RSS lines up schoolgirls at JNU campus shakha

Sunil Mohanty, the man in-charge of running the four shakhas on the JNU campus, says: “After students join JNU, they tend to get cut-off from the Indian tradition. Drinking and smoking becomes a habit. The aim of the shakha is to revive interest in things that matter.”

And yes, he adds that this is an attempt to spread Hindutva on campus because it is the only line of thinking which is truly national. “Moreover, our attempt here is to go beyond just Hindutva,” says Mohanty.

The person conducting the girls shakha adds: “It is not about any religion. In fact, what we are trying to imbibe the qualities of self-discipline, importance of being self-reliant, among other things. Moreover, we have a girl named Sajida with us, a clear indication that this is beyond just religion.”

Just when Sajida almost convinces you that this shakha is about clean living, the group shouts the RSS slogan praising Hindu culture in unison. The girls then settle down to play some games.

“I used to see girls play different games here,” says Rekha Bisht, a class IX student. “I joined because I also wanted to be a part of this.” She is not very sure what the pledge they take everyday means or what is expected of her as part of this shakha. For her it is only about being a part of a group which shouts a few slogans, bows to a circle in front of them where a flag will soon be placed and then play games.

The girls shakha is also about disciplining the students. “It is a very free atmosphere on campus,” says the group leader. “Girls on campus wear what they want to, do what they want to and there are no rules they follow. There is a complete lack of discipline. If we ask students to come and sit here for one hour, they will not be able to.”

But not everyone thinks so. “The organisation is definitely communal and will have an impact on the campus,” says a senior teacher at JNU. “This university has always had a secular and free character. The shakhas will have a negative effect on this character. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with the way students behave or interact on this campus.”

No matter what the others think, the RSS continues to function in a very planned manner within the campus. There is a committee, comprising of teachers, students and karamcharis, which oversees the activity of the shakhas, including the kishore shakhas which opens at 6 a.m. and caters exclusively for school-going children.

With membership in the girl’s shakha still low, the leadership is going out of its way to woo first-year students. Till then, it is just the schoolgirls who are listening to the stories about patriotism and quality of life.