RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday (18 August) highlighted the importance of women’s participation in every sphere of life. He said that society cannot move forward if half of its population is left out.
Speaking at a book launch in Delhi, Bhagwat underlined that women must be part of work and decision-making. “If society has to be transformed, half of the population cannot be left out,” he said.
Rashtra Sevika Samiti and Women’s Role
Bhagwat said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has always worked in coordination with the Rashtra Sevika Samiti. The women’s organisation was formed in 1936. It functions parallel to the RSS. The two bodies help and support each other.
He pointed out that the Samiti has 43 pracharikas (full-time workers) and its activities are expanding across the country. Women representatives also take part in the annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha. It is the top decision-making body of the RSS. “They participate in all the deliberations. We take decisions together,” Bhagwat said.
He further added that whenever the agenda relates to women, the decision is left to the women representatives. The RSS accepts those decisions. “Women and men work together in what we do in the interest of society,” the Sangh chief said.
Answering a common question about why women are not directly part of the RSS, Bhagwat said women have already started working in various implementation groups of the organisation. This will gradually increase in the future.
He also stressed that when the Rashtra Sevika Samiti was founded, it was decided that there would be no interference in each other’s fields. Both organisations continue to follow this principle.
Family Support in RSS
Bhagwat also clarified that the RSS is not only about the swayamsevaks but also about their families. “The number of swayamsevaks we have, at least that many women are also with us. Someone is the mother, wife, or sister of a swayamsevak,” he said.
He explained that a swayamsevak can dedicate himself to society because women in his family support him and encourage him to fulfil his responsibilities. This makes women equal contributors in the work of the Sangh.
The RSS chief also recalled the history of the organisation. He said that after 1942, the British government studied the RSS in detail. Their report noted that the RSS was not creating trouble but could become a big challenge if resistance against the British grew.
Bhagwat was speaking at the launch of the book “Tan Samarpit, Man Samarpit”, based on the life and contributions of Ramesh Prakash, a senior RSS pracharak from Delhi.
