One Hundred Years Of... The 'Shri Shakti' Element

For decades, a substantial number of women have been working in all the RSS-inspired organisations, with several of them holding prominent posts and playing leadership roles. The numbers are only going up

- Sunila Sovani

WITH the motto “Sarva Mangal Hetave”—for the welfare of the entire world—the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was founded with the goal of making this nation supremely glorious. This year, on Vijayadashami, it completed a century. The journey of the RSS has passed through phases of neglect, opposition, struggle and favourable times, and today, it has evolved into the world’s largest voluntary organisation. Its work is discussed through various aspects; one key aspect being—women and the RSS.

You don’t see any women in RSS shakhas or in uniformed events, like the significant marches. So, a prominent question that is asked is—why aren’t there women in the RSS? While this question never bothers women associated with the RSS, or those active in the organisation’s ideological world, but it is a fair question to ask, nevertheless.

Since women aren't visible in shakhas, it might create confusion about RSS' perspective on women. K.B. Hedgewar, the founder, had clearly stated before establishing the RSS that the aim was to organise the entire society flawlessly in every aspect. So, including women was only natural and obvious. It's just that the circumstances back then were widely different. Also, because RSS shakhas are primarily physical and are held outdoors, women aren't a part of them. But that doesn't mean the RSS wants to organise a society without women, or that it's anti-women, or that women aren't involved in RSS' work at all. In fact, whether women get a place in the shakhas or not isn't a theoretical issue; it's purely practical.