It is time to break stereotypes for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). From being vocal about caste discrimination, seeking continuity of reservation for tribals and Dalits, as well as inclusion of transgender people into community programmes and talking about their rights—RSS and its affiliates are doing it all. In the latest such move, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)—the Sangh’s student wing—has demanded scholarships for transgender students. The ABVP on Monday launched its manifesto for the upcoming students’ elections at Delhi University. The document mentions scholarships for transgender people and a demand for an increment in tribal and Dalit scholarships.
The rise of the ABVP as a student political force across universities, including JNU, DU, and others, has been witnessed over the past five to six years. The space for student politics was previously almost entirely dominated by Communist-Leftist student unions, such as the SFI. While student unions of other mainstream political parties like Congress seem to be losing significance, in the education space, the Communist-Leftist unions and some student outfits of regional parties like the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal have primarily been the main challengers to the RSS-affiliated ABVP.
Bringing more “liberal and progressive” ideas and causes is meant to attract young minds, said a senior RSS functionary. “Society has been evolving and we have to evolve with society. Bhagwat ji has been saying this for a long time. He has spoken about the inclusion of transgenders and recently he also spoke about the caste discrimination that existed in our society. For Hindu unity and for the sake of Desh Prem, we have to be inclusive and rise above all sorts of social discrimination,” he added.
Calling the manifesto “visionary”, the statement issued by the ABVP said, “This comprehensive 21-point manifesto, along with the aptly titled—WoManifesto—especially for women, reflects ABVP’s commitment to addressing a wide array of issues that concern the student community.” About the proposal to have special scholarships for transgender students, it said, “ABVP recognises the importance of inclusivity and will work on special scholarships for transgender students.” It added, “ABVP is committed to increasing scholarships for students from marginalised backgrounds.”
Bhagwat’s pitch for transgender folks
In an interview with the Organiser, the English mouthpiece of the RSS, Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said that Hindu society does not see transgender folks and people belonging to the LGBTQ communities as “problems”. He added that such persons with different gender orientations existed in ancient India too and were mentioned in Hindu scriptures. He spoke about the rights and social space for the people of the LGBTQ community earlier this year.
Following his pitch for the LGBTQ community, Seva Bharati, the social work wing of the RSS, initiated special programmes for transgender people. In a first, a group of transgender folks were invited to the traditional Holi celebration organised by the Seva Bharati this year. The invitation to the event was the first in a series of programmes that the organisation has planned for the community, including havan (a Hindu ritual) and healthcare initiatives. The inclusion of transgender people’s social and educational rights has been the latest addition to the outreach programme.
‘Idea of inclusivity’ among students
Apart from the inclusion of transgender people, the RSS narrative seems to be focussing on women and their natural needs, including menstruation. These are issues that have never been talked about openly among RSS affiliates as the group was earlier seen as a male-dominated social platform. “There are many stereotypical ideas which people have about the RSS. We need to break these ideas and we need more young minds to accept the RSS and its ideology, its idea about nationalism. We need to evolve and be progressive,” said the senior RSS functionary.
Aparajita, ABVP’s candidate for the post of secretary at DU, emphasised the outfit’s commitment to women’s empowerment, mentioning initiatives like Mission Sahasi for self-defence training and Ritumati Abhiyan for sanitary pad distribution. She added that ABVP aims to further these efforts through measures like restoring and renewing sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators in all colleges, full-time gynaecologists and psychologists in the WUS health centre in DU, pink booths near every hostel, installation of CCTV cameras inside and outside college campuses, gender-sensitisation camps, strengthening the internal complaints committees (ICCs) in colleges, hiring female trainers in sports and co-curricular activities, girls’ common rooms in every college, etc.
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