RSS to increase activities in colleges

NEW DELHI: The RSS has launched software shakhas in a move to induct young, upwardly mobile IT professionals into its fold. IT Milans aren’t typical shakhas involving exercise and games.

“These are get-togethers where issues before the nation, its culture and religion, are discussed. We’ve been looking for professional brains and the Pune IT sector has the potential to provide it,” said Sahane. The Pune pracharaks are now planning IT Milans in Kolhapur and Solapur.

In Bangalore, the participation of young IT pros and students has reached what the pracharaks call a “respectable 2,000”. They conduct 28 IT Milans a week at various locations. Many of these professionals are also volunteering to go into rural areas in Karnataka and work with Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, an RSS outfit which focuses on tribal development.

“What has also helped,” says Ram Madhav, “is the relaxation in the rules of our uniform. The new lot of IT volunteers no longer come in khaki shorts. We are now focussing on increasing our activities in colleges.”

“There are many groups of RSS-minded IT youths who hold regular meetings. It’s an informal step towards inculcating the RSS thought in young minds,” says Niranjan Phadke, an IT professional.

Unlike the traditional shakhas on open grounds, the shakhas these days aren’t “visible” says Madhav, which has led to the erroneous impression that these are dwindling.

“We are now appointing vidyarthi pramukhs at various levels to get the youth involved in our ideas,” he says.

Responses