India’s largest tribal welfare organisation fosters Hindu unity

Kalyan Ashram volunteers work with all the major tribes in the country.

(RSSFACTS is a column that demystifies the functioning, organisational structure and ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.)

India has a tribal population of more than 120 million spread over around 30 states and union territories. With the advent of the Britishers, the Christian missionaries started converting them into Christianity. Ever since then there has been a constant battle of narratives. The Britishers carefully created a bogey that tribals are not part of the Sanatan Dharma. Post-independence, a substantial section of intelligentsia continued to follow the British school of thought. This led to rapid proselytisation of tribals especially in the north-eastern region. The change in demographic profile subsequently resulted in the emergence of separatist movements in north-eastern India.

Overview of India's Tribal Population

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was deeply concerned about it since its inception in 1925. Finally, in 1952, one of its volunteers Ramakant Keshav Deshpande (also known as Balasaheb Deshpande) set up Akhil Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram to counter the ‘conversion movement’ that had been running in tribal areas for more than 200 years.

Today it has become the largest tribal welfare organisation in the country. It runs more than 20,000 projects for tribals. The VKA volunteers have reached more than 50,000 tribal villages across the country. Kalyan Ashram volunteers work with all the major tribes in the country. It has more than 1300 full-time workers out of which more than three fourth are tribals.

After every three-years the VKA organises a national conference of its key workers and functionaries to decide the future course of action. This year it was held at Samalkha in Haryana from 20 to 22 September. The importance of the event can be gauged by the fact that the RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat himself attended the event and interacted with the delegates. He told them keeping in mind the situation at the ground level, they should expedite the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram’s work across the nation.  In a motivational address he also told the delegates not to be deterred by the challenges as every challenge comes with a solution.

Growth and Impact of the Kalyan Ashram

A look at the deliberations of this conference gives enough indications of the way things are going to pan out in the tribal areas of India as Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram seems to be all buckled up to push back the Christian missionaries, Naxals, Leftists, local vested interests and the biased think tanks and intelligentsia from the western world who are trying to separate tribals from Sanatan Dharma. In fact, in this triennial conference at Samalkha, the VKA organised an exhibition of worshipping rituals of 80 tribes showcasing how they are integral part of Sanatan Dharma. The Sarsanghchalak also visited and interacted with several tribal leaders and workers who were performing the ‘puja’ according to their rituals.

Interestingly, the national president of the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (ABVKA) Satyendra Singh called upon the tribal community across the country to set up its own narrative that Aranya Sanskriti (forest culture) is the core culture of the community. He also cautioned the community against the divisive forces, which were trying to create divide.

The ABVKA president, who himself is a tribal, also said categorically that the tribal society is not only a part but it is a strong pillar of the Sanatani society.  He said, “All of us have our roots in the forests. The Vanvasi society has also played an important role in creating the ancient Vedas. The festivals and worship methods of all the tribal societies are similar to the Sanatani tradition, the meaning of which is the same.”

Singh reminded that the conspiracy to separate tribals from Hindu society is the gift of the Britishers who distorted history. They created a false body of knowledge to establish this fault line.

Several other tribal leaders also spoke on various issues highlighting the priorities and concerns of the RSS and the VKA. Dr. Rajkishore Hansda from Santhal Paragana region spoke on the rising menace of “Love Jehad” and “Land Jehad” in the tribal region. Dr. Thumbai Zeliang from Nagaland touched upon the issue of tribals who had converted to Christian religion, and were returning to their original faith. Ramnath Kashyap from Chhattisgarh narrated the effect of Maoism in the Bastar region where he said the fundamental rights of the tribal community were being compromised.

Kalyan Ashram in Cities

Interestingly the VKA not only works in the tribal areas but it is also quite active in several cities across the country. Pramod Pethkar, Prachar Pramukh (publicity in-charge) of VKA told this author, “Kalyan Ashram's units are working in more than 400 cities of the country. The focus in the cities is to mobilise the necessary resources, collecting funds, etc. All of these are being carried out through the voluntary activities of karyakartas (volunteers).”

Earlier RSSFACTS columns can be read here.