Secret of RSS Work
IX. Organizational Structure Physical structure
RSS has a highly federal structure that is defined clearly in its constitution. Though the policies are controlled centrally, the execution of different ideas and plans is left to the regional, state or local level depending upon the scale of a plan. An RSS volunteer is the basic cell of this huge network of the organization.
A ‘gat’ or team is the smallest unit of operation in a shakha. Shakha is a complete local level unit by itself headed by a mukhya shikshak (chief instructor or teacher) and kaaryavaah (secretary). Various shakhas are organized at the level of ‘tehsil’ in villages and ‘mandal’ that form part of a ‘nagar’ in case of urban areas.
The next level is District (jilaa) level committees, followed by State (praant) and Region (kshetra). The final organizational block is Central Committee (Kendriya Kaaryakaarini) that is chosen from its Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (All India Delegates Council) that is an elected body.Organizational units from Tehsil or Mandal to Central level have Karyavah (Secretary) as the executive head of the team and in-charge of overall activities.
The guide and philosopher at each level is ‘Sanghchaalak’ (one can call this post, Chief of RSS organization of a particular area). He is akin to Chairman of committee with high dignity but no constitutional executive power except the moral authority to persuade the team to take a certain view or help bring around consensus for a policy decision. He does not take part in day to day functioning or decision making of the organization; this falls under a kaaryavaah’s domain. His most important role is that of a guardian to all the volunteers and workers. He is the public face of RSS in the locality. Sanghchaalak commands high respect and his word carries weight. Though, he does not have executive powers his word, as and when he puts it, is taken as final word about a matter.
Committees at all the levels have members for physical training, intellectual training, social service, co-ordination for other associate organizations and a few other members assigned to some responsibility depending upon the size of the organization in that area. Regular
elections are held every three years for the central body where local delegates in different geographical regions vote for members to the national committee (pratinidhi sabha), and these members vote for the post of General Secretary (Sar Kaaryavaah). The delegates need to have a good record of organizational work to qualify as delegates.
The post of Sarsanghchaalak (Chief of RSS) is non-elective. As a convention and part of its accepted constitution he is nominated by his predecessor after due discussions with the most senior members of central committee (Kendriya kaaryakaarini). So, it is not one man’s decision though he carries the final responsibility of this nomination.
Resolutions passed in the Pratinidhi Sabha truly reflect RSS views of various issues facing the nation and Hindu society at a given time. A serious student of RSS should read these resolutions which are made public immediately and sent to media for publication. He or she will, then, will be able to appreciate the clarity of thought and fiercely assertive views on various national and social issues which are guided more by long term vision of a great nation rather than short term political exigencies of the times. For example, RSS opposed
reorganization of states on linguistic lines as it could prove to be divisive though most political parties were in favour. It has supported any government whole heartedly in case of
any foreign aggression through resolutions and on ground. Similarly, RSS has opposed inclusion of caste for the current census underway. I only hope against hope that its fears about its fall out are proven incorrect.
Communications
A special feature of RSS is that all its shakha commands are in Sanskrit. The senior workers of RSS who sat down to give a formal shape to day to day working of RSS after a few years of its inception, decided to opt for Sanskrit to take care of the problem of multiplicity of languages all over countries. Sanskrit, being the mother of Indian languages was the ideal choice. It is a different matter that even this integral approach is a grudge point for its critics. Though, Hindi is the most spoken language, RSS gives equal respect to all languages. This has resulted in a harmonious growth of RSS and a sense of oneness between the volunteers of different regions.
There is a structured way a communication or an instruction passes from HO to a local shakha or from a state level or district level to the local level organization. It is an unwritten protocol that any directive or information must pass through the designated hierarchy. There is no short cut from top to bottom or bottom to top.
There is formal and informal system of information sharing that flows both ways. This two way flow of information and feedback helps organization and its leaders firmly grounded about social and political issues from local to national or international level. Communications in any particular region generally happens in the local language. Even English is used where required. Patriotic songs that are sung in shakhas are either in Hindi or the local language. There are a few Sanskrit songs also. The daily prayer that is recited as the concluding activity of a shakha is in Sanskrit
Personality Neutral Organization
A unique feature of RSS is that the ‘Guru’ i.e. the supreme teacher of RSS members is not a person. It is ‘Bhagwaa dhwaj’ or ‘saffron flag’ (like we see on the temples). Doctor Hedgewar realized through his long social career that no person can be perfect. A Guru has to be as perfect as possible. Even a perfect person can make mistake and fall from grace. There are a number of examples about fall from grace right from Sage Vishwaamitra to modern times. The supreme guru needs to be above reproach. A human being as a Guru can also lead to personality cult where a person becomes more important than the purpose. The Guru must also reflect all the qualities that the organization wishes to imbibe and remind one of its lofty ideals.
Considering all these factors, Dr. Hedgewar decided that ‘Bhagwaa Dhwaj’ should be the supreme teacher or the Guru of RSS activists. It symbolizes all that is noble, all the qualities worth imbibing, glorious heritage of Bharat, spirit of sacrifice as well as courage. From time immemorial, this flag has had a pride of place in India, used on the chariot of various
warriors since the times of Mahabharat to Swami Ramdas (Guru of Shivaji) and worn by great saints from ancient times to current times. Most inspiring of these in modern times is Swami Vivekanand, named ‘the Saffron Monk from India’ by the mesmerized Americans. Saffron reminds one of all that is great and noble about this country. In that sense,
‘saffronization’ of country is a desirable objective!
