Secrets of RSS DEMYSTIFYING THE SANGH (The Largest Indian NGO in the World) by Ratan Sharda © Ratan Sharda E-book of second edition released May, 2015 Ratan Sharda, Mumbai, India Email:[email protected]; [email protected] License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-soldor given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person,please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and didnot purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to yourfavorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hardwork of this author. About the Book Narendra Modi, the present Prime Minister of India, is a true blue RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Volunteers Organization) swayamsevak or volunteer. More importantly, he is a product of prachaarak system, a unique institution of RSS. More than his election campaigns, his conduct after becoming the Prime Minister really tells us how a responsible RSS worker and prachaarak responds to any responsibility he is entrusted with. His rise is also illustrative example of submission by author in this book that RSS has been able to design a system that can create ‘extraordinary achievers out of ordinary people’. When the first edition of Secrets of RSS was released, air was thick with motivated propaganda about ‘Saffron terror’ and RSS was the favourite whipping boy as the face of ‘Hindu fascism’. Now as the second edition is ready for release, environment has transformed radically. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) an offspring of RSS has come in power with absolute majority. RSS Chief’s address on its foundation day was telecast live by a number of national TV channels for the first time in its 89 year history. It is amazing that not much is known about Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) inspite of being one of the oldest mass Indian organizations, being around for nine decades and widely accepted as the largest NGO in the world. People have only half baked information about it. While critics blame this lack of information on the secretive ways of RSS, RSS volunteers believe that these critics don’t really wish to understand its working that is quite different from other organization, or its philosophy as that too goes against the established norms of ideological discourse in India; heavily influenced as it is by dominant elite brought up on western world view of culture, nationalism and social organizations. The noise created by media also vitiates the view of ordinary lay people. This book tries to rip off the so called veil of secrecy around RSS with its easy flowing narration that is peppered with live examples and anecdotes from a person who has worked at various levels of the organization for nearly four decades, yet has managed to take a non-partisan view on some of the controversial issue. It is probably the first time that an attempt has been made at comprehensive 3600 view of RSS in a single book that covers not just RSS philosophy but also its organizational structure, its working; information about its little understood systems like its Prachaarak system, its Prayer, its Constitution etc. It talks about working of its ‘Shaakhaas’ that look so simple and yet produce leading organizers, managers and leaders. It gives a glimpse of manifestation of this philosophy that has created thousands of organizations covering nearly the entire spectrum of socio-political action across India. The annexure throws light on some crucial days in this organization’s history, namely 1942, 1947 and 1948 including Gandhiji’s assassination. The first edition gathered good amount of accolades for the scope this work and objective presentation. ‘Secrets of RSS’ is useful to both well wishers and critics alike with its comprehensive bird’s eye view of this huge organization. Table of Contents Readers’ Feedback on First Edition of Secrets of RSS Acknowledgements Preface by Author Foreword -Dr. Jayprakash Narayan PROLOGUE I. RSS & Fight for Democracy during Emergency II. Major Defining Moments in Life of RSS THE SPIRIT III. What Defines India IV. Need to Organize Hindus V. Daily RSS Prayer and its Meaning THE FORM VI. RSS Shakha VII. Supremacy of Mission Over Self VIII. Human Relations & Management Training IX. Organizational Structure X. Inculcating Values and Sense of Nationhood through Festivals XI. Institution of Prachaarak THE MANIFESTATION XII. Off shoots – Sister and Associate Organizations XIII. RSS, Nation and Society XIV.Current Scenario EPILOGUE XV.The Ultimate Secret XVI.Secretiveness of RSS & Media References & Readings Annexure About the author - Ratan Sharda Readers’ Feedback on First Edition RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh – or National Volunteer Organization) leadership has for long stated that