ In this scenario an organisation like Sanskrit Bharati has trained thousands of people in a few days to get preliminary grasp on the language, even helped villagers to speak Sanskrit. It has published 40 books and cassettes for easy Sanskrit learning. Around 1985, Mattur, a village in Karnataka State became a Samskrita village when a large number of families, irrespective of their caste and creed and profession, started to speak Samskrita in their homes. BBC covered this village in its reporting December 2014. According to news portal Detechter there are now 7 Samskrit speaking villages in India. Sanskrit Bharati is also active in many cities in United States now

  Itihaas Sankalan Samiti is another smaller and relatively lesser known entity, floated in 1972 by people who view Indian history differently and do not wish to colour their views by what has been put up as gospel truth by British historians and lapped up by our Marxist historians. It is possible that intellectual inertia does not permit these well entrenched intellectuals to do some original research at this age. This organisation was responsible for giving much required support to people who wished to do research on various non-researched and undiscovered aspects of Indian history.

  A research work began under eminent archeologist Dr Wakankar that has used latest scientific tools including satellite imagery to establish the existence of river Saraswati, based on Vedic descriptions and verses, a river that British historians claimed was a myth. This thesis has claimed on the basis of scientific proof and evidence from Vedic verses that Saraswati was indeed the life line of Vedic civilisation along with river Indus, identified earlier with Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa civilisations, later extended to hundreds of sites in the same riverine area. It was identified with a dried up river bed which seems to be that of river Saraswati. This discovery would also challenge the theory of Aryan invasion and large scale violence to send Dravidians packing to South. Truth would be established that the people living on banks of Indus and Saraswati shifted or migrated to other areas on Ganges river and further South for reasons other than aggression by Aryans. Thus, effectively burying the pet theory of British school of historians and their followers putting all ‘outsiders’ from Aryans to Chengiz Khan to Shaka and Huns and progressive historians’ darlings – Mughals – at par.

  The prevalent theory wishes to assert that India is a veritable highway stop over or settlement where all other travelers, hunters and aggressors came and settled, so there is no difference between Aryans or Hindus and Mughals. This theory is being challenged by historians with researches like the theory on river Saraswati and discovery of scores of other archeological sites along the Indus and Saraswati river course to the utter dislike of the left lobby. Website Defenceforumindia reported on 9-3-2016 that in 2002 – The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government gave the job to a high-power panel headed by the Culture Minister Jagmohan with 36 months to complete the project. Two year later, the UPA came to power and scrapped the project. The HRD minister at the time was Arjun Singh. Incidentally, the UPA government in its response to a question in Lok sabha in December 2009 has confirmed that research proves the existence of this ancient river. Now, what should we call this attempt at falsifying the hi
story in a bid to prevent its saffronisation?

  Interestingly, Babasaheb (Umakant Keshav) Apte, the inspiration behind Itihaas Sankalan Samiti wrote a monograph on possible history of ancient India, Hamaare Rashtra Jeevan kee Pramparaa (Traditions in our national history) juxtaposing the Puranic stories of Dashaavataar (stories of ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) onto archeological and geographical evidence. It is quite a riveting view based on his analysis. I do not know if RSS agrees with this line. It is a theory that seems to have led to a fresh line of thinking about history of India since antiquity and gave Itihas Sankalan Samiti a sense of direction.

  Itihas Sankalan Samiti has local district level committees that are working on documenting historical facts of area where they operate, thus compiling a comprehensible district level documentation of possible historical facts on a micro level that may lead to some interesting macro-level historic model not evident so far.

  Sanskaar Bharati is an organisation which promotes Bharatiya art form and culture through various activities and events. Dr V S Wakankar, world renowned archeologist was the moving spirit behind this movement. Its two main objectives are – promoting originality, creativity and social and educative content of art and second to realise in Man – Nature’s greatest piece of art – the fulfillment of “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram”. It promotes folk arts in all its facets and conducts various training classes to expose people, particularly young children to rich cultural heritage of India.

  The most notable of its activities that has caught the popular imagination is its promotion of the Hindu New Year which is being celebrated very enthusiastically by all the sections of Indian society. Humungous, record breaking rangolies in Thane city in Maharashtra, early morning cultural programmes including dance and music recitals on banks of the Ganga in Kashi, huge colourful processions in Mumbai and many other places in India are the manifestations of this event. Another innovative and inspiring programme which attracts thousands of school children all over India is its national competition of patriotic songs. They hold talks and cultural programmes linked to Indian culture.

  Vivekanand Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari run by Vivekanand Kendra is an associate organisation of RSS. It is an autonomous and large organisation by itself now. Vivekanand Rock Memorial project was initially supported and nurtured by RSS under a senior prachaarak Eknath Ranade. It has developed and trained its own missionaries. The memorial at Kanyakumari was built with great difficulty and against strong protests from Christian clergy of the area which abetted local fishermen against this memorial. But, RSS volunteers of the area fought all this off with resilience and inner strength. Finally, the grand and solemn memorial that we see today was born under the able leadership of Ranade. It is now a national monument and major tourist attraction. Vivekananda Kendra established in this campus runs its own relief works, schools and yoga training schools across India with special focus on the North East. Scientific study and research on Yoga is another of its forte.

  There are thousands of organisations that operate at local level all over India in fields like education, health, rural development and environment. I have tried only to give an idea about all India organisations. In all there are approx. 28 all India organizations in different social segments. This itself is a subject or has within it, possibility of a number of subjects for doctoral thesis. I have only tried to give a fleeting view of the manifestation of RSS work in different social and geographical segments of India in form of organisations that span the entire social landscape of Bharat. One would be surprised to note that research on RSS and its allied organisations as a Doctoral thesis is discouraged. I know of only of one such thesis done by Dr Sadhana Modh whom I have quoted earlier. She had to go to Jabalpur University to do this thesis as she didn’t get a positive response in Mumbai. There may be a few exceptions but I have not come across any so far. However, there are hundreds of doctoral thesis on RSS done overseas.

