In response to the growing caste-based tensions and the demand for a caste census from the Opposition, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has initiated the “samajik samrasta” (social harmony) project. This initiative aims to promote ‘Hindu oneness’ by addressing issues of caste discrimination and untouchability, with RSS workers actively engaging with villages to spread awareness on these matters.
Dattatreya Hosabale, the general secretary of RSS, highlighted the discussions held during the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal Baithak in Bhuj, Gujarat, emphasizing the importance of fostering a sense of unity within the Hindu society. He underlined the need to eliminate discrimination based on birth, indicating the core objective of the social harmony project. The RSS is deploying its workers to various social institutions, schools, and temples to advocate for the eradication of untouchability and caste-based prejudices.
Sources revealed that the RSS has examined over 13,000 villages to identify instances of caste discrimination, such as the existence of separate facilities for certain communities and restrictions on the entry of Dalits into temples. With its extensive network of 95,528 shakhas, boasting 37 lakh regular participants, the RSS is strategically devolving the responsibility of the social harmony project to these local units.
While navigating the contemporary political landscape, the RSS has been emphasizing the idea of “swa” (national self), stressing the importance of fostering a narrative that promotes national identity and bridges societal fault lines within the Hindu community. The leadership has consistently asserted that the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya embodies the spirit of national self-respect, reflecting the essence of the Hindu nation.
In light of the upcoming Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024, at the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, the RSS plans to conduct a comprehensive nationwide public outreach campaign, inviting individuals to partake in the event. The organization aims to amplify its efforts to awaken the consciousness of the Hindu Rashtra, emphasizing inclusivity and unity within the Hindu community.