the best way to know RSS is to join it. It is perhaps the only organisation of its size and repute which does not require any form filling, an interview or reference to join it. It also does not require any notice to be served if someone wants to stop being part of it. One does not require to carry out a sting operation to understand its teachings. Perhaps this is the reason that there is very little literature on how RSS functions. This vacuum has been ably filled by Shri Ratan Sharda’s book “Secrets of RSS - “Demystifying the Sangh”. My personal decision to leave a highly successful and promising career as a Chartered Accountant to devote time for voluntary work has been greatly influenced by thousands of swayamsevaks (volunteers) who have sacrificed their personal and family life to create a strong India through a united and compassionate Hindu society. The well accepted 80-20 commercial rule wherein 80% success is achieved by concentrating on 20% of customers is not valid in nation building. A nation is known by how majority of its people behave. Such majority need not necessarily be homogeneous or coming from one religion. Sangh has chosen to unite 80% of its population and shape them in its pursuit of strong India, and so long Sangh does not create any enmity with balance 20% of society, it should be welcomed. Sanjay Hegde (ex-executive director PwC India, founder of Sewa Sahyog Foundation) Shri Ratan Sharda's book is an important study on RSS, because it is written with rigor, balance and clarity. For readers like me who are not in the RSS, it provides details that many people do not know. A real eye opener that I very much benefited from. Rajiv Malhotra (USA) (Dharma scholar, Founder Infinity Foundation, Writer, Public intellectual, Speaker) This book is not at all heavy to read or understand. Generally, there is a set format while writing about any organization. Such a book follows a pattern, like when was the organization founded, who was the founder, what is its philosophy, highs and lows of its working, success or failure of the organization to achieve its objective etc. Ratan Sharda has not followed this beaten path…… Author wishes to remove the veil of secrecy around the organization. One has to be careful not to seek permission of the organization about which one wishes to write. Such a writing then becomes propagandist. Ratan Sharda’s book has successfully avoided this trap…….Instead of depending on lectures of RSS Chiefs or writings of well-known intellectuals of RSS, he has tried to present Sangh’s philosophy in a different manner. He has quoted Western intellectuals of Indology extensively. He talks of need for organization for Hindus with different global reference points that give his arguments more weight. Ramesh Patange (Writer, Thinker, Social activist, ex-editor Vivek weekly) “Secrets of RSS” is essence of its author, Ratan Sharda. He has lived RSS. My most of initial understanding of RSS came through Ratan Sharda. He was open about the strengths and weakness of RSS and the reasons behind it. When I interacted with RSS on a personal level, I found Ratan Sharda to be accurate in his reasoning. I am glad that he wrote this book. For those who want to ridicule RSS there are many books. Those who want to understand RSS, for them this is the book. Sandeep Singh (www.swastik.net.in,Author, Management Consultant, Independent Director) Reading 'Secrets of RSS' turned me sentimental as I remembered my father who was in Jammu & Kashmir during 1948 army operations as an soldier. He had told me about sacrifice and dedication of young RSS volunteers during 1948 attack in helping army stop enemy advancing near Shrinagar. Infact, when his company was encircled by tribal army, RSS volunteers acted as the only line providing food and communication links at great risk to their own lives. Infact, scores of RSS volunteers perished in defence of India. My father used to say, this experience turned him into an RSS admirer. Infact, I attribute my own rise in life from very humble back ground to reach the top of the corporate ladder and my subsequent renunciation of material comfort for grassroots level activism through Loksatta also to RSS, being a RSS karyakarta in my formative years. I thank Ratan Sharda for bringing out unknown facts and facets of RSS." Surendra Shrivastava (ex- President Great Eastern Shipping Company, Senior leader of Loksatta Andolan) Balasaheb (Theckarey) used to feel that they should also have dedicated cadre like Sangh. He too established ‘shakhas’ of Shivsena for this purpose. You can create shakhas, but you cannot create intellectual programmes for them. Strength of Sangh lay in its intellectual training, it lay in training of its cadre in human relations and management. Like Sena, Socialists too couldn’t grasp this.