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The Rashtra Sevika Samiti (National Women Volunteers Committee) is a Hindu nationalist women's organisation that parallels the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for men. Even though it is often referred to as the "women's wing" of the RSS,[1] the organisation claims that it is independent of the RSS while sharing its ideology. Membership and leadership is restricted to women and its activities are directed to nationalist devotion and mobilisation of Hindu women.

The current chief of the Samiti is Pramukh Sanchalika V. Shantha Kumari (referred to as "Shanthakka") and Pramukh Karyavahika (general secretary) Sita Annadanam.[2]

History[edit]

Rashtra Sevika Samiti was the first formal affiliate of the RSS, formed on 25 October 1936 (the Vijayadasami day) by Laxmibai Kelkar (known as "Mausiji") at Wardha. Kelkar, who was born in Nagpur, had a long discussion with the RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar regarding the need for starting a women's wing in the RSS. Hedgewar, however, wanted the RSS to remain an all-male organisation. He advised Kelkar to start a separate organization and promised to provide all the required support and guidance.[3][4]

Ideology[edit]

According to the Samiti's own account,[4] Kelkar's motivation is said to have been that the defiance of the law implicit in the freedom struggle could take an "unwarranted turn to lawlessness," and, therefore, a proper channel was needed to inspire people to their social and national duties. Kelkar was also worried that, due to the western impact, women were struggling for equal rights and economic freedom, which led to "self-centredness" among women. This was an unnatural change in the attitude of women, which might lead to the disintegration of the family, because women were the most important force in imparting good sanskaras (values) within the family.[3]

However, scholars note that the Samiti's founding ideology was militant Hindutva, the same as that of the RSS. It formed a distinctive gender ideology within an overarching patriarchical configuration of the RSS. The Samiti's focus is on the roles, duties, obligations and limitations of Hindu women within their families as well as the `greater family' which is the `Hindu nation'. The Samiti's daily prayer emphasizes the role of a woman as a "daughter, sister, wife and mother," that is, in a supporting role to men, with an ideology of "domesticity," focusing on personal sacrifice, forbearance and sensitivity to the needs of the family members. Chetan Bhatt also notes the acknowledgement of a potential for "evil" and "violence" from the man and the responsibility of women for bearing with both, a traditional Hindu ideal for women.[5]

In addition to the ideology of passive and all-sacrificing homemaking, the Samiti's ideology involves the conceptualization of the Goddess, symbolically identified with Bharatmata (Mother India). The Motherland's unqualified love for her children exists, despite the suffering she has endured over centuries of `foreign aggression' and `mutilation'. The Goddess is also characterized as Durgadevi, who is articulated as the strength of the Hindu woman in facing the problems of her life. The organizational form dedicated to `character-building' has the aim of actively and militantly fighting for the Hindu nation against the tendencies viewed as `anti-national', `separatist' or `foreign'. The members are trained physically, intellectually and mentally towards this aim.[5]

Activities[edit]

Rashtra Sevika Samiti is today the largest Hindu women's organization working to uphold Indian culture and traditions. RSS women are actively involved in socio-cultural activities. Samiti inculcates a sense of patriotism and social awareness in people. Various types of training camps at different levels in all parts of India are conducted periodically. Many members of the Samiti also belong to other women's wings of the Sangh Parivar such as the Mahila Morcha of the BJP or the Durga Vahini and Matri Shakti of the VHP.[4][6][7]

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.[2] The estimates of active membership range from 100,000[8] to 1 million.[9] The Samiti has Overseas branches in 10 countries, which use the name Hindu Sevika Samiti.[10]

Samiti also runs 475 service projects all over India for the poor and underprivileged, without regard to religion, caste, creed, sect, gender, or ethnicity. These include schools, libraries, computer training centers and orphanages.[4]

Rashtra Sevika Samiti focuses on Hindu women's role in the society as leaders and agents of positive social reform. The Samiti teaches its members three ideals;

  1. Matritva (Universal Motherhood), as exemplified by the figure of Jijabai, the mother of Shivaji,
  2. Kartritva (Efficiency and Social Activism), as exemplified by the queen of Indore, Ahilyabai Holkar, and
  3. Netritva (Leadership), as exemplified by the legendary queen of Jhansi, Lakshmibai.

The organization believes that all women have the capability to create a positive change in their community.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rashtra Sevika Samiti to open hostel for women in Dehradun, Times of India, 17 October 2013
  2. ^ a b "Vandaneeya Shanthakka will be the new Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti". Samvada. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
  3. ^ a b Bhatt 2001, pp. 136–137.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Rashtra Sevika Samiti". Hindu Books Universe. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  5. ^ a b Bhatt 2001, pp. 138–140.
  6. ^ Menon 2005.
  7. ^ Basu 2012.
  8. ^ Sarkar 1995.
  9. ^ Bacchetta 1996.
  10. ^ Chitkara, M. G. (2004). Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: National Upsurge. APH Publishing. p. 168. ISBN 8176484652.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Bacchetta, Paola (1996). "Hindu nationalist women as ideologues: The "Sangh," the "Samiti" and their differential concepts of the Hindu nation". In K. Jayawardena; M. de Alwis (eds.). Embodied violence: Communalizing Women's Security in South Asia. London: Zed Books. pp. 108–147. ISBN 1856494489.
  • Bacchetta, Paola (2004). Gender in the Hindu Nation: RSS Women as Ideologues. New Delhi: Women Unlimited. ISBN 8188965022.
  • Basu, Amrita (2012) [first published in 1998]. "Hindu Women's Activism in India and the Questions it Raises". In Jeffery, Patricia; Basu, Amrita (eds.). Appropriating Gender: Women's Activism and Politicized Religion in South Asia. Routledge. pp. 167–184. ISBN 978-1136051586.
  • Bhatt, Chetan (2001). Hindu Nationalism: Origins, Ideologies and Modern Myths. Berg Publishers. ISBN 1859733484.
  • Dixit, Neha (28 January 2013). "Holier than cow: Wisdom on women from a Rastriya Sevika Sangh camp". Outlook. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  • 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. JSTOR 25075678.
  • Ramusack, Barbara N. (2005). "Women and gender in South and Southeast Asia". In Bonnie G. Smith (ed.). Women's History in Global Peerspective. Vol. 2. University of Illinois Press. pp. 101–138. ISBN 0252029976.
  • Sarkar, Tanika (1995). "Heroic women, mother goddesses: Family and organization in Hindutva politics". In Tanika Sarkar; Urvashi Butalia (eds.). Women and the Hindu Right: A Collection of Essays. New Delhi: Kali for Women. pp. 181–215. ISBN 8185107661.
  • Sethi, Manisha (20 April 2002). "Avenging Angels and Nurturing Mothers: Women in Hindu Nationalism". Economic and Political Weekly. 37 (16): 1545–1552. JSTOR 4412016.
  • Skelton, Tracey; Allen, Tim (1999). Culture and Global Change. Routledge. ISBN 0415139171.

Further reading[edit]

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

External links[edit]

Category:Women's wings of political parties in India Category:Sangh Parivar Category:Hindu movements and organizations

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