RSS changes mode of functioning; focus is on yoga, boosting immunity

MUMBAI: The Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown has led to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) shakhas changing their mode of functioning.

These shakhas or branches which were earlier held in open spaces, parks or grounds, are now being conducted in cyberspace using platforms like WebEx and Google Meet. Conforming to the requirements of virtual medium and the need of the hour, these shakhas have changed their focus from physical games and exercises to include yoga and exercises and games meant to boost immunity and general knowledge.

“Earlier, our physical activities included games using the danda (lathi) like dandagol (where players from competing teams toss and catch a lathi to score a goal), atya-patya (a traditional game) and angad ka pair (which involves testing the physical strength of participants by making them lift each other’s leg that is firmly planted on the ground),” said a senior RSS functionary, who is part of the physical training department of the organisation. “Now, we are focussing on yoga, pranayama and such exercises meant to boost immunity and respiratory health. The virtual shakhas also perform maximum push-ups, Surya namaskars or squats in a

certain time limit,” he explained.

The newly designed games include those in which names of icons have to be arranged in chronological order or rearranging their names from shuffled alphabets, recognising historical figures from their headgear and a quiz with questions based on religious epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. RSS office-bearer said they had used an illustrated book on traditional Maharashtrian games that were published by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwar of Baroda and adapted some of these for their shakhas.

“It is the character of the Sangh to adapt to the times... As shakhas went online, the games too were upgraded,” said Ajay Mudpe, prachar pramukh (propaganda chief) of Konkan prant.

At present, while Mumbai has around 350 online and offline shakhas, each with an average

attendance of 15 swayamsevaks, the Konkan prant, under which it falls, has about 700 shakhas, down from 450 and 900 respectively during pre-Covid times, said an RSS office-bearer. Around 250 shakhas have also begun physically across the Konkan prant with physical distancing norms but are not playing games like kabaddi since they involve physical proximity.

The shakhas are divided into bal (children), tarun (youth), vyavasayik (professionals) and saptahik milan (weekly sessions for professionals like those in the IT sector) and further into Prabhat (morning), sayan (evening) and ratra (night) shakhas, based on their timings. In April, a special event where shakhas were conducted online nationwide was attended by around 4.8 million participants, said another Sangh office-bearer.