In his Independence Day speech last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the many tribal heroes who played an important role in India’s freedom struggle. Two months before the country’s 77th Independence Day, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has started writing and publishing life stories of ordinary tribal volunteers who have made “exemplary contributions” to the upliftment of communities. He is being called the ‘Hero’ of the common man by the organization.
His works include “his service during Covid in the Dharavi slum, his efforts to educate young men and women from the Gond tribe in MP, and standing up against Naxals” – RSS all-India campaign chief Sunil Ambekar said last week. Releasing the book said in Delhi.
The move comes at a time when elections are due in states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, where tribal population is a deciding factor.
An outreach program has been launched to bring tribal volunteers to the forefront, project them as heroes of their land and publish their stories in book form. A senior RSS functionary told News18 that this is also an attempt to negate the common perception that accuses the RSS of Brahminical supremacy.
The first book was launched last week with life stories of four Adivasi swayamsevaks (volunteers) from Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.
Tribal heroes whose life stories have been published include one woman from the Oraon tribe in Jharkhand, two from the Gond tribe in Madhya Pradesh and one from the Dharavi region of Maharashtra. The RSS is now planning to publish the life stories of 100 swayamsevaks who belong to tribal communities, News18 has learnt.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) chairman Yash Chauhan told News18, “These are certain steps we have taken to make our tribal outreach stronger than ever. This will make them feel included. These steps will motivate our volunteers, who come from tribal community and remote rural areas of such states. We want to tell stories of their struggle and resilience.”
The RSS Method of Tribal Outreach
For different states, the RSS has prepared different programs to make the outreach efficient. The RSS works among the tribals through various organisations, and foremost among them is the Vanvasi Kalyan Samiti.
“The approach is based on (resolving) local issues. Conversion of tribal population in Chhattisgarh is a big crisis for us. We have to bring them back to Sanatan (Hindu). We have a Dharma Jagran Manch, which works among tribals and brings them back to Christianity,” said a senior RSS functionary.
The functionary said that in Gujarat’s Dahod area, the RSS deals with conversions differently. “Homecoming didn’t go well there. Small savings schemes with 4% interest and low interest loans by cooperatives run by our partners worked for us. We also trained farmers for conservation of agricultural land. However, her decision to publish her struggle in the form of stories will have a national impact and will encourage her to work in the national interest, he added.
The first book titled ‘Hamari Jivan Hamari Yaadein’ was released last week by Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh (national spokesperson) of RSS.
Ramanand Nand, director of the Center of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG), told News18, “We are aiming to publish at least 100 such inspiring stories of RSS volunteers who are tribals. Our work is on.”
CPRG is an RSS-backed think tank that works on social development.
“The idea of bringing tribal volunteers to the forefront was first mooted by Sunil Ambekar ji and we are implementing his idea. He wants to encourage them to work at the forefront,” said Nand.
Ambekar was once the head of the ABVP, the student wing of the RSS.