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Being a swayamsevak
I AM AN ORDINARY SWAYAMSEVAK"
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This is an invaluable discourse delivered by the late Shri Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha, who we affectionately know as Shri Guruji.
Many Swayamsevaks introduce themselves by saying, "I am an Ordinary Swayamsevek." Taking clue from this type of introduction, Shri Guruji has ably elaborated all salient features of the R.S.S. in this small discourse.
Narrating many events from the life of Dr. Hedgewar, the founder Sarsanghchalak of the R.S.S., Shri Guruji has explained in a very simple, lucid and organised style as to how a Swayamsevak should conduct himself in society, how to run the Sangh shakha, how to Interweave relation between the Shakha and the people living around it. He has also explained, in detail, why our character should be spotlessly clean and how our behaviour be loving and full of affection.
M. G. VAIDYA
Ordinary Swayamsevak of the R. S. S. is not "ordinary" in the sense he describes himself to be. There is an altogether distinct "extraordinariness" in him. It is that extraordinariness of which he is not even aware, leave alone being proud of it. But Shri Guruji says that it is a matter of prestige to be an ordinary Swayamsevak. No other thing can be more respectable and prestigious than this. Post and power are merely the system peculiarities. Where as to be a Swayamasevak is its very foundation.
This discourse contains one more fundamental aspect. That is: we have to organise the entire Hindu society. Establishing small organisation within the Hindu society is not our objective. But our target is to organise the Hindu society in its entirety. Therefore we must have a total picture of society in our view. It is not that each and every individual of the society will attend the Shakha. But we must see to it that all those who dwell in cities, villages and in forests are considered as our brothers; that we maintain continuous and live relations with them, and that these relations be cordial, friendly, sportive as well as full of mutual trust and co-operation. Shri Guruji says, " There must be sufficient number of branches, spread all over the nation, functioning continuously and having necessary number of Swayamsevaks in them for achieving this purpose" This responsibility rests with ordinary Swayammsevaks and it is a life-long mission. According to Shri Guruji such an ordinary Swayamsevak enjoys unusual and exceptional high esteem. It is even more true now than it was at that time. The Sangh is known to the people more by its ordinary Swayamsevaks than by its philosophy, well-disciplined programmes or its route-marches. Most effective and best means of identifying the R.S.S. is its Swayamsevak and his conduct. If at all the form and character of the Sangh has to have proper influence on society, it could only be through the behaviour of an ordinary Swayamsevak. It is post of such an immense responsibility. Shri Guruji expects that every Swayamsevak should understand this responsibility. This itself is a master key to understand the extraordinariness of an ordinary. I have no doubt that this discourse will help all Swayamsevaks to Introspect.
—M. G. VAIDYA
"Swayamsevak" : A Matter of Pride
Now, the term "Ordinary Swayamsevak" is very meaningful because all of us are ordinary Swayamsevaks. Who possesses extra-ordinariness amongst us? People call me the chief of the R.S.S. What sort of uncommonness or extra-ordinariness do I possess? It is true, I have a well grown beard. But if you don"t shave everyday, your beard would also grow! What is extra¬ordinary about it? I know many of us present here are doing various experiments in this regard! But from that point of view also, there is nothing particular about me.
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I recollect an old episode. It is about the founding father of the R.S.S. Once he appealed to his Swayamsevak brethren: "Please develop some one to take up the responsibility of the Sarsanghachalak so that I can hand over this responsibility to him and exert myself as an ordinary Swayamsevak. I have some ideas of how an ordinary Swayamsevak should be. I have some hopes and aspirations from him. I would like to conduct myself accordingly and set an example before my Swayamsevak-brothers working with me". It means, he aspired to become an ordinary Swayamsevak. But the circumstances did not allow him to do so. He was constrained to continue as the chief of the R.S.S. The question is, why did he aspire to be so? What made him think like that? The only answer is, it is a matter of great pride and prestige in our organization to be an ordinary Swayamsevak.