This far sighted idea of Doctor Hedgewar has stood the test of time. Every time its illustrious leader passes away, press and critics write obituary of RSS. But, organization keeps growing
irrespective of the person who heads the organization. The activist is so clear about his mission that it doesn’t matter who is heading the organization. If he has a problem with any pronouncement of the Chief, he will criticize or crib or talk to his seniors or colleagues, but will keep working nonetheless, knowing that mission is bigger than any person. No person is bigger than the organization or the ideology.
Self Financing of the Organization – Guru Dakshina
RSS has a unique system of financing the activities of the organization at all levels of operations. It has been criticized and targeted for legal action many a times by many governments that are envious of the smooth working of the organization. It is the only organization which, has not asked for donations or grants to run its organization in its entire existence. It is the only organization where members spend out of their pocket to enjoy any activity or face any hardship of winter camps or training camps and even social work. For any activity, the members contribute to the cost themselves, ‘going Dutch’ as we would say in today’s parlance. If a member cannot pay for his camp fee, another member may help him out without any other people in the group knowing about it. It is like a family.
There is an annual function (or festival or utsav) named ‘Guru Poojan and Guru Dakshina’ (worshipping the Guru) which takes place on the auspicious occasion of ‘Guru Purnima’ a festival dedicated to worshipping and expressing one’s gratitude to one’s teachers and is celebrated all over India since time immemorial. This day is also called ‘Vyas Puja day’ in the memory of ancient Guru Ved Vyas.
In this programme, all the members bow before the Guru – Bhagwaa Dhwaj, offer flowers and dedicate their own contribution for the organization in an unmarked envelope. There is no discussion afterwards about who donated what amount. There is no distinction between a rich and poor member; nor are the organizational posts offered on the basis of one’s financial clout or on the basis of this once a year contribution. This contribution is deposited with the local branch and is used for various activities of RSS and sometimes offered for some other activities where there is requirement. It is also used to support the ‘prachaarak’ who works in that area.
Thus, RSS is a totally self financed organization. This independence from favours gives RSS the moral strength to stand up to any persecution and not to bow to any pressure.
Training Camps and Workshops
There are annual winter camps of two to three days for all the volunteers – from as old as 12 years to as young as 80 years. Participants in these camps are members who attend shakhas regularly. These camps have physical as well as intellectual sessions. These are intensive, highly exhausting and physically challenging camps that act as refresher courses and renew the energies of hundreds of volunteers who come together. This coming together of similar minds creates very positive vibes for the attendees. The atmosphere is of military like discipline with a command structure and creates an exhilarating experience, though facilities are very sparse.
There are monthly or periodic workshops for the budding activists and young workers who have taken some responsibility already. They generally take place on weekends are conducted at local level, tehsil or district level, depending on circumstances and organizational strength in the area. These have emphasis on skill enhancement in dealing with people and situations, intellectual training and physical drills.
Sangh Shikshaa Varg
The most important training that an activist goes through is Sangh Shikshaa Varg (or Sangh Training Workshop). This used to be called O.T.C. (Officers’ Training Camp) in earlier days. These workshops are conducted in summers and last for 3 to 4 weeks. They are held,
generally, at state level as making various arrangements for such a long period is not an easy task nor is it easy to get training faculty for nearly one month.
The entire physical and intellectual training faculty is voluntary. People take special leaves to attend or contribute to arrangements (called prabandhaks) or as instructors. I know of a volunteer, Nana Apte ji who left for his training camp on the very next day of his marriage! The participants need to qualify for training camp through a primary training workshop of one week which takes place once a year at state or district level. The attendee also needs to have some responsibility within the organization i.e. he should be an office bearer. There is an age bar and young activists below 16 years are not allowed as the person needs to be mature enough, and these camps are very strenuous.
The training is done over three such summer camps. They are called Pratham varsh (first year), Dwiteey Varsh (second year) and Triteey varsh (Third year). The final training or third year training is conducted centrally at Nagpur. This is the ultimate qualification for an activist, referred to, in lighter vein, as post-graduation.
For all these workshops, the physical instructors are supposed to be third year trained activists and intellectual training sessions are conducted by senior workers and prachaaraks. The senior all India office bearers or prachaaraks travel relentlessly all over Bharat for atleast two to three months as the training camps have to match with local summer vacations of colleges, making it necessary to spread them over this period.
These camps are very challenging with very tough time tables. The sessions are divided into physical activities and lectures with discussions. The mornings and evenings consist of tough physical regime while the balance part of the day is devoted to intellectual training. Activists who attend these one month camps or workshops remember them long after passing out of them.
The duration of one month is not easy for the members of a family as one has to manage vacations and sacrifice holiday fun. The very fact that not many people go beyond first year underlines this difficulty in making time for it. People who come for third year are, ofcourse, very well seasoned. The third year being centrally held, meeting people of all regions right from Kerala to Bengal to Jammu to Gujarat is an experience itself. People who reach this stage are said to cherish this experience through life. For people who come from outside Nagpur, it is like a pilgrimage to visit the place of its birth and place of birth of its founder. Thus, the image that blind critics of Sangh create - that of lumpen elements, riotous mobs and blood thirsty fanatics is far removed from the reality of enlightened, highly trained, dedicated, selfless activists who sacrifice their most loved interests to work for the society, their
motherland. By virtue of this kind of training over years, they can never be irresponsible street fighters or ruffians.
I have already explained the working of shakha. It is through whole lot of activities that the future managers and activists are trained in all aspects of organization, management, creating and sustaining networks; and also trained in personal values of integrity, patriotism, spirit of sacrifice, selfless service to the society and burning urge to be ever ready to offer one’s
service to the nation in any capacity.RSS is a self running machine powered by selfless citizens, and is a power house for all the activities of nation building.