A small organisation that began in an open ground with around 14-15 teenage boys brought together by a former revolutionary and political leader has blossomed today into a giant banyan tree with so many branches and roots that it is difficult to distinguish between the main trunk and various branches that have struck roots on their own and many that have grown independently under its benign shadow.
It reminds me of the legendary giant banyan tree in Kolkata described thus in a Times of India report-"Estimated to be more than 250 years old, the Great Banyan is occupies an area of 4.67 acres! [...] We all know how banyan trees extend their aerial roots, and they spread and cover a very large area. But is it possible without the main trunk? Looks like it is. The Great Banyan lost its original trunk to disease after being struck by two massive cyclones, and so in 1925, its original trunk had to be removed in order to stop the spread of the disease. That didn't stop the tree from growing, and grew it did! A total of 3772 aerial roots to be precise!"
FROM SHAKHA TO MASS ORGANISATION
This is the closest one can get to understand the vast expanse of RSS through its various allied organisations working in almost every field of social and national life. There are 36 national level organisations inspired by RSS philosophy beginning with Rashtra Sevika Samiti (RSS of women in 1932), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP in 1948), followed by Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (in 1951) to Bharatiya Janata Party (1951), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (1955) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (1964) - all mass based giant organisations to the youngest Saksham (2008 - working with the divyang or differently abled people) working in a niche area; people inspired by RSS philosophy are working to the best of their abilities with full dedication.
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GOING INTO ELECTION MODE
AS KARNATAKA IS ALL SET FOR LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS IN MAY THIS YEAR, FACTORS LIKE THE DEMAND FOR RESERVATION, ANTI-INCUMBENCY AND VARIOUS OTHER CONTROVERSIES WILL MAKE THIS ELECTION QUITE INTERESTING
ISLAMIC NATION AT A CROSSROADS
AMID POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND MILITARY INTERVENTION, PAKISTAN IS GRIPPED BY ECONOMIC CRISIS WHICH IS FURTHER DETERIORATING: IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO WATCH HOW THIS ISLAMIC NATION OVERCOMES THE SITUATION
A GAME-CHANGER FOR INDIAN ECONOMY
THE DISCOVERY OF 5.9 MILLION TONNES OF LITHIUM DEPOSITS IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR WILL CHANGE INDIA’S FORTUNE AND ITS JOURNEY TOWARDS SELF-RELIANCE IN ENERGY. IT WILL ALSO CHANGE THE FACE OF THE COUNTRY’S EV SECTOR
REVIVALISM FOR TRANSFORMATION
SWAMI DAYANAND SARASWATI, A REMARKABLE EDUCATIONIST AND REFORMER, PLAYED A SEMINAL ROLE IN REMOVING ORTHODOXY AND OTHER SOCIAL ILLS PLAGUING THE HINDU SOCIETY. HE ALSO MADE EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
'PM MODI'S POLICIES BEHIND BJP'S ENTRY IN NAGALAND'
The entire North East is witnessing a change since the Modi Government came into office in 2014.
RESOLVE TO RECLAIM OUR TERRITORY
FEBRUARY 22 IS MARKED AS THE SANKALP DIWAS RESOLUTION DAY). IT REMINDS US OF THE RESOLVE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN PARLIAMENT, TOOK TO RECLAIM THE TERRITORIES THAT WERE OCCUPIED THROUGH AGGRESSION IN 1948
WHAT'S COOKING?
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN IS NOT KNOWN TO OFTEN MEET FOREIGN LEADERS BELOW THE RANK OF HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, EVEN FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE RARELY GIVEN AUDIENCE. SO WHEN HE HAD AN HOUR-LONG TETE-A-TETE WITH INDIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR AJIT DOVAL IN MOSCOW RECENTLY, IT CAUGHT THE WORLD’S ATTENTION
A WAY TO DELIVER JUSTICE
WHEN OUR CONSTITUTION MAKERS PROVIDED RESERVATION BENEFITS TO THE SCHEDULED TRIBES, THEY WANTED TO SAFEGUARD THE TRIBAL POPULATION WHILE ENSURING AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO PROGRESS. UNFORTUNATELY, RAMPANT CONVERSION HAS CREATED A SITUATION WHERE THE CONVERTS ARE AVAILING DOUBLE BENEFITS WHEREAS TRIBALS WHO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THEIR FAITH ARE DEPRIVED OF THE OPPORTUNITIES MEANT FOR THEM
LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVE
THE ISSUE OF DELISTING IS BEING RAISED SINCE MANY DECADES. EVEN ATTEMPTS WERE MADE IN PARLIAMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO DELIVER JUSTICE TO THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY. THIS MATTER IS ALSO BEING HEARD IN VARIOUS COURTS
JUSTICE FOR JANJATI COMMUNITY
THE 'JANJATI GARJANA DELISTING RALLY' WAS ORGANISED IN BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH ON 10 FEBRUARY. THE RALLY WAS ATTENDED BY EMINENT PERSONALITIES FROM THE COMMUNITY. NOTABLY, SUCH RALLIES ARE BEING IN ORGANISED CONTINUOUSLY IN STATES WHICH HAVE SIGNIFICANT TRIBAL POPULATION SUCH AS MADHYA PRADESH, CHHATTISGARH, ARUNACHAL PRADESH AND ELSEWHERE IN THE NORTH EAST