RSS asks cadre to shun BJP’s work to survive

This realisation has caused considerable concern among the new leaders of the RSS, especially since the stagnation seems to have coincided with the rise of the BJP to power, whether at the Centre or in the states.

For instance, statistics compiled by prant pracharaks from across the country suggest that the problem was particularly acute in states where the BJP is in power or had a stint in power, like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. On the other hand, in states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where the saffron party still has a long way to go before acquiring power, the RSS has managed to register slight growth.

Bihar was the surprising exception. Although the BJP has yet to come to power in Laloo-land, the RSS seems to have reached a glass ceiling in this state.

In the face of this, many in the Sangh are increasingly feeling convinced that the involvement of its swayamsevaks in political activities during the 10-year period of the BJP’s phenomenal growth has served to stunt the mother organisation. “Instead of concentrating on the growth of shakhas, the attention of our swayamsevaks has been diverted to helping the BJP win elections and to the task of coordination between the government and workers,” a senior leader pointed out. “Problems have also arisen because of the non-fulfillment of the swayamsevaks’ expectations from the Government, leading to demoralisation in the organisation.”

The editor of the RSS mouthpiece, Organiser, Seshadri Chari, however, disagreed with this contention. According to him, the shakha network has grown over the past years, small as the increase may be. But he admitted that the Sangh organisation has shown fastest growth in the face of adversity or in special circumstances such as the euphoria generated by the mandir movement. “Past records show that the number of shakhas has shot up either when there was an overwhelming acceptance or when the environment became quite hostile. For instance, they grew remarkably in north India, especially in Punjab and Delhi, after Partition. They also showed an upward trend during Emergency and the Ayodhya movement,” he said.

According to him, the growth in shakhas was not visible to many people because of the importance now being attached to peripheral activities such as those of the VHP, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrams and Friends of Tribal Societies. “The RSS has lent many of its pracharaks to the services rendered by these allied organisations, and they are doing tremendous work in their adopted fields,” Chari pointed out.

Another problem that seems to have beset the shakhas is careerism. “As our society becomes more and more achievement-oriented and competitive, the youth become more concerned about their future than attending shakhas,” a senior RSS leader explained.

Ever since they took over the reins of the organisation, the new leadership has been grappling with these problems and wondering how to stem the rot. Apart from asking its swayamsevaks to lay off politics, Sudershan together with Sarkaryavaha Mohan Bhagwat, 50, have decided to themselves concentrate on revitalising the shakhas. “Aided by the other office-bearers, the duo will visit all the prants every year to reinvigorate these functional units,” a senior leader said.