Rashtra Sevika Samiti

2021-11-11T09:04:20Z

2405:201:400F:A063:F542:1061:B57A:1757: Fixed typo

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The '''Rashtra Sevika Samiti''' (''National Women Volunteers Committee'') is a [[Hindutva|Hindu nationalist]] women's organisation that parallels the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) for men.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/indian-way-of-life-only-option-left-for-world-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-1311080.html|title=Indian Way of Life Only Option Left for World: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat|date=11 November 2016}}</ref> Even though it is often referred to as the " Sister" of the RSS,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rashtra-Sevika-Samiti-to-open-hostel-for-women-in-Dehradun/articleshow/24297757.cms|title=Rashtra Sevika Samiti to open hostel for women in Dehradun|work=The Times of India}}</ref> the organisation claims that it is independent of the RSS while sharing its ideology. Membership and leadership is embraced to women and its activities are directed to nationalist devotion and mobilisation of Hindu women.

The current Chief ([[Sanskrit]]: ''Pramukh Sanchalika'') of the Samiti is [[V. Shantha Kumari]] (referred to informally as "Shanthakka") and its General Secretary (''Pramukh Karyavahika'') is Sita Annadanam.<ref name=Shanthakka>{{cite web |url=http://samvada.org/2012/news/vandaneeya-shanthakka-will-be-the-new-pramukh-sanchalika-of-rashtra-sevika-samiti/ |title=Vandaneeya Shanthakka will be the new Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti |publisher=Samvada |date=20 August 2012 |access-date=2014-11-29}}</ref>
[[File:V shanthakumari-June-16-2016-4.jpg|200 px|thumb|right|Rashtra Sevika Samiti Pramukh Vandaneeya Shanthakka addressing a gathering]]

==History==
Laxmibai Kelkar was the founder of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti. Before establishing the organization, Kelkar visited Dr. [[K.B. Hedgewar]], the founder of the RSS, in 1936 and had a long discussion to persuade him regarding the need for starting a women's wing in the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] itself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://samvada.org/2015/news/remembering-moushiji/|title=Remembering Moushiji Kelkar, founder Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti on her 110th Birth Anniversary|date=2015-07-06|website=Vishwa Samvada Kendra|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-16}}</ref> However, Hedgewar advised [[Laxmibai Kelkar]] to establish an entirely separate organization that would be autonomous and independent of the RSS, as both groups were ideologically identical. Hedgewar promised Kelkar unconditional solidarity, support and guidance for the Samithi. Following this, Kelkar established the Rashtra Sevika Samiti at [[Wardha]] on 25 October 1936.<ref name="inuthrakeshjha">{{cite web |title=10 things to know about Rashtra Sevika Samiti, the women wing of RSS by Rakesh Jha |url=https://www.inuth.com/india/10-things-to-know-about-rashtra-sevika-samiti-the-women-wing-of-rss/ |website=www.inuth.com|publisher=inuth| access-date=2020-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514164334/https://www.inuth.com/india/10-things-to-know-about-rashtra-sevika-samiti-the-women-wing-of-rss/ | archive-date=2020-05-14}}</ref><ref name="outlookindianeha">{{cite web |title=Holier Than Cow by Neha Dixit |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/holier-than-cow/283593 |website=www.outlookindia.com|publisher=outlookindia| access-date=2020-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831131432/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/holier-than-cow/283593 | archive-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>

{{Quote box
|quote = '''"Woman is the inspiring force for the family and for the nation.<br /> So long as this force is not awakened, society cannot progress" '''
|source = Laxmibai Kelkar, Founder of Rashtra Sevika Samiti.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hssuk.org/samiti/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14%3Avandaneeya-mausiji-v2&catid=18%3Asamiti-history-and-ideals&Itemid=17|title=Vandaneeya Mausiji – Birth Centenary Year 2005|work=hssuk.org}}</ref> |quoted = 1}}

==Activities==
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 ofresponsible behaviour and social awareness in people. Various types of educational and awareness camps at different levels in all parts of India are conducted periodically.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Menon |first=Kalyani Devaki |year=2005 |title=We will become Jijabai: Historical Tales of Hindu Nationalist Women in India |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=64 |number=1 |pages=103–126 |jstor=25075678 |doi=10.1017/s0021911805000070}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Basu |first=Amrita |orig-year=first published in 1998 |chapter=Hindu Women's Activism in India and the Questions it Raises |editor1=Jeffery, Patricia |editor2=Basu, Amrita |title=Appropriating Gender: Women's Activism and Politicized Religion in South Asia |pages=167–184 |publisher=Routledge |year=2012 |isbn=978-1136051586}}</ref>

