By Er. Rajesh Pathak
To fulfill its mission of taking the nation to supreme glory (Param Vaibhav) , RSS has evolved a few stages of ‘man-making’ process in increasing order through which one has to go through wanting to work for it in correct perspective . First comes the Shakha, a get-together of one-hour duration to be conducted daily normally, though frequency may vary according to the requirements. This is a gradual process of molding the personality of an individual to be called sawyamsewak required to work for chosen goal laid by RSS. Then comes Shivirs; as Shikshan–Varga follows it. In them one has to live longer duration of time as a trainee spending days together out of home. We may take a glance of Sangh’s mode of working as follows:
In the novel ‘Tatvamasi’ based upon the life of a pracharak (the dedicated full-time volunteer of RSS), Paritosh Babu the pracharak and protagonist of the novel tells,
‘When I was in 7th class, I went to attain five- days RSS-Varga (Training). The lunch-box for us was delivered from our own homes respectively every day. It was the rule for us to wash the lunch-box clean after consuming the food. Some of us left the lunch box without washing them out. In the afternoon when we took the rest our officers made the visit to our rooms and finding the lunch box unclean they themselves washed them clean. In the evening at the Shakha it was reminded as how many of us left the lunch boxes unclean which were made clean by the officers themselves afterward. This alone was enough for the swayamsevaks to realize the fault on their part. And from the next day everybody began to keep washing their lunch boxes promptly. Thus we were made to learn to finish our own work with our own hands just showing practically by the senior officers of the Varga or camp.’ (Page-33)
In the book comes the instance of one more Pracharak named Pawan Kumar, living the life of an extremely simple man, coming from the village background, just 6th pass, came into the contact of Sangh and even as dedicated to it in the time to come, got the command over English, so much so that even being able to deliver the speech in it if required. He has gone through the entire collected works of Raman Maharshi, Arvind and Vivekananda. Other than what he wore only that much was there for the remaining clothes that could be accommodated in the one small bag. The collection was too minimal for the things. Shaving is done by the blade in the hand with no razor holding it, nor shaving cream does he apply. When takes the book to read, he sends back it soon after reading it with all promptness.
To such Pawan Kumarji, Paritosh babu sends a youth named Sadanand who came to his contact and ambitious to know about the life of a ‘pracharak’. But the issue with Pawanji was that he liked not to tell about himself. When Sadanand asked him of his life as a pracharak, according to his habit he broke into laughter, telling, “What should I tell about my life as a pracharak. I did nothing at all. I am unable to understand Sangh, nor do I find myself able enough to work for it. As the circumstances demanded and as the higher officials suggested I kept working accordingly. I have nothing to tell. I did not see Dr Hedgewar; I only heard about him. Kept the faith upon whatever heard of him. It is only Doctor Hedgewar abiding in the heart makes me working. When I did nothing at all, what could I tell you?”
Having come back after the meeting with Pawan Kumarji, Sadanand meets again with Paritosh babu and tells his experience in the following words: “Chachaji, I had meeting with Pawan Kumarji. He did not tell much, however I have got to know of the life of self-detachment of the Sangh-pracharak, being away from self-promotion, self- popularity. Heard and listen that in the devotion to the God, the devotee forgets himself. The man like Pawan Kumarji not only dedicated himself for the chosen goal, but immersed himself as a whole! ”
Thus the reader comes to know the institution of ‘pracharak’ in the RSS reading the novel.
Note: The writer of the novel ‘Tatvamasi’ is Shreedhar Paradkar, pracharak , Akhil Bhartiya Sahitya Parishad’s Rashtriya Sangathan Mantri, and the eminent author of the several books.
