RSS AND CASTEISM

Mirtyunjay Kr. Jha

(SWAYAMSEVAK) RSS

RSS ANDCASTEISM

"CASTE SYSTEM MADE BY PARTIES WAS WRONG EVERYONE EQUAL BEFORE GOD"
(RSS CHIFF :- MOHAN BHAGWAT JI)  INDIA TV

Anyone who has done any serious reading on the RSS, would be aware that one of the key reasons for founding the RSS was to reform the Hindu society, help it envision a larger goal of free Bharat on the strength of a united society rising above caste, linguistic and regional divides. The RSS's conduct in public life with a casteless approach was appreciated by Gandhi and Ambedkar too. Ideas to move away from casteism were simple.
Bachharaj Vyas had joined the RSS during Dr Hedgewar's time. When invited to the RSS camp, he said, "I don't eat food prepared by 'others'." The swayamsevak told Dr ji to drop him. Dr ji asked him to let Vyas join and carry his own utensils. After one day, Vyas ji came to Dr ji and admitted to his mistake and joined other members in the camp. The same style was used by Shri Guruji to change a die-hard high caste host by taking him to another home, saying, "This is also my home."
Shri Guruji earned the ire of Karpatri ji Maharaj when the latter asked him to implement varn vyavastha in the RSS, and Guruji politely told him that he should implement it first on his disciples and then think of talking to swayamsevaks about it. At another time he clearly said that varn vyavastha and jaati might have been good social structures at one time, but they were out-dated now and should be dropped.
His signal service was persuading all the Mahants, Sants and most importantly the Shankaracharyas to pass a resolution in the first sessions of the newly founded Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) that said, "Hindavah sahodarah sarve, Hindu na patito bhaveť" (Hindus are born of the same mother - so they are brothers-, and no Hindu is 'fallen' all are equal.) It was a revolutionary statement coming from Hindu leaders including the Shankaracharyas who believed in Varna vyavastha.
Balasaheb Deoras said, "If untouchability is not bad, there is nothing bad in this world. It must be thrown out lock stock and barrel." He added that our forefathers may have taken sour water from their well. If we find a new well with sweet water, should we still stick to the old well? The Samajik Samarasta Manch was established under his guidance to spread the message of brotherhood between all sections of the society.
The VHP persuaded many sants and matham pramukhs to go out and visit dispossessed brethren in their homes. There are many cases, including Guruvayoor, where the VHP and the RSS were able to persuade the temples to open their gates and welcome Dalit brethren. It trained priests from SC/ST communities and also women.
The RSS passed many resolutions against casteism and made policies to help society get over this feeling of high and low. The Ram Temple movement saw all sections of the society come together as one, as Hindus, beyond caste and creed. The RSS has always promoted inter- caste marriages and its leaders have happily gone to such weddings to bless the couples.