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Rashtra Sevika Samiti

Topic: Organization

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Short description: Hindu nationalist women's organisation


Rashtra Sevika Samiti
Parent organisation
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

The Rashtra Sevika Samiti (lit. National Women's Volunteer Committee) is a Hindutva women's organisation that parallels the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindutva paramilitary male-only organisation.[1] It is often referred to as the "Sister" of the RSS.[2] The current Chief (Sanskrit: Pramukh Sanchalika) of the Samiti is V. Shantha Kumari (referred to informally as "Shanthakka") and its General Secretary (Pramukh Karyavahika) is Sita Annadanam.[3]

Rashtra Sevika Samiti Pramukh Vandaneeya Shanthakka addressing a gathering

History

Before establishing the organisation, Kelkar visited Dr. K.B. Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS, in 1936 and had a long discussion to persuade him regarding the need for starting a women's wing in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh itself.[4] However, Hedgewar advised Laxmibai Kelkar to establish an entirely separate organisation that would be autonomous and independent of the RSS, as both groups were ideologically identical. Hedgewar promised Kelkar unconditional solidarity, support and guidance for the Samithi. Following this, Kelkar established the Rashtra Sevika Samiti at Wardha on 25 October 1936.[5][6]

Woman is the inspiring force for the family and for the nation.
So long as this force is not awakened, society cannot progress.

Laxmibai Kelkar, Founder of Rashtra Sevika Samiti.[7]

Activities

Rashtra Sevika Samiti is today the largest Hindu organisation working to uphold Indian culture and traditions. The current ruling party Bhartiya Janta Party(BJP) is the political arm of RSS.RSS women are actively involved in socio-cultural activities. Samiti inculcates a sense of responsible behaviour and social awareness in people. Various types of educational and awareness camps at different levels in all parts of India are conducted periodically.[8][9]

Active Shakhas (local branches with regular gatherings of members where they practice yoga, sing nationalist/patriotic songs, military training and have discussions) of the Samiti currently operate in 5215 centers. 875 centers conduct the Shakhas on a daily basis.[3] The estimates of active membership range from 100,000[10] to 1 million[11] It has overseas branches in 10 countries, which use the name Hindu Sevika Samiti.[12]

Rashtra Sevika Samaj operates residential camps across the country to educate young women on love Jihad and their responsibilities as Hindu women, and the consequences of violence from their families for marrying Muslim men (S.N., 2020). Right-wing feminists like this group argue that Islam restricts women's rights based on their tenants and customs, depicting Muslim women as subordinate to Muslim men (S.N., 2020).

Samiti also runs 475 service projects all over India for the poor and underprivileged, with regard to religion, caste, creed, sect, gender, or ethnicity. These include Go Shalas , libraries, computer training centers and orphanages.[13]

Rashtra Sevika Samiti focuses on Hindu women's role in the society as leaders and agents of positive social reform. Samiti teaches its members three ideals: Matrutva (Universal Motherhood), represented by Jijabai; Kartrutva (Efficiency and Social Activism), represented by Ahilyabai Holkar; and Netrutva (Leadership)[5] represented by Rani of Jhansi. The organisation believes that all women have the capability to create a positive change in their community[14]

Chiefs of the organisation

  1. Laxmibai Kelkar (मावशी लक्ष्मीबाई केळकर, Founder, known as Mavashi Kelkar), from October 1936 to November 1978 (her death)
  2. Saraswati Apte (सरस्वती आपटे, knows as Tai Apte), 1978-1994
  3. Usha-tai Chati (उषाताई चाटी, Aug 1927 - Aug 2017), headed the organisation from 1994 to 2006
  4. Pramila-tai Medhe (प्रमिला-ताई मेढे), 2006-2012, currently acts as advisor
  5. V. Shantha Kumari (शान्ताक्का, Shanthakka, born 1952); chief from 2012 to date

List of Pramukh Sanchalika

  •   Acting
No. Name Portrait Term Period
1 Laxmibai Kelkar 25 October 1936 – 27 November 1978 42 Years
2 Saraswati Tai Apte 27 November 1978 - 9 March 1994 16 Years
3 Usha Tai Chate 9 March 1994 - August 2006 12 Years
4 Pramila Tai Medhe August 2006 - 2012 6 years
5 V. Shantha Kumari 10 March 2013 – Incumbent 12 Years

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Indian Way of Life Only Option Left for World: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat". 11 November 2016. https://www.news18.com/news/india/indian-way-of-life-only-option-left-for-world-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-1311080.html. 
  2. ↑ "Rashtra Sevika Samiti to open hostel for women in Dehradun". The Times of India. 17 October 2013. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rashtra-Sevika-Samiti-to-open-hostel-for-women-in-Dehradun/articleshow/24297757.cms. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Vandaneeya Shanthakka will be the new Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti". Samvada. 20 August 2012. http://samvada.org/2012/news/vandaneeya-shanthakka-will-be-the-new-pramukh-sanchalika-of-rashtra-sevika-samiti/. 
  4. ↑ "Remembering Moushiji Kelkar, founder Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti on her 110th Birth Anniversary" (in en-US). 2015-07-06. https://samvada.org/2015/news/remembering-moushiji/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "10 things to know about". inuth. 12 October 2017. https://www.inuth.com/india/10-things-to-know-about-rashtra-sevika-samiti-the-women-wing-of-rss/. 
  6. ↑ "Holier Than Cow by Neha Dixit". outlookindia. https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/holier-than-cow/283593. 
  7. ↑ "Vandaneeya Mausiji – Birth Centenary Year 2005". hssuk.org. http://www.hssuk.org/samiti/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14%3Avandaneeya-mausiji-v2&catid=18%3Asamiti-history-and-ideals&Itemid=17. 
  8. ↑ Menon, Kalyani Devaki (2005). "We will become Jijabai: Historical Tales of Hindu Nationalist Women in India". The Journal of Asian Studies 64 (1): 103–126. doi:10.1017/s0021911805000070. 
  9. ↑ Basu, Amrita (2012). "Hindu Women's Activism in India and the Questions it Raises". Appropriating Gender: Women's Activism and Politicized Religion in South Asia. Routledge. pp. 167–184. ISBN 978-1136051586. 
  10. ↑ Sarkar, Tanika (1995). "Heroic women, mother goddesses: Family and organization in Hindutva politics". Women and the Hindu Right: A Collection of Essays. New Delhi: Kali for Women. pp. 181–215. ISBN 8185107661. 
  11. ↑ Bacchetta, Paola (1996). "Hindu nationalist women as ideologues: The "Sangh" the "Samiti" and their differential concepts of the Hindu nation". Embodied violence: Communalizing Women's Security in South Asia. London: Zed Books. pp. 108-147. ISBN 1856494489. https://www.academia.edu/3786084. 
  12. ↑ Chitkara, M. G. (2004). Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: National Upsurge. APH Publishing. p. 168. ISBN 8176484652. 
  13. ↑ "Know about Rashtra Sevika Samithi as well by Rakesh Taneja". zeenews. https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/rss-vijaydashmi-and-rashtra-sevika-samiti/582501. 
  14. ↑ Banerjee, Sikata (2012) (in en). Make Me a Man!: Masculinity, Hinduism, and Nationalism in India (2005 ed.). In the crucible of Hindutva:Women and Masculine Hinduism: SUNY Press. pp. 121–123. ISBN 978-0-7914-8369-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=F165bWv7goQC. 

Further reading

  • Bacchetta, Paola. Gender in the Hindu Nation: RSS Women as Ideologues. New Delhi: Women Unlimited, 2004, ISBN 8188965022.

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