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.<ref name=Shanthakka/> The estimates of active membership range from 100,000<ref name=Sarkar>
{{cite book |last=Sarkar |first=Tanika |chapter=Heroic women, mother goddesses: Family and organization in Hindutva politics |editor1=Tanika Sarkar |editor2=urvashi Butalia |title=Women and the Hindu Right: A Collection of Essays |publisher=Kali for Women |location=New Delhi |year=1995 |pages=181–215 |isbn=8185107661}}
</ref>
to 1 million<ref name=Bacchetta>
{{cite book |last=Bacchetta |first=Paola |chapter=Hindu nationalist women as ideologues: The "Sangh" the "Samiti" and their differential concepts of the Hindu nation |editor1=K. Jayawardena |editor2=M. de Alwis |title=Embodied violence: Communalizing Women's Security in South Asia |publisher=Zed Books |location=London |year=1996 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781856494489/page/108 108-147] |chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/3786084 |isbn=1856494489 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781856494489/page/108 }}
</ref>
It has overseas branches in 10 countries, which use the name ''Hindu Sevika Samiti''.<ref name=Chitkara>
{{cite book |first=M. G. |last=Chitkara |title=Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: National Upsurge |publisher=APH Publishing |year=2004 |isbn=8176484652 |page=168}}
</ref>

Samiti also runs 475 service projects all over India for the poor and underprivileged, with regard to religion, caste, creed, sect, gender, or ethnicity. These include Go Shalas , libraries, computer training centers and orphanages.<ref name="zeerakesh">{{cite web |title=Know about Rashtra Sevika Samithi as well by Rakesh Taneja |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/rss-vijaydashmi-and-rashtra-sevika-samiti/582501 |website=zeenews.india.com|publisher=zeenews| access-date=2020-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208174908/https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/rss-vijaydashmi-and-rashtra-sevika-samiti/582501 | archive-date=2019-12-08}}</ref>

Rashtra Sevika Samiti focuses on Hindu women's role in the society as leaders and agents of positive social reform. Samiti teaches its members three ideals;
# Matrutva (Universal Motherhood)
# Kartrutva (Efficiency and Social Activism)
# Netrutva (Leadership).<ref name="inuthrakeshjha"/>

3 personalities who stand for the above ideals, [[Jijabai]], [[Ahilyabai Holkar]] and [[Rani of Jhansi]] respectively are held as a role model for every sevika. The organization believes that all women have the capability to create a positive change in their community<ref>{{cite book |last1=Banerjee |first1=Sikata |title=Make Me a Man!: Masculinity, Hinduism, and Nationalism in India |date=2012 |publisher=SUNY Press |location=In the crucible of Hindutva:Women and Masculine Hinduism |isbn=978-0-7914-8369-5 |pages=121–123 |edition=2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F165bWv7goQC |language=en}}</ref>

==Chiefs of the organization==
# [[Laxmibai Kelkar]] (मावशी लक्ष्मीबाई केळकर, Founder, known as Mavashi Kelkar), from October 1936 to November 1978 (her death)
# Saraswati Apte (सरस्वती आपटे, knows as Tai Apte), 1978-1994
# Usha-tai Chati (उषाताई चाटी, Aug 1927 - Aug 2017), headed the organization from 1994 to 2006
# Pramila-tai Medhe (प्रमिला-ताई मेढे), 2006-2012, currently acts as advisor
# V Shantha Kumari (शान्ताक्का, Shanthakka, born 1952); chief from 2012 to date

== See also ==
*[[Durga Vahini]]
*[[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Bacchetta, Paola. Gender in the Hindu Nation: RSS Women as Ideologues. New Delhi: Women Unlimited, 2004, {{ISBN|8188965022}}.

==External links==
*[http://www.balagokulam.org/teach/biographies/mousi2.php Vandaneeya Laxmibai Kelkar - The founder Pramukh Sanchalika of Rashtra Sevika Samiti]

{{Sangh Parivar}}

[[Category:Women's wings of political parties in India]]
[[Category:Sangh Parivar]]
[[Category:Hindu organizations]]
[[Category:Hindu nationalism]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]]
[[Category:Hindutva]]

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Rashtra Sevika Samiti