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May 05, 2016

India: A little proof JNU vice chancellor's RSS connection -- his 1994 post of RSS leaders writings to a newsgroup

Vice Chancellor of JNU, M. Jagadesh Kumar. When appointed earlier this year [2016], the press was rife with speculation about his links with the RSS and in response the new VC vehemently denied that he had any connection. ‘I am simply an academic’, he was quoted as saying. But here’s proof that Kumar was passionate about the RSS way back in 1994 when he was winding up his doctoral work in Canada. It contains a thread which he starts on a Newsgroup that was later absorbed into Google.

source URL: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/soc.culture.indian.telugu/xm3LAtSafKM]

soc.culture.indian.telugu ›
What is the Relevance of RSS in our National Life? (1/2)

M. Jagadesh Kumar (ku...@caddac1.uwaterloo.ca)
2/24/94

What is the Relevance of RSS in our National Life? (1/2)
-----------------------------------------------------------

What exactly is the relevance of RSS for our national life?
What is its role? Has it any role at all? Or is the RSS also like
many other sects and creeds limited to its own charmed circle?
And as such being hardly concerned with the many problems and
challenges facing our society? In short, what is the RSS perspec-
tive vis-a-vis our national life in all its myriad facets?

The answer can indeed be given in one simple sentence: The
RSS seeks to play the role of the Life-Force-Prana-Shakti-in the
body of the society.

Let us explain: Living bodies live and grow so long as the
Life-Force is vibrant. Every single organ and limb- every living
cell- carries out its respective function only when that Force
pulsates in it. When that throb becomes feeble, the eye sees not,
the ears hear not, the hands move not, the brain thinks not.
More potent the Life- Force more dynamic the functions of the or-
gans.

Activating Response to Challenges

How does the Life-Force act? How does it keep the body going
on amidst all its adverse challenges? It does so by activating
the body to respond to the challenges in an appropriate manner.
If there is loss of blood in any limb it makes the blood in the
rest of the body rush to that spot and make up for the loss. If
there is a cut, all the bodily systems get into action to heal
and cement the shattered veins, nerves, ligaments etc. If there
is a loss of say the eye-sight, it makes the other senses-ear,
skin etc., sharper. So also suitable functional changes of
several organs take place when faced with psychological condi-
tions of fear, anxiety, strain, anger and so on. That is how the
body copes with the situation and is able to maintain its vigour
and vitality.

This is exactly how the Sangh also seeks to act. It identi-
fies itself with every stratum and section of the society. And
also with their joys and sorrows. No problem affecting the health
and happiness of society will go unchallenged by it. It is incon-
ceivable that the Life-Force will keep quiet when the body is
challenged. So is it in the case of Sangh vis-a-vis society. If
the Sangh were to withdraw from the arena of accepting social
challenges, its very raison d' etre will end. At best it will
remain a sect, with a set of followers carrying out their
prescribed rituals.

The Training

This is inconceivable in the the case of Sangh. For, the
very structure of Shakha is such as to keep the flame of Life-
Force burning bright in the hearts of the Swayamsevaks. The daily
training is solely directed towards that end. On the one hand,
intense devotion to the nation is evoked. And on the other, burn-
ing problems affecting the national life are discussed. And every
time, the Swayamsevaks are made to feel from the depths of their
hearts that it is they who are expected to face them. All the
training they receive in the Shakha is directed towards making
them fit for that task.

Not merely the existence of Sangh, even its growth depends
upon this trait of responding to the challenges. It is well known
that unless a talent is constantly put to tests it will stagnate.
A person may have a golden voice. But hard music practice alone
will bring out its virtue. A person may have strength, but un-
less he accepts the challenges from other wrestlers, his skill
and strength will only rust. He will not be even counted as a
wrestler. So also any organisation which develops strength but
keeps to itself will only rust. And the society too will ignore
it- as being not in the field of national reconstruction.

[To be concluded]

--
Authored by Shri H. V. Seshadri, All India General Secretary of
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Courtesy: Suruchi Prakashan.
--