Panchavati was a true centre of tapas for saints and sages. If we see in this context of sangh’s karyakartas, it is a centre which teaches us rashtra tapas. Likewise, if we think deeply about who is explaining all these events, it gives us some messages. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is an organization that is recognized by even opponents for its discipline. Shakhas which works in accordance with the precepts of discipline, it teaches patriotism, honesty along with discipline. The Lakshmana Rekha reminds us of the commandment. Disobeying the commandment is dangerous. If we recall the incident like cutting off Shurpanakhi’s nose, we have a lesson there that gives us a message why we should face it for the destruction of Adharma. Similarly, there is a message about what will happen if you go after the golden deer. The message is one should not go after mirage. Panchavati Sthala Purana gives swayamsevaks whatever the lesson they want. In this way, our Panchavati Karyalaya also teaches discipline, teaches volunteers the mindset to stand against injustice. It also gives us a message that we should not spoil our daily tapas by going behind the mirage. It is in this background that our karyalaya is named as Panchavati. A great center of tapas. It is not only in Ramayana but also earlier and later there are many references about Panchavati. Ours is karyalaya that embodies these qualities. This is inauguration and renovation of such a karyalya, since the place is same and building is new. This is also the nature of our Hindu society. It is often reforming itself. The vision of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is also same. Just as there is respect, pride and love for the old, it is like bringing oneself to the new, to a new situation, to new times. So, the Sangha is still relevant even after a hundred years. Not stagnant water. The foundation is the same, just new thoughts on it. How karyakartas in the old building during the most difficult days, faced the greatest challenges, not just for the organization, but also dedicated themselves to the challenges of the Hindu society and worked for it, the land that inspired them, the same place, the same land but the vision of the organization according to today’s situation, a scenario of changed challenges in Hindu society, the necessary preparation and mindset of being renewed itself for today’s age. This building gives us the message of what is basic quality of sangha and Hindu society.
This is a story of a village in a western world long ago. There was a church building in that village and the building was very old. Many people from the village appealed to the head of the church that the building is very old and needs to be changed. Let’s build a new one. But there was a lot of love for that building. Whoever becomes the leader of that church building committee always said building is good and compromised. Later, it became so dilapidated that the water would fall down during rains. Thus, those who come to pray on Sunday started standing outside the building instead of praying inside. Then the committee decided to fix this issue and the chairman announced the meeting to be held on a day soon and decide about the reconstruction. All the people were happy. As the meeting was held on one day about the decision of reconstruction, People of the village were waiting eagerly. The meeting lasted from morning till evening. After the meeting in the evening, when the chairman of committee came out, people of the village were eagerly hearing to what he had to say.
Then, chairman of the committee said, first of all, there is good news for you, we have decided to remove the entire building and build a new one. All the people clapped loudly since they wanted this to happen. Secondly, the chairman said, the building has timber, furniture and useful items in it and we have lived with it for hundreds of years. Our ancestors have used these. So, we revere all these. I feel all these materials should be used in new building’s construction. Then the people clapped very loudly since they felt no wrong with using these materials after removing the old building. Thirdly, Chairman said, we will build newly on the same foundation which is existing and in the same shape as our original. The people of the town did not mind that either. How does it matter removing the faulty old building and new building is built on same foundation? Fourth, he said, the old one will be removed after the new one is built! If a new building is built on the same foundation and then old building is removed, it is nothing but the same building will remain. Many times, there is revere for the old. Even when the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh says is for the preservation of our ancient Hindu religion and Hindu society, the idea of our eternally basic religion is eternally ancient and always adopting new too. We need everything old… New bud, old root. Based on ancient values, The vision of Hindu society to the need of present day’s times, broadening it
and organizing our Hindu society in that context. How should our Hindu religion, Hindu culture, Hindu society, Hindu values rise up according to today’s era? The foundation should be the same. Going forward building a new one taking down the old one is not acceptable. Neither Hindu society nor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has regressive ideas. Adapting our ancient values to contemporary times, to facilitate the changes taking place in the world today is necessary, the world is looking towards India for answers to many questions, the same is in the title of today’s forum. Hindu Strength to free the world from cry How can the Hindu society provide solutions to various problems and answer the questions that the world is facing? Rashtriya Swayamsevaka Sangh itself which is organizing the Hindu society to stands on its firm ground, looks to the future, answers the challenges, address