Kumar Bahukhandi
Raipur; The annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (All India Representatives’ Assembly) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) concluded from March 13 to 15 at Samalkha, near Panipat in Haryana.
A total of 1,438 representatives from across the country participated in the meeting. The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha comprises members of the All India Executive, regional and provincial teams, provincial and regional heads of various functional departments, Vibhag Pracharaks (Divisional Organizers), elected representatives from various divisions, and the All India-level presidents, secretaries, and organising secretaries of various affiliated organisations.
During the meeting, a review was conducted regarding the expansion and consolidation of the Sangh’s activities, as well as the programs organised during the centenary year of the Sangh’s establishment.
The Sangh received immense affection and support from society during the centenary year programs.
Expansion of Activities
Currently, out of the 6,602 Khands (blocks) across the country’s 924 districts, 6,127 blocks host Shakhas (daily assemblies). This year, the number of Mandals (clusters) hosting Shakhas increased by 1,535; currently, 32,305 Mandals and 2,523 Nagars (towns/cities) host Shakhas. Across the country, there are a total of 88,949 Shakhas—including 40,800 student and college-level Shakhas—operating across 55,683 locations. Volunteers are currently conducting 32,606 weekly gatherings (Saptahik Milan) and 13,211 informal group meetings (Sangh Mandali). Out of 38,081 Seva Bastis (service-oriented localities) nationwide, 9,576 now host Shakhas. A total of 21,526 volunteers received training across 105 Sangh Shiksha Vargs (Sangh Education Camps) and Karyakarta Vikas Vargs (Volunteer Development Camps) held throughout the country.
In the Chhattisgarh province, 2,188 Shakhas are being conducted across 1,643 locations spanning 34 districts. These include 1,246 combined student Shakhas, 124 college-level Shakhas (for youth only), 482 Shakhas for young professionals, 192 Shakhas for adult professionals, and 144 Bal Shakhas (for children). Additionally, 833 weekly gatherings (Saptahik Milan) are being held across the province. The number of gatherings specifically for older volunteers stands at 155. The total number of Sangh Mandalis (local units) stands at 632. Within the province, there are 193 Seva Bastis (service-oriented settlements) that host Shakhas (daily assemblies).
Additionally, the number of Mandals (administrative circles) hosting Shakhas is 1,053. There are 55 cities (classified as ‘Other’) that host Shakhas; notably, the number of cities hosting a minimum of two Shakhas is also 55. The Raipur metropolitan area has been divided into 14 zones, comprising a total of 131 settlements where 204 Shakhas are currently being conducted. Across the province, 3,890 volunteers participated in 84 ‘Introductory Camps’ (Prarambhik Varga). The number of district headquarters within the province that host a minimum of five Shakhas has now reached 26.
Home Contact Campaign
A ‘Home Contact Campaign’ (Grih Sampark) was launched with the objective of reaching the maximum number of households to share the story of the Sangh’s century-long journey, introduce the nature of Sangh work, and disseminate the concept of Panch Parivartan (Five Transformations). To date, contact has been established with over 100 million households across 389,465 villages and 31,143 settlements spanning 37 provinces. The Home Contact Campaign is currently underway in 11 provinces.
In the Chhattisgarh province, the Home Contact Campaign was conducted across 1,560 Mandals in rural areas and 666 settlements in urban areas. A total of 61,686 volunteers, organized into 19,429 teams, established contact with 3,055,557 households. During these visits—in both urban and rural areas—leaflets and booklets highlighting the Sangh’s century-long journey and its role in social transformation were distributed; additionally, images of Bharat Mata (Mother India) and informational pamphlets were distributed in rural areas.
Special Contact Initiative
As part of a ‘Special Contact Initiative’ (Vishesh Sampark) in the Chhattisgarh province, personalized outreach was conducted with 20,326 individuals.
Hindu Conferences
With the aim of fostering the cultural unity and organized strength of Hindu society, promoting religious awakening (Dharma Jagran), and encouraging the practical implementation of Panch Parivartan, Hindu Conferences were organized by local organizing committees across 37,048 Mandals and settlements in 37 provinces.
These conferences witnessed the participation of 35 million people. In the Chhattisgarh province, a total of 2,034 Hindu conferences were organized across 1,424 Mandals (circles), 13,106 villages, and 610 urban localities. The participation figures for these events included 400,020 men and 503,976 women (Matrushakti).
Thus, the total attendance at these programs stood at 903,996 people. Prior to the Hindu conferences, various preparatory events—such as early-morning processions (Prabhat Feris), meetings for women (Matrushakti), and recitations of the Sundar Kand—were also successfully conducted.
Social Harmony Meetings
Across the country, Social Harmony Meetings are being organized at the block and city levels with the objective of fostering harmony and mutual cooperation among social and religious leaders, as well as addressing the deprivations faced by vulnerable sections of society.
Conclaves for Prominent Citizens
With a view to fostering ideological clarity and a sense of civic responsibility regarding subjects such as the work of the Sangh, the concept of Hindutva, one’s role in the current socio-political context, and the “Five Transformations” (Panch Parivartan), special conclaves for prominent citizens are scheduled to be held in the upcoming month of April. In this same vein, a series of lectures and interactive sessions (Jigyasa Samadhan) featuring the revered Sarsanghchalak were successfully conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru.
