‘WE NEVER THOUGHT OF RSS AS A CUSTODIAN OF RELIGION’
Manmohan Vaidya, All India Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, in conversation with Smriti Kak Ramachandran Does the Sangh Parivar see itself as the custodian or torchbearers of the Hindu society and religion? No. We never thought of RSS as a custodian of religion or anything. We only create awareness about our ancient cultural values among people. It is a false allegation against RSS, by those very people who pose themselves as custodian or saviour of the entire society. TheyT see RSS through the prism of religion.
HiHinduism allows one to pursue differentent disciplines and beliefs within it. Would you say the importance given by the RSS to the worship of Lord Rama or devotion to cows can be seen as an attempt to narrow down an essential diverse faith? In RSS we have swayamsevaks who follow different religious disciplines and beliefs (including Christianity and Islam). Some may worship Lord Rama as a deity but for many Lord Rama is an embodiment of our cultural values and is adored by all irrespective of one’s gender, caste, religion, language or province. Cow has been the backbone of our prominently agrarian society because of the medicinal importance of its milk, urine and dung. It is becoming more relevant seeing the menace created by excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, resulting in the growing importance of organic farming.
Even other countries are studying and accepting the importance of Bharatiya breed of cows. It has nothing to do with faith. In Rajasthan there is a Muslim working for cow protection and having a Gaushala. Often the RSS and its affiliates like the VHP underscore that Hinduism is under attack from other religions. This, when the RSS says Hinduism is a way of life... RSS has never blamed others and thinks that we ourselves are responsible for the present condition of Hindu society. Hence we are working amongst Hindus for social transformation. But Hindus are attacked and discriminated by people of a particular religion who think that Hindus do not subscribe to the faith they believe in. What happened to Pandits in Kashmir, Reangs and Chakmas in Mizoram? Their only fault was that they were Hindus and refused to convert. What has happened recently in Malda, West Bengal? Somebody from UP said something (allegedly blas- phemous) some months ago. The person is arrested and in police custody. Why were the Hindus in Malda attacked, their shops burnt and property looted? It happened only because Hindus are in minority and the administration is biased. Bhaiyyaji Joshi said at the Pratinidhi Sabha that the prosperous should not demand reservation and it has to be seen if benefits of caste-based quotas have reached the intended beneficiaries. This was followed by the RSS saying it backs quotas for SC/ST/ OBCs in its current form. Is there pressure from the BJP not to articulate the Sangh’s stand on reservation? Unfortunately, social discrimination has been practiced in Hindu society for centuries and it is based on birth in a particular caste. Such sections were deprived of facilities and self-honour others were enjoying. Reservations were provided for such class to bring them at par with others. As long as there is social discrimination in our society, reservations should continue. We all should work together to end caste-based social discriminatory practices and create a ‘Samarasa Samaj’. If the benefit of reservation has not reached the most deserving section of the society even after more than 65 years of independence, we need to look into it and come with some corrective measures to realize the vision of the Constitution makers at the earliest. Has there been any decision yet on allowing marriage for full-time pracharaks? Changing with time has been a characteristic of Hindu way of life. Accordingly, changes also occur in RSS functioning from time to time and this tradition will continue. There is a misconception about Pracharaks. There may be at least 3,00,000 active workers of the RSS holding some charge. Not all of them are Pracharaks. Most of the Sangh work is carried out by earning members of family or students. In many districts, there is not even a single Pracharak and still growth is visible in these areas. Very are a few who are not paid, but decide to devote all their time to doing the work of the RSS as their ‘first priority’. These are called ‘Pracharaks’. They are hardly one per cent of the total number. When a Pracharak wants to marry he may opt for it and continue to work as a RSS Karyakarta. He then ceases to be a Pracharak as his priority naturally will be family matters.