RSS losing its intellectual sheen, says Tupkari book

Nagpur: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), set up by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, has over a period of time lost its intellectual sheen due to mediocrity ruling the roost in the organization. This was observed by Rambhau Tupkary, former HoD and founder chairman of VNIT, during the release of his book — RSS Revalued — a matter of concern for the Hindutva fountainhead, here on Saturday.
Tupkary, who had a long association of five decades with the RSS and held various posts in the organization, has seen it all from close quarters.

Tupkary said, “During formative years of the Sangh, the only motive was to organize the Hindu society. There were a number of intellectuals with him who had a crucial role in shaping the RSS. But now that has been replaced by mediocre people and yes men,” he said during the book release function at the Velankar Hall of Dharampeth Arts and Science College attended by less than 50 people, all aged over 60 and having deep sense of belonging to RSS.

Tupkary, in his own words, has been declared persona non-grata by the Sangh hierarchy since 1998 and is no longer part of its inside circle. “It is well known that if someone is critical about the Sangh or questions its ways, that person is treated with disdain and labelled incapable of understanding the Sangh ethos. But I am not anti-Sangh and my book is meant for the RSS people and its functionaries so that they understand the need to introspect and change the RSS in tune with times,” said Tupkary, making it clear that he had no rancour for being ostracized by the Sangh.

The 425-page book available on e-commerce sites dwells on the pitfalls in the RSS and how it has been pushing mediocre people keeping themselves away from intellectual discussions or consultations with sources of knowledge. “Only good thing is that I have not kept contents of my book away from the Sangh top functionaries who magnanimously asked me to discuss the issues at a meet of senior swayamsevaks, recently at the behest of Sarsanghachalak,” Tupkary said.

Veteran city journalist Vinod Deshmukh, who formally released the book, hoped the RSS top bosses would learn lessons from the book and curb tendencies of its functionaries to hanker for power. “This trend is more visible after the BJP -led government has come to the power at the Centre and the RSS has become an accepted institution across the country,” he said.