cries of the Hindu society, has such quality of adapting ancient values to contemporary times. If you look at the history of the sangh, we have made changes from time to time. Be it in our daily activities, be it shakha’s physical or intellectual activities, or different organisations, have bought new dimensions. The way it was started may be different but it is necessary to prepare itself for the current times, the younger minds of today, the new type of social conditions of India should. Amidst all this, Always being relevant and socially relevant is the basic quality of our organization. When Dr. Hedagewar founded the sangh, he started it in the same way how a common Hindu was thinking in the Hindu society at that time and how it should be ten years ahead from there. It may be the gana vesha of those times, or it can be collective thinking and decision making, or may be a team spirit or different regions. There should be attitude to move forward by adjusting the organization to different social conditions that arise. All these were developed as attributes of the organization by Dr. Hedagewar himself, the venerable founder of the Sangh. Till now we have grown up in the same way. Prarthana of the sangh was different before, we changed it according to the need. The uniform of the sangh had to change, we changed it according to today’s times. We changed many of our physical and intellectual activities in the Sangha. The basic vision is the same. But how should the organization be in accordance with today’s times era in the society? Such a foresight is the specialty of the association. Similarly, this thought is imbibed in the reconstruction of our offices also. The Sangh has reached the hundred-year mark today. But even today the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh remains a youth organization. If you see the ones who took part in route march here today, it was the college students. Sangh may be a hundred-year-old. But the majority of swayamsevaks in the country today is youth. So even today sngh is recognized as a youth organization. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s training classes are held every year. Normally in a year, more than 20000 people get trained for 20 days in more than 100 camps held across the country. the average age in these camps is 18 years. The reason why I am saying this is, even today the Sangh remains a youth organization. Nearly, 1.25 lakh volunteers who get 8 days of basic training. Their average age is 15-16 years. This mean RSS is an organization which is young even after hundred years. And the hope of the sangh is also on this young generation. Be it giving the organization’s responsibility at the shakha level, or be it in the planning the programs, this young generation should be given more emphasis and trusting them. I had read a sentence in English a few years ago “WHILE GRAY HAIRS ARE RESPECTED, BLACK HAIRS ARE SUSPECTED”. Youth whose hair color is in black is suspected. Anyone will be doubted when we don’t know what he will do next. There is immense power within the young. When we don’t know how will it emerge, then you will be under suspicion. For example, if someone is walking on the road. There is a stone lying. If it is picked by an old person, it is assumed he has picked to avoid it harming others on the road. But if a young man picks the stone, he may look at the glass next to him. Even without knowing what he is doing, that young man has the energy of youth. Not only physically, but also the way of thinking, the decision making process, the leadership that takes a new plunge, the enormous power of activity is tremendous in the young mind from that youth. Therefore, Sangh has guidance of old and has always welcomed the youth who can take new steps and win. Even in our Sangha prayers we have pray for Purushartha. We do not ask God to do something. But we ask, Lord give us strength, so that through it we will win. We are the worshipers of power, building an organization on the basis of a purpose, protecting the society are also a sign of youth. There is no fear in a mind that has the ability to think new. I am not saying this on the basis of age. The mindset of the sangh itself is youthness.
There was a king who lived in a town once. He was very fond of dressing. He had more clothes on the shelves whose worth was more than what was in his treasury. One morning, he thought to wear the best clothes in the world, no matter what is the cost. The cloth should be the slickest cloth anywhere in the world. He announced that he will give half the kingdom to whoever weaves such clothes for him. Everyone knew that he was a mad king. However, many people felt why they should not get the kingdom. But the king also had a precondition. If by chance, king is not satisfied, he will cut off the head of the cloth weaver. Four people had already lost their lives. Then no one came. A few years passed. One day a father and son came from the neighboring state. They said they know the challenge posed by the king, they are very skilled in weaving cloth, they will weave and give. Someone took them to the king’s court, the king asked if they know all the rules. Further the king said, he is ready to provide every facility, but he needs well woven clothes of his choice. The duo asked for a place which should be completely sealed so that no one can see inside. He said that we have big machines and we have to install them. Arrangement was made. Machines were installed. After a month, the king was curious and asked the minister, to “See what they are doing.” The minister visited the place. Duo were doing something in front of the machines. Minister assumed they are making very good clothes as the King desired. After couple of months, father and son told the king that clothes are ready and they are bringing them. Everyone is gathered in the king’s court. Father and son come carrying something very heavy on their hands. But others see nothing.
