RSS makes forays into countryside
From A.S.Prashar
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Nov 17 — In an interesting development, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has begun a drive to expand its area of influence beyond cities of Punjab by organising a series of activities in village.

Hitherto, the RSS and its political wing, the BJP, which shares power with the SAD in the state, has been regarded as urban organisations with their base consisting primarily of the Hindu trading class. The new initiative appears to be aimed at bringing about a change in the popular perception about the two organisations besides expanding the base of the RSS into the state countryside.

The tercentenary year of the birth of the Khalsa appears to have provided the RSS a good opportunity in this regard. It has constituted a Khalsa tercentenary celebrations committee to mark the 300th birthday of the Khalsa. It plans to organise celebrations of the mega event throughout the year.

The recently formed Punjab Pradesh Kisan Morcha, farmers’ wing of the RSS, has been assigned the task of spearheading the RSS’s foray into the villages. The morcha will organise a series of functions in villages from November 21 to December 12 to mark the tercentenary of the Khalsa, according to Mr Sukhminder Pal Singh Grewal, Secretary of the morcha. Speakers will highlight various aspects of the life and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh and exhort the masses to be true Sikhs.

Thousands of pamphlets on the life and teachings of the Guru have also been published in Punjabi for distribution among masses. The pamphlet described Guru Gobind Singh as “Ik rashtrapurakh”. A backgrounder on the creation of the Khalsa Panth has also been brought out. A 100-point questionnaire for distribution among school children is also ready.

Declamation contests, question-answer sessions and shabad-kirtan competitions will also be organised. The Guru’s Zafarnama, literature on four sahibzadas and their sacrifices will also be published.

In Ludhiana, nine teams have been constituted to carry out these activities in each of the nine assembly segments in the district. The morcha also set up its branches in all districts of the state.