Tribute to Dr. Manmohan Singh at RSS Event: Concerns Over Manipur Situation and Call for Resolving Language Disputes

The three-day Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) began in Bengaluru on Friday. At the start of the meeting, tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, writer Pritish Nandy, and other deceased RSS workers.

Concerns Over the Manipur Situation

RSS Joint General Secretary Mukund CR expressed concern over the situation in Manipur, stating that the state has been experiencing turmoil for the past 20 months. However, he noted that some political and administrative decisions by the central government have provided a ray of hope. He also acknowledged that despite these efforts, restoring normalcy will take time.

Call for Resolving Language and Delimitation Disputes

Commenting on the ongoing language and delimitation disputes between Tamil Nadu and the central government, Mukund CR said that certain forces are attempting to challenge the nation’s unity by fueling debates between North and South India. He asserted that many of these disputes are politically motivated.

He emphasized the need for all social groups to come together, stating that internal conflicts weaken the nation. “If there is a problem, it should be resolved with goodwill and mutual understanding,” he said. He further mentioned that RSS volunteers and ideological groups are making significant efforts—particularly in South Indian states—to promote harmony and unity.

Prioritizing Mother Tongue While Recognizing English as Essential

Mukund CR reiterated the RSS stance on education in the mother tongue, stressing that primary education should always be conducted in one’s native language. He clarified that while RSS does not have an official resolution on two-language or three-language policies, it firmly advocates the promotion of mother tongue education.

He also encouraged multilingual learning, stating, “One must learn their mother tongue along with a market language.” For instance, someone in Tamil Nadu should learn Tamil, while someone in Delhi should learn Hindi. Additionally, career-oriented languages like English or others are equally important.

Discussion on RSS Completing 100 Years

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The meeting includes discussions on the expansion of the organization and its social work initiatives. A total of 1,482 volunteers and officials are participating in the session. Mukund CR mentioned that the meeting will also evaluate RSS’s impact on society so far and identify key areas for future focus.

Significant Growth in RSS Activities

Currently, RSS activities are being conducted in 73,646 locations, with 51,710 locations hosting daily shakhas (meetings). Over the past year, 10,000 new shakhas have been added, bringing the total count to 83,129 shakhas. Additionally, weekly activities have increased by 4,430, bringing the total number of RSS activities across India to 1,15,276.