'Youths linked with ABVP flocked to RSS in last 6 months'

LUCKNOW: The number of RSS shakhas had shrunk during the UPA's tenure, hitting a low of 39,283 shakhas in 2010. But as a series of scams broke out, and UPA-II went from one low to another, there was again a renewed interest in shakhas, with a sudden burst in the Modi months.

Kripa Shanker, who heads the RSS's publicity wing in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, however, says that it is not a seasonal upsurge. He claims that the number of shakhas have not declined after 2004. "It's just that people are becoming more aware of our work," he said.

"More and more young people are coming forward and joining shakhas," says Atul Singh, who heads a newly established shakha in Lucknow. What do the shakhas do? "They focus on character building, idealism, discipline and, of course, Hindutva. We are creating awareness among people to vote for a 'suitable' political candidate," he said — 'suitable', of course, being shorthand for Modi.

"The surge clearly shows how the attraction of power is working for RSS," says a Sangh activist who did not want to be named. "Students associated with ABVP have joined in large numbers over the past six months. Besides, people who were inactive in the past few years have become active again."

"Shakhas are now much more organized," says an ABVP leader. "Most shakhas now have a 'gan nayak' — a functionary who is supposed to wake up swayamsewaks in the morning and bring them to the park — and a 'gan shikshak' (group teacher), who trains the members. This was not the case some time ago. There was no one to wake up the volunteers."

Ashok Sinha of the RSS's publicity wing says the Lok Sabha elections are like a national festival for the Sangh. "Our activities increase during elections but this doesn't mean we do not work at other times. Shakhas focus on personality development and social inclusiveness and what better than the involvement of young," he says.

Associated with the RSS since his childhood, 76-year-old D P Singh, at present the sarsanghchalak (head) of west UP, says, "Shakhas are not meant to bring in a revolution. They help in the character-building process. The participation of youth in shakhas is like fresh flowers being offered to God. One doesn't offer dry flowers while worshipping, no?"

An RSS functionary said this was not a seasonal upsurge. He said the number of shakhas had not declined after 2004. 'It's just that people are becoming more aware of our work,' the RSS man said.