In show of strength, RSS rally in NE call for diversity, resurgent India

January 21, 2018 802 Views No Comment

Naga Republic News

Described as the biggest rally so far of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), also known as the Sangh Parivar, about 35,000 swayamsevaks (volunteers) from across the North East converged in Guwahati, Assam on January 21. Heads of village bodies, 20 titular tribal kings — from the Karbi, Naga, Khasi, Hajong, Tiwa, Garo, Jayantiya, Mising and Hajong communities — and more than 10 chiefs of different Satras of Assam were among the dignitaries attending the rally.

Tribal kings from Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura on stage

The rally was addressed by the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat. According to reports in the media, it is for the first time that the Hindu nationalist body is organising an event of this magnitude in the North East. Since 1994, the region has seen RSS gatherings in smaller cities like Dibrugarh and Shillong, but these never witnessed crowds of over 3,000 to 4,000.

A report in the Times of India mentions that in the run up to the upcoming elections in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, the RSS meet will be significant for BJP which has been striving to expand its footprint in the northeast region, especially after coming to power in Assam, its first government in the region.

Although RSS maintains its apolitical stance, its cadres can galvanise the saffron party and help it consolidate its position in the region, the Times of India report states and pointing out that the RSS has consistently worked in Assam and other northeastern states even after the killing of dozens of its Pracharaks and workers like Pramod Dikshit, Muralidharan and Shukleshwar Medhi.

“The Sangh effectively ignored and bypassed aggressive regionalism and unbelievable hate propaganda and established itself in mainstream society in the northeast,” said Sangh functionary Vinay Joshi.

Mohan Bhagwat salutes the Swayamsevaks

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat in his address called for acceptance and respect of India’s diversity. “Accept and respect all diversity. This is how humanity in this lifetime is accomplished. We have this uniqueness of diversity gifted to us by our motherland,” Mohan Bhagwat reiterated at the Guwahati rally. “Sujala suphala malayajashitala…” was how abundant out motherland was, this made us open and broadminded which led us to welcome more and more people…Nature protected us and blessed us with this abundance,” he added.

“Our uniqueness lies in diversity or religion and different ways of life…but at the core, our essence is all same. We need to seek happiness within, even the illiterate people in India are wise enough to know this truth that many in the world fails to understand,” the RSS chief said at the rally. “There is diversity in the world, respect it and then do darshan of this unity in diversity then only will your life be fruitful,” he added, advocating the need for unity.

Struggling world is looking at India for a path towards world peace, Mohan Bhagwat said.

“To bring our country back on its feet is the goal of RSS. It is not a selfish or parochial motive. There is a need for it. Around the world, humanity has for the past 2,000 years, tried many things for world peace, But they have failed. They need a new route and India will provide that new path for the people. India has been doing so since millenniums,” RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said at the RSS rally in Guwahati.

“As a nation state, we have the right to give enlightenment for struggling world. The time is ripe for it. It may seem difficult and impossible for some, but with efforts and self-discipline, we can achieve these goals,” he added.

“The Sangh’s strength is not to scare anyone or dominate anybody, it is for social causes. Don’t just remain a spectator, as a sympathiser, learn to come down and learn the culture of the Sangh. Mothers and sisters need to send their sons to the Sangh’s shakhas and teach them our vision,” Mohan Bhagwat says as he ends his speech.

Invoking Lachit Borphukan, Assam RSS Secretary Umesh Chakraborty said “we must protect the soil of Assam and the North East to save the region”. He asked every citizen to go back to their village once in a while and make sure there is equitable development.

“If anyone can save Assam right now, it is the RSS,’ said BJP Member of Parliament Shiladitya Dev pointing out that the RSS is a national, cultural organisation that has the discipline to conduct a congregation of this massive scale”. “I invite all opposition parties and groups to come and see what the RSS really is,” Dev said.

Eminent politicians, heads of village bodies, 20 titular tribal kings — from the Karbi, Naga, Khasi, Hajong, Tiwa, Garo, Jayantiya, Mising and Hajong communities — and more than 10 chiefs of different satras of Assam were among the dignitaries attending the rally, it was reported. (Satras stand for institutional centres associated with Vaishnavism, a sect in Hinduism)

BJP general secretary and Northeast in charge Ram Madhav sits amid spectators in RSS uniform

King of Mayong, a village near Guwahati that is known for black magic and sorcery, Tarani Singha said, “RSS and its affiliates have taken up the initiative to secure the Hindu culture. Hindutva should be protected, and that is why I came here to understand more about their mission and vision”

The RSS became operational in the country’s North East in the mid-1940s when it set up its first base in undivided Assam, which then comprised the present-day states of Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya. For administrative purposes, the Sangh’s northeastern arm is divided into two parts: Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, along with the southern parts of Assam, fall under the Dakshin Assam division. Northern parts of the state, along with Meghalaya and Nagaland, make up the Uttar Assam division.

Sankar Das, spokesperson for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calls the organisation’s mega rally on Sunday a “test”. “This is the largest-ever congregation organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). More than an event, this is actually a test for us,” Das said.