  I may add that major organisations listed above like BJP, ABVP, VHP, BMS, VKA etc. have grown big over the years and have their own cadre, sympathisers and supporters. They can no more be seen through the prism of parent-child organisational relationship. I feel that RSS no longer guides them as much as advise them or collaborate with them. It is like a son growing big enough that his feet now fit into father’s shoes. In Indian tradition it is said that once child’s feet fit into father’s shoes, he should be treated like a friend. I have reasons to believe that RSS does not play a guiding or dominant role in these mass organisations but advises and tries healthy co-ordination between various sister organisations. In corporate terms, RSS equity in these subsidiaries has diluted and they have become independent corporate entities themselves with RSS having only a critical holding but not controlling stakes.

  XIII

  Nation, Society and RSS

  Second Line of Command

  Many people of this generation are aware of the social service work of RSS or seva, as RSS defines it, though not the spread and depth of this work. But, not many are aware of the sterling role RSS volunteers have played in the defence of the country and fought the fissiparous and centrifugal forces right through pre-partition days to present. It has acted like a strong second line of defence. It has been around even when the state apparatus hasn’t worked in time or failed; so we might say it works virtually like a second line of command.

  I will try to provide only a ‘fast forward’ view of many of the stirring tales of struggle and sacrifice. ‘RSS – Vision in Action’ by Shri Sheshadri Chari, provides a vivid account of such fight backs in the interest of national integration by dedicated unsung national heroes. Most of the information and incidents have been taken from this book as it is an authentic account narrated by the erstwhile Sarkaaryavaah of RSS. I have used references from this book in earlier parts of the book too.

  When the Partition became a real possibility people thought only RSS could avert the tragedy and there was a huge groundswell in its base. The RSS volunteers prepared themselves for the worst, to fight this idea of partition and also be ready for any eventuality. The declaration of independence was, in fact, brought ahead by ten months by the British. The original date declared for declaration of freedom of India was June 1948, but it was brought ahead to Aug 15, 1947, fearing strong backlash and popular support against partition, in which RSS too was playing the role of catalyst. RSS Sarsanghchaalak Shri Guru ji toured Punjab and Sindh provinces frequently and RSS work grew there rapidly.

  There was a grand conspiracy by Muslim League supporters to assassinate all members of the government and all Hindu officials and thousands of citizens on 10 September 1947 and hoist Pakistani flag on the Red Fort. This incident was averted due to timely information to the government of India by young volunteers of RSS. I have given details of this incident in the annexure.

  At the time of partition, hundreds of swayamsevaks lost their lives defending their Hindu brethren, stuck in areas that were to go under Pakistan, from Muslim plunderers. Many volunteers lost their own families and fortunes while they defended Hindu community in the chaos of the Partition. A very moving account on the loss and painful plight of volunteers and prachaaraks of the time has been was captured by a Marathi writer, Neelkanth Deshmukh in his small novel, ‘Naahee Chira Naahee Panati’ – Neither ray of light nor the lamp. A N Bali who has written a well-documented book ‘Now it can be Told’ published in 1948. He says, “Not a single survivor of partition can, but pay his respect to RSS volunteers for saving their lives and safe passage to India as well as taking their care when they landed in refugee camps.”

  Infiltration of Pakistani tribals into Kashmir was stoutly resisted by Sangh members during July-October 1947. Prof. Balraj Madhok was the chief organizer of RSS in Kashmir at that time. In his account of the times in form of a novel in Hindi – ‘Kashmir Jeet ya Haar’ he has given date wise account of dare devil work of RSS workers in those days. There were major riots in Jammu city when around 20,000 Muslims of that region decided to take co
ntrol of Jammu as a part of annexing J&K with the help of tribal Pakistanis supported by the Pakistani army. Right from holding onto their villages, providing intelligence to army, supporting army movement, they worked relentlessly, oblivious of their own safety or of their family members. Many lost their lives and members of their family. This was a period when the Maharaja of Kashmir Hari Singh was still not sure about the accession of J&K to India. Finally Hari Singh signed the treaty. During this interim period of chaos, the RSS volunteers held fort at the risk of their lives, until the Indian troops arrived. Prof Balraj Madhok’s account is confirmed by K C Agnihotri in his book – ‘Jammu Kashmir ki Ankahee Kahani.’

  Supporters and erstwhile workers of the RSS formed a new political party – Praja Parishad to fight separatists in J&K, and struggle for full integration with India. The struggle saw major phases in 1948, 1950-51, 1952-53. The oppression of people who wished full integration of J&K and opposed Article 370 was unimaginable with the central government unyielding to the calls of patriotic Indians in the fond hope that Sheikh Abdullah would get it out of the mess, not realising that his National Conference was playing this game of separatism through various moves. There was heavy censorship on news, thus information on J&K was limited. This obviously stalled the broadcast of the agitations and human rights violations against the volunteers of Praja Parishad. Senior leaders were put behind bars. The agitation reached its peak when Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee led a march to J&K in May 1953 but was arrested at the J&K border on 11 May. The arrest ended in his medical murder through negligence on 23 June 1953. Another spate of atrocities on agitators was let loose. Suddenly, on 9 August 1953, GOI saw the light and the J&K government was suspended by the centre, and arrested Sheikh Abdullah. Having succeeded in its mission of stalling Congress and National Conference machinations, Praja Parishad merged with Jan Sangh K C Agnihotri has given a well-researched account of those days in his book Jammu Kashmir ki Ankahi Kahaani.