In the run up to its centenary year celebrations (2025), the RSS has launched a massive expansion drive across the country. The Sangh expects to nearly double the number of of its shakhas. Currently, there are over 55,000 shakhas across the country.
The ideological fountain head of the ruling BJP, the RSS has identified several areas where it needs to focus more energies for the next a few years as it reaches its centenary year. Among the identified focus areas are samajik samrasta (social inclusiveness) to bridge gaps the marginal caste groups like Dalits and Tribals have with the mainstream Hinduism, and kutumb prabodhan, aimed at strengthening the Indian family value system, and environment.
These are apart from the several welfare initiatives that the Sangh carries out through its frontal organisations, affiliated NGOs, and volunteers. The 100-year celebrations will provide the organisation an opportunity to extend its reach to other uncharted territories through cultural integration. The next three years will witness a host of activities by the Sangh, including bringing out more books, especially in regional languages, documentaries, lectures, and programmes of public outreach.
“We are thinking of ways to increase the number of shakhas. Like the experiment we did in Tamil Nadu that shakhas be held in all the villages along a highway. It was a success, and created social bonds where our volunteers also became the first responders in case of road accidents, helping the police,” an RSS functionary said.
The RSS plans to have one shakha for a cluster of every 8-10 villages. “There are over six lakh villages. If we hold shakhas for a cluster, it will help us spread. Similarly, in the urban areas where combining a few localities, a shakha could be held,” the functionary said.
The RSS is also involved in dhram jagaran (religious awakening) at the grass root levels. “We take religious leaders, sadhus to villages who teach about religion, tell villagers how to pray.”
The Sangh will discuss these plans during its annual meeting to be held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, between March 11-13. The meeting, Pratinidhi Sabha, is main exercise in the RSS's calendar where it publishes its annual report, deliberate on key national issues and brings out resolutions. It also take feedback from its 1,500 odd pracharaks who attend the meeting, and decide on areas that need further attention.
“The meeting will be held in Karnavati,” the RSS said. Karnavati is an ancient name for present day Ahmedabad, which is named after Sultan Ahmed Shah. There has been demands to rename Ahmedabad to Karnavati, and even the state BJP government too had said it was considering the change of name.
The annual meeting is being held in Gujarat, which goes to polls later this year. Moreover, the dates of meeting, though decided much in advance according to RSS sources, falls a day after the results to five states will be declared, on March 10. Though the RSS does not discuss elections, it does take cognizance of political changes. The senior BJP leadership, especially general secretary (organisation) will attend the meeting. BJP chief JP Nadda is yet to confirm his participation.
The annual meeting also discusses it coordination on key policy matters with the government and feedback is passed on to the respective ministers through the party.
The RSS is likely to discuss issues like girls marriageable age, hijab row, and attack on its cadre.
“It is a good development that there is a debate around the issues of nationalism, country and Hindutva,” an RSS source said, adding these were the cultural issues beyond the usual discussion on governance or economic policies of the government.