New Delhi: Former President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) training camp had created quite a flutter two years ago. The reason: For most of his political career, Mukherjee he had been a senior leader of the Congress, which is perceived to be anti-Sangh by most political pundits. And this perception isn’t without reason as the Congress has banned the RSS thrice — in 1948, in 1975 and in 1992.
However, Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the RSS event in Nagpur on 7 June 2018 wasn’t an exception. Many leaders cutting across political lines, including Congress stalwarts, have been associated with the RSS or have been in touch with it since its inception in 1925.
In fact, almost eight-and-a-half decades before Mukherjee’s visit, Mahatma Gandhi had visited an RSS training camp at Wardha in 1934. On 16 September 1947, while addressing RSS workers in one of his speeches in Delhi, Mahatma recalled, “I visited the RSS camp years ago, when the founder, Shri (K.B.) Hedgewar, was alive. I was very much impressed by your discipline, the complete absence of untouchability, and the rigorous simplicity. Since then, the Sangh has grown. I am convinced that any organisation, which is inspired by the high ideal of service and self-sacrifice, is bound to grow in strength.”
Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar visited an RSS training camp — the Sangh Shiksha Varga — at Pune in 1939. When Dr Ambedkar asked Dr Hedgewar whether there were any untouchables in the camp, the RSS founder replied that there were neither touchables nor untouchables, but only Hindus there.
Ambedkar said, “I am surprised to find the swayamsevaks moving about in absolute equality and brotherhood without even caring to know the caste of the others.”
In the 1950s, Ambedkar and RSS pracharak Dattopant Thengadi worked together closely and were constantly in touch.
RSS ‘has historic role to play’
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was initially quite critical of the RSS, invited the organisation to participate in the Republic Day parade of 1963. The invitation was extended in recognition of the stellar work done by RSS volunteers during the 1962 India-China war. A 3,000-strong contingent of RSS volunteers participated in the Republic Day parade that year.
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