Time and again, I have to move in the society and undertake journeys across the country for the organizational work. During my travel, if somebody asks me, "What do you consider as the most prestigious thing in your life that you would be proud of?" Then I would like say, "Being an ordinary Swayamsevak of R.S.S." There cannot be any greater thing to be proud of. I am educated and have earned some degrees. I have taught some people and delivered speeches at many places. Some people come and garland me, some of them even prostrate before me. I receive more namaskars perhaps because of my ascetic dress! But none of these things gives me any sense of elation. Many great people come and meet me. They include foreigners also. Many holy saints and sanyasins in the field of religion meet me. I always cherish their blessings. Politicians and educationists also come and meet me. They place various problems before me and seek my advice. It cannot be denied that all those things are capable of invoking a sense of pride in the heart. But I have never considered them as worthy of pride. The only thing worthy of pride is, “Due to divine coincidence, I have been a Sangh Swayamsevak."
So, it is needless to say that no other thing is more respectable and loftier than being a Swayamsevak. If it is so, you may think, what about all those office-bearers ranging from the Sarsanghachalak to a Gatnayak? We have evolved a system for the conduct of our activities, since no organization can function without a system. And as we have to run the organization, we have devised a system. As a Swayamsevak, every one of us has been assigned a specific responsibility within the wider framework of that system. So, he is a Swayamsevak having a responsibility assigned to him. But all the same, the most important and pride-worthy thing in his life is the fact that he is basically a Swayamsevak, irrespective of whatever office he is holding within the system.
So, when I say I am an ordinary Swayamsevak, I must bear in my mind the sense of responsibility associated with it. It is really a great responsibility. Society is also watching us as a Swayamsevak. People have great many expectations from us. We also think that they should have those expectations from us and by fulfilling them, we should be able to live up to their expectations and prove to be worthy of them.
I AM AN ORDINARY SWAYAMSEVAK"
During my tours, while talking to the Swayamsevaks, I generally ask them to introduce themselves. In reply, many of them say, "I am an ordinary Swayamsevak." Vary often, the intention behind saying so is that they do not have any specific organizational responsibility of the Sangh activities. It looks as though their responsibility is to conduct themselves in such a way that their Mukhya Shikshak or Shikshak would be required to undertake special efforts for them. For example, they would remain absent for the Shakha so that these office bearers would come to their house and would call them! So, the Implied meaning is that, as though, it is their responsibility to give those office-bearers an opportunity to do their job more effectively!
Minimum Shakha Systems
So, what are the things in general that we as Swayamsevaks should pay attention to? Let us first think about the Shakha.
1)Shakha should be held everyday.
2) It must be held on time.
3) A variety of programmes should be conducted in the Shakha.
4) An atmosphere of sportsman-spirit, love, affection and purity should prevail among all the Swayamsevaks.
5) We must develop the urge and desire in our heart to become clearer and stronger in our goal-realization through the process of discussion and deliberation among ourselves.
6) We must pronounce our Prayer correctly, collectively and with all solemnity, faith and understanding.
7) Our holy Flag is a symbol of whatever is of utmost purity for us. We must salute it collectively and with all modesty.
8) Sit together for sometime and discuss various matters. Find out as to who have not attended the Shakha that day and try to meet them before the next day.
All these are routine matters related to our daily Sangh Shakha, in which every Swayamsevak is expected to fully take part.
Our Mission
The Hindu culture is the life-breath of Hindusthan. It is therefore clear that if Hindusthan is to be protected, we should first nourish the Hindu culture. If the Hindu culture perishes in Hindusthan itself, and if the Hindu society ceases to exist, it will hardly be appropriate to refer to the mere geographical entity that remains as Hindusthan. Mere geographical lumps do not make a nation.The entire society should be in such a vigilant and organized condition that no one would dare to cast an evil eye on any of our points of honour.
Strength, it should be remembered, comes only through organization. It is therefore the duty of every Hindu to do his best to consolidate the Hindu society. The Sangh is just carrying out this supreme task.The present fate of the country cannot be changed unless lakhs of young men dedicate their entire lifetime for that cause. To mould the minds of our youth towards that end is the supreme aim of the Sangh.
Winning the Hearts
Then how do the people come to accept our propositions? Firstly, there are some people who are, as though, marked by God Himself for the Sangh"s work.
When somebody just goes to them and requests them to attend the Shakha or do some Sangh work, as if, the impressions they had accrued in their previous birth awaken instantly, they spontaneously respond and come forward to work with us as our colleagues. They do not need to be convinced about it at all. There are in fact a number of such people everywhere.
2)Some people think rationally and discerningly. They study the national state of affairs and are convinced that there is no other solution except the R.S.S. They come forward to do the Sangh work with a sense of duty towards the society,
3)Some people intensely desire to have friends, and since their desire is fulfilled in the Sangh, they join us in our work.