These events were attended by 4,777 influential citizens from various walks of life, including diplomats representing over 40 countries. Similar conclaves for prominent citizens are currently underway in the Chhattisgarh province as well.
Youth Programs
“Yuva Sangam” (Youth Conclave) programs were organized with the aim of fostering a sense of national consciousness, cultivating an organizational ethos, and encouraging efforts toward social transformation among the younger generation. During the centenary year, a total of 202 such programs were successfully conducted across 142 blocks and 60 cities within the Chhattisgarh province.
These events saw the participation of 14,588 young men and 9,163 young women, bringing the total youth participation in these interactive dialogue programs to 23,751. During these sessions, discussions were held on topics related to the Sangh and national affairs among young leaders, budding entrepreneurs, and academically inclined youth.
Vijayadashami Celebrations
During the meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (All India Representative Assembly), a comprehensive review was conducted regarding the programs executed during the centenary year—assessing them from both a quantitative perspective and in terms of their qualitative impact and experiential significance. Across the country, 3,245,141 volunteers participated in full uniform in the 62,555 festivals that were held. In the state of Chhattisgarh, a total of 2,193 programs were conducted across 1,531 Mandals and 652 localities. These events witnessed the presence of 94,995 individuals in full uniform.
Changes in Geographical Structure
As a result of the expansion of activities, and with the objective of decentralizing operations and decision-making processes, certain changes have been made to the geographical structure of the Sangh. Under this new geographical framework, the country will be divided into nine ‘Zones’ and 85 ‘Divisions’ (Sambhag).
Replacing the current provincial system, this divisional structure will become functionally effective starting March 2027. A ‘State Executive Committee’ will be established to facilitate the deliberation, planning, and implementation of various essential social issues and challenges falling within the scope of these divisional and zonal structures. Henceforth, the session of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (All India Representatives’ Assembly) will be convened once every three years.
Statement by the Sarkaryawah on the Occasion of the 650th Birth Anniversary of Sant Shiromani Sadguru Shri Ravidasji
During the Pratinidhi Sabha session, the Honorable Sarkaryawah issued a statement marking the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Ravidasji Maharaj. In this statement—while offering floral tributes on behalf of the Sangh to Sant Shiromani Sadguru Ravidasji—tribute was paid to his monumental contributions toward awakening spiritual devotion, fostering virtuous conduct, eradicating social evils and discrimination, and strengthening the foundations of a harmonious society. Comprehending the true essence of Shri Ravidasji’s life message, the Sangh has issued a call to action, urging everyone to resolve to work towards the unity and social harmony of the nation.
Positive Initiatives for Social Transformation by Volunteers
In Punjab, over the past three years, a campaign for drug de-addiction has been conducted across more than 100,000 schools and colleges, wherein students and staff took pledges to remain drug-free. In collaboration with religious leaders, Sadhus (saints), spiritual storytellers (Kathavachaks), and heads of various spiritual Deras, a mass awareness campaign against the menace of drugs—viewed as both a personal and a societal problem—is currently underway.
In Karnataka, the Hindu Jagran Manch organized Rath Yatras (chariot processions) across 281 locations in 23 districts to promote drug de-addiction. Additionally, the ‘Manikarnika Run’ was organized with the specific objective of raising awareness among young women and girls regarding the dangers of drug abuse.
The Bajrang Dal conducted over 5,600 mass awareness programs focused on drug de-addiction, working in collaboration with athletes, health officials, narcotics officers, and spiritual leaders. Volunteers are also actively engaged in the task of awakening religious consciousness within society through events such as the Mahamagha Festival in Kerala, Karthigai Deepam in Tamil Nadu, and the Janmashtami Rath Yatra among tribal communities in Tripura. In Uttarakhand, innovative efforts are being undertaken to preserve traditional skills through the felicitation and convening of communities engaged in traditional and manual occupations—such as Dhol-Sagar players, herbalists, Doli bearers, and Mantra practitioners.
Across the country, 125,000 ‘Kutumb Mitras’ (Family Friends) and approximately 250,000 ‘Harit Ghars’ (Green Homes) were established this year. Volunteers and various organizations are carrying out positive and diligent work in diverse sectors, including tribal welfare, de-addiction initiatives, educational campuses, welfare for nomadic communities, industry, and education.
During the Pratinidhi Sabha (Representative Assembly), discussions were held regarding the rapidly improving situation in Manipur and the liberation of the Bastar region from Naxalism, as well as the current situation in neighboring countries, Nepal and Bangladesh. Commemorating the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, volunteers across the nation organised over 2,000 programs, witnessing the participation of more than 700,000 people.
The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (All-India Representative Assembly) also received reports detailing successful and unique initiatives undertaken in various provinces with a view toward organisational strengthening and social transformation, alongside accounts of the specialized work being conducted by 38 organizations active across different spheres of social life.
Executive Council Meeting
This year’s meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (All-India Executive Council) is scheduled to be held in Indore during the upcoming months of October and November. This meeting will be attended by 450 delegates from all provinces of the country, including members of the All-India Executive Committee.
