By Our Correspondent
PANIPAT/BHUBANESWAR: RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan ji Bhagwat and Sarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale ji on Sunday inaugurated the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha’s (ABPS) three-day annual meeting by paying floral tributes to a portrait of Bharat Mata at Samalkha’s Pattikalyana-based Seva Sadhna evam Gram Vikas Kendra in Panipat.
As many as 1,474 Pratinidhis from 34 RSS-inspired organizations across the country are participating in the ABPS meeting, which will conclude on March 14.
Speaking to the media after the inauguration of the ABPS meeting, RSS Sah-Sarkaryawah Dr. Manmohan Vaidya ji informed that the Sangh would complete 100 years of its formation in 2025. Currently, the RSS is working directly at 71,355 places and striving for social transformation. Over the next one year, it aims to expand its direct presence and service activity to about one lakh places across the nation.
The Sangh’s work and influence saw a big boost after the Covid pandemic struck in 2020, Dr. Vaidya said at the press conference. In 2020, as many as 62,491 Shakhas were held across 38,913 places, Saptahik Milan (weekly gatherings) at 20,303 places, and Maasik Mandali (monthly meetings) at 8,732 places. In 2023, all these numbers have seen a significant uptick. Currently, 68,651 Shakhas are being organized at 42,613 places, Saptahik Milan at 26,877 places, and Maasik Mandali at 10,412 places.
From the Sangh’s perspective, the nation has 911 Zilas (districts), out of which the RSS is working directly and actively in 901 Zilas. Similarly, the RSS holds Shakhas in 88% of the 6,663 Khands, and 26,498 of the 59,326 Mandals. As many as 1,300 additional Shatabdi Vistaraks, besides the regular Pracharaks and Vistaraks, have set out on a 2-year mission to expand the RSS’s work and activities during its centenary year.
The noble thoughts and value systems that emphasize that the whole society of India is one, that all are equal, all are my own, and that I have to give something to the society emanate from the RSS’s Shakhas, Dr. Vaidya highlighted.
Such is their dedication that the Swayamsevaks spread RSS’s service activities by taking time out of their daily work and contributing to social change even if it entails spending money from their own pockets. The RSS’s Shakhas are centres for character development. Individuals who attend Shakhas imbibe great values, and later play a critical role in social transformation by awakening nationalist thoughts and taking the society along, he added.
He informed that the RSS has been able to sharpen its appeal in the society, and now more and more people are getting drawn to it. People are searching for the RSS and seeking to join the nationalist organization through the digital medium. Between 2017 and 2022, the RSS received a whopping 7,25,000 applications to join it. Importantly, most of these applicants were aged 20 to 35 years, looking to join the RSS with the aim to serve the society.
The country’s youth are displaying a keen interest in the RSS’s daily Shakhas as well. Of the total, 60% are Vidyarthi Shakhas (student shakhas). In the last one year, 121,137 youth have received the Sangh’s Prathmik Shikshan. Over the next one year, the RSS aims hold 109 Shikshan Vargs (training camps), with 20,000 Swayamsevaks likely to participate, he said.
Elaborating on the Sangh Shikshan (training), Dr. Vaidya said that Swayamsevaks in the age group of 15-40 years participate in the Pratham Varsh Shikshan (first-year training), those in the 17-40 years attend the Dwitiya Varsh, and the Tritiya Varsh is meant for those aged between 25 years and 40 years. The RSS organizes special training camps for Swayamsevaks aged above 40 years.This is the 2550th Nirvan year of Bhagwan Mahavir, 200 years of the birth of Arya Samaj founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati, and 350 years of the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj. Statements pertaining to these would be passed in the Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), he said. A resolution would also be passed keeping in mind the ongoing Amrit Kaal of India’s Independence, Dr. Vaidya said.
