User:Kautilya3/sanxbox/Rashtra Sevika Samiti

The Rashtra Sevika Samiti (National Women Volunteers Committee) is a Hindu nationalist women's organisation that parallels the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for men. Even though it is often referred to as the "women's wing" of the RSS, the organisation claims that it is independent of the RSS while sharing its ideology. Membership and leadership is restricted to women and its activities are directed to nationalist devotion and mobilisation of Hindu women.

The current chief of the Samiti is Pramukh Sanchalika V. Shantha Kumari (referred to as "Shanthakka") and Pramukh Karyavahika (general secretary) Sita Annadanam.

History
Rashtra Sevika Samiti was the first formal affiliate of the RSS, formed on 25 October 1936 (the Vijayadasami day) by Laxmibai Kelkar (known as "Mausiji") at Wardha. Kelkar, who was born in Nagpur, had a long discussion with the RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar regarding the need for starting a women's wing in the RSS. Hedgewar, however, wanted the RSS to remain an all-male organisation. He advised Kelkar to start a separate organization and promised to provide all the required support and guidance.

Ideology
According to the Samiti's own account, Kelkar's motivation is said to have been that the defiance of the law implicit in the freedom struggle could take an "unwarranted turn to lawlessness," and, therefore, a proper channel was needed to inspire people to their social and national duties. Kelkar was also worried that, due to the western impact, women were struggling for equal rights and economic freedom, which led to "self-centredness" among women. This was an unnatural change in the attitude of women, which might lead to the disintegration of the family, because women were the most important force in imparting good sanskaras (values) within the family.

However, scholars note that the Samiti's founding ideology was militant Hindutva, the same as that of the RSS. It formed a distinctive gender ideology within an overarching patriarchical configuration of the RSS. The Samiti's focus is on the roles, duties, obligations and limitations of Hindu women within their families as well as the `greater family' which is the `Hindu nation'. The Samiti's daily prayer emphasizes the role of a woman as a "daughter, sister, wife and mother," that is, in a supporting role to men, with an ideology of "domesticity," focusing on personal sacrifice, forbearance and sensitivity to the needs of the family members. Chetan Bhatt also notes the acknowledgement of a potential for "evil" and "violence" from the man and the responsibility of women for bearing with both, a traditional Hindu ideal for women.

In addition to the ideology of passive and all-sacrificing homemaking, the Samiti's ideology involves the conceptualization of the Goddess, symbolically identified with Bharatmata (Mother India). The Motherland's unqualified love for her children exists, despite the suffering she has endured over centuries of `foreign aggression' and `mutilation'. The Goddess is also characterized as Durgadevi, who is articulated as the strength of the Hindu woman in facing the problems of her life. The organizational form dedicated to `character-building' has the aim of actively and militantly fighting for the Hindu nation against the tendencies viewed as `anti-national', `separatist' or `foreign'. The members are trained physically, intellectually and mentally towards this aim.

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 of patriotism and social awareness in people. Various types of training camps at different levels in all parts of India are conducted periodically. Many members of the Samiti also belong to other women's wings of the Sangh Parivar such as the Mahila Morcha of the BJP or the Durga Vahini and Matri Shakti of the VHP.

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. The estimates of active membership range from 100,000 to 1 million. The Samiti has Overseas branches in 10 countries, which use the name Hindu Sevika Samiti.

Samiti also runs 475 service projects all over India for the poor and underprivileged, without regard to religion, caste, creed, sect, gender, or ethnicity. These include schools, libraries, computer training centers and orphanages.

Rashtra Sevika Samiti focuses on Hindu women's role in the society as leaders and agents of positive social reform. The Samiti teaches its members three ideals;
 * 1) Matritva (Universal Motherhood), as exemplified by the figure of Jijabai, the mother of Shivaji,
 * 2) Kartritva (Efficiency and Social Activism), as exemplified by the queen of Indore, Ahilyabai Holkar, and
 * 3) Netritva (Leadership), as exemplified by the legendary queen of Jhansi, Lakshmibai.

The organization believes that all women have the capability to create a positive change in their community.