Devotion

He is a friend of mine for last 18 years. We are not very close friends. Not like best buddies or anything. But he is a good bloke and a good friend. He was brilliant from right from the 1st grade. He topped the merit charts in 10th grade state wide examination. He repeated that feat again in 12th grade state level examination. He enrolled into Karanataka Regional Engineering College for Computer Science. The Karanataka REC is one of the top most engineering institutions in India. He obviously scored high grades through out his engineering years. After graduation he joined a software firm in Banglore with good salary and it was his time for enjoying bachelor days. But he didn’t follow the script from this point onwards. He worked hard for a year or so and then decided to do something unthinkable. With bright future in hand and lot of cash to throw around he decided to join RSS social work. His plan was to do so for at least a year and then recalculating his life path. His father is close to RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and the kid was obviously influenced by his fathers dedication towards the organization. By joining that organization for social work he was certainly making his father proud. He wasn’t going to get paid for his work. The only thing organization did for him was to feed him and get him a room to live. He rarely stayed home, doing field work most of the time. The journey from earning attractive salary to earning absolutely nothing was not only unique but also stunning in the context of current youth in India. Everyone talks about (including this lukkha blogger) paying back to the country or working for motherland etc. But this guy actually walked the talk. And we can marvel to the end of the world at his decision but I am sure, to him, this was the right thing to do.

After finishing a year in RSS he came back to the ‘civilian’ life. He studied for an entrance exam for higher education and recently got admitted into IIT Powai for M Tech. (He scored 'only' 99.81% in the exam!)

A relative of mine – my mothers’ mamaji – is attached to RSS since his childhood. He has three kids. All of them grown up and obviously very close to RSS work. After finishing their bachelors in Economics and Science they all went to do the field work for RSS. They were so devoted to the work and so engrossed in their ideals of building a strong Indian society that none them wanted to get married. Finally, his father pleaded that at least one of them to get married and start family life. They discussed amongst themselves and one of them finally emerged as a 'candidate' to enter into ‘Grihasthashram’ i.e. married life. Two brothers are still doing field work. They get paid nothing except for food and shelter. They are never going to have families, bank balance or fancy cars. Nothing! And yet they will be winner albeit in difference sense.

There are thousands and thousands of such stories. I can fill reams of papers describing their devotion. I wish I knew all such people and I wish I could find words to describe the valor and sacrifice.

India is an ancient civilization. Well, we all say that and we all know that. Ask any India about the problems facing Indian society and he or she will give you a huge list. Some savvy citizens will throw in big words and historical perspective into their analysis. It is safe to say that most of the Indians have Doctorate in analyzing problems faced by India and Indian society. Ask them what they do to solve those problems and more often than not there will be pin-drop silence. It’s true that not everyone has to ‘sacrifice’ their lives to serve the nation. Most of the people start families. We call such people as ‘common’ man or general populace. There is nothing wrong in this either. But to ignore the work of few individuals who devote their life towards betterment of the society is all most detestable. pPeople who sacrifice their life for nation are not more patriotic than people who start families. Everyone is patriotic. It’s just that people who decided to swim against the flow, who, instead of asking questions try to find answers, are the people we should look up to.

But that’s not how it goes. The way Indian media portrays RSS and RSS work is appalling. They portray this largest non-governmental, non-profit, un-paid organization in the world as a religious fanatic akin to Taliban. The reality is far different. Not only the members (I am talking about the full time members) are highly educated but they are educated in western style education system. They all are well versed in English as well their native languages. They are aware of current affairs and they never ever force their views (i.e. they never issue Fatwa!) down people’s throat. Yet English media not only ignore the tremendous amount of work done by RSS but their interpretation raises serious questions about integrity of news media.

The truth is that these RSS people don’t really care about what English media say about them. They are very happy with their work and in spite of all the difficulties and obstacles they will continue to do their work till they achieve the goal of making our society strong.

I feel proud that I am born in the land that gives birth to such people.