Who are the top decision makers in the RSS and how do they look at Sandeshkhali?

The ABPS’s stinging rebuke of the atrocities at Sandeshkhali indicates that the Sangh is intent on pursuing justice for the victims.

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

There are two top decision making bodies of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha(ABPS) and Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal(ABKM). Both of them meet once a year.

According to Article 15 of the RSS constitution, the ABPS consists of representatives of its shakhas, Sarsanghachalak and Pracharaks of Vibhags and Prants and members of the ABKM.  The ABPS reviews the work and lays down policies and programmes of the Sangh. The ABPS also elects the Sarkaryavah of the RSS after every three years.

The Sarkaryavah looks after the day-to-day functioning of the Sangh. Though there is officially no other term in English that can explain the designation of ‘Sarkaryavah’ but the most commonly used term that can be used for Sarkaryavah is ‘general secretary’.

Article 14 of the RSS Constitution has provisions regarding constitution and functioning of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal. It says, “The Sarkaryavaha shall form the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal of which he shall be the Chairman with the following office-bearers duly appointed by him:

I)  One or more Sah-Sarkaryavahas.

II) Akhil Bharatiya Sharirik Shikshan Pramukh.  (In-charge of guidance in physical education.)

III) Akhil Bharatiya Bouddhik Shikshan Pramukh. (In-charge of guidance in intellectual and moral instruction.)

IV) Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh (In-charge of propagation of Sangh work and guidance to Pracharaks).

V) Akhil Bharatiya Vyavastha Pramukh. (In-charge of general management), and not less than five members chosen from among the Prantiya(provincial) Karyakari Mandals.”

Article 14(b) explains the functions of the ABKM:

I)  The ABKM is the co-ordinating body of all of the Shakhas in the country to carry out the policies and programmes laid down by the ABPS.

II) The ABKM will frame rules and bye-laws in consonance with the Constitution for the purpose of regulating its own affairs and for the general functioning of the Sangh.

Both ABPS and ABKM also discuss the important issues faced by the society in contemporary context and pass resolutions. These resolutions indicate the RSS view point on these issues.

In ABPS, the Sarkaryavah also places an annual report that talks in detail about the organisational activities of the RSS. It also gives important details such as the number of RSS shakhas in the country and initiatives taken by the RSS volunteers during the year to serve the society.

The ABPS generally meets for three days. Every third year, the meeting is held at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

The discussions during the ABPS and ABKM meet are non-political. During the ABPS, representatives of around three dozen organisations that are inspired by the RSS and work in various fields also make a presentation giving an overview of their activities.

In 2024, the ABPS was held at Nagpur from March 15 to 17. According to the annual report presented by the current Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, the number of RSS shakhas have increased from 68,651 during 2022-23 to 73,117 during 2023-24. The report also talks in detail about the social service projects taken up by the RSS volunteers.

According to the annual ABPS report, “The number of people who received service is phenomenal. While in the field of education, self-reliance and social service more than 21,45,000 individuals have regularly received sewa and have enhanced their lives, beneficiaries in the health sector have been more than 87,16,000 and those who received food is around 27,35,000.”

The regular sewa projects include 19,208 projects in rural areas, 14,268 projects in urban areas and 19034 projects in tribal areas.  If we look at these projects sector-wise, they include 25,819 projects in education, 12,012 projects in health, 8,053 projects in self-reliance and 6,626 projects in the other social sectors.

In addition, RSS volunteers carried out 22,109 cleanliness drives, organised 9,306 health camps and 2,003 blood donation camps in which 1,26,927 units of blood were donated.

The ABPS report 2023-24 also took note of the events in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal. The report said, “The incident of atrocities on hundreds of mothers and sisters, especially of the scheduled caste and tribe community, in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal has shaken the conscience of the entire society. It cannot be imagined that such incidents have been going on for years in any part of independent Bharat. But what is even more abominable is that instead of giving the harshest punishment to the guilty persons, the government there made efforts to save them. All parties should, rising above their political interests, unanimously take such drastic action on the issue of women’s safety and honour that no one can even think of committing such a crime in the future.”

Earlier RSSFACTS columns can be read here.

Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.