Both father and son, came and presented the clothes before the king. King looked here and there, asked the ministers with a slight frown. The duo, father and son had said before entering the court, that very religious and earnest persons can see our clothes and said that the fools cannot see it. So, a minister saw the king’s gesture and said ‘Ah, very good’. He did not want to be called an unworthy fool by saying he can’t see clothes. Couple of more joined the minster in saying that clothes were good. Even the king could not see clothes. He had the fear If he says he could not see anything, people will feel that he is also unworthy fool. Therefore, the king gave the father and son half of the kingdom and also gave them as much money as they wanted. They both left from there. Later someone suggested king to wear these clothes and take out procession across the streets of the town. King’s procession started. Actually, the king was naked. But the people of the town were not saying anything fearing that they will be killed or called as unworthy fools and felt why should they tell the truth. But a young boy standing in one of the turnings of the street screamed loudly Nude King and ran away. Then other people of the town too saying yes, indeed. As you grow older, even if you see the truth, you will not be able to tell it. But it is the youth tends to speak the truth fearlessly. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh remains a youth organization even today not just because there are more swayamsevaks with an average age of 18 but the mind of the entire sangh is to make a real analysis about the nation, the society, and place it before Hindu society, and convey terrible truth of repercussions if we do not organize ourselves. And also, to the world, there is a need to convey excellence of the values in our Sanatana Dharma and present with an institution, an organization, an idea, which is running on the gallop of indulgence. Sangh is standing tall with the power of thought. That’s the approach of young generation. That is how our organization has grown. Youth are representing us, at all levels in various organizations which are inspired by the sangh. We are swayamsevaks of such an organization. Sangh volunteers today are engaged in huge social transformation. As I said earlier, as the Sangha grows, it is a new bud with an old root, it has constantly renewed itself, it has attached new scope of work, according to emerging situations of the society. Today our various organizations which were started in the forties and there are more than thirty-six of our such organizations which have raised to all-India level, or pace-setting initiatives to change the mindset of society, individuals, families, communities, villages, mohallas by gati-vidhis. Be it various sangh inspired organisations or the transformations that our volunteers making directly in the society. It spans all fields. Our swayamsevaks go and work in in different fields such as national security, economy, education, ideology etc. We have divided it into two ways. A change that is necessary in the system and another is the change that is required in the mindset of the society. Both are very necessary and important. Change in system is not only for our nation Bharat, Hindu society, but different societies in the world shape their lives based on certain systems. It may be the education system of that society, the justice system of that society, the administrative system of that society, the economic system of that society, there may be a religious system and so many other systems that determine the basis on which that society should run and continue. The society in which the systems decline and collapse, such societies have disappeared in the history. How can those systems sustain? It is by renewing and adopting itself to emerging times, then it continues, the society will live for the purpose for which it is living for a long time and provide all kinds of support systems that are needed by all the members of the society. If we look back in history, we see many societies have collapsed. Those societies did not fall just because of the war. They collapsed because the systems of the society like security, law and order etc. were dilapidated.
The swayamsevaks of the sangh are strengthening the systems which has come from ancient times to adopting themselves to the needs of present times. RSS started in the 40s to think about the transformation. Sway
amsevaks trained through the culture of daily shakha of the sangh are engaged in this work of transforming the system. Today, we are witnessing huge reforms in the system. Be it removal of article 370 in Kashmir and such similar reforms in different areas are related to system transformation. There are dozens of organizations for that and many such organizations are engaged in is reforming and transforming the system. While doing so, you have to face competition many times. Because those who think differently think that they are also some kind of system. Their minds have to be persuaded. You have to compete with them. You have to win people’s hearts too. It is important that in this process of reforming and transformation of the system there should be people who selflessly think about the betterment of nation and society. It is not that people of RSS should take such roles everywhere. This is not the way sangh thinks. Those who believe in these Sanatan Dharma, those who are concerned about the protection of Mother India, should be part of the system to provide basic necessities to all members of the society.
