A lot of people who generally appreciate the work of Nationalist organizations such as RSS, BJP, ABVP, etc. are often mystified by the relationship among them. They also often refer to these organizations as the "Sangh Parivar". This blog seeks to demystify the subject. A Caveat: This is based on my own perception and is not an official version on behalf of any of the organizations.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (hereafter ''Sangh") was conceived with one and only one objective in mind: To awaken and organize Hindu society as Hindus, "हिन्दू समाज को हिन्दू के नाते जाग्रत और संगठित करना" and to build human beings based on this idea, what we call "मनुष्य निर्माण" . Politics interferes with this objective (as does any other laudable objective, such as spread of education, labour welfare, disaster management, etc.) and therefore the Sangh always stays clear of all other activities, including politics. However, the Sangh encourages its Swayamsevaks who have the appropriate inclinations to create separate organizations and work there with the training, culture and inspiration of the Sangh (called "संस्कार" ). Thus, those who are inclined towards politics created the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, which later became the Bharatiya Janata Party. Similarly Swayamsevaks inclined towards religious work, Labour Welfare, Students'welfare respectively created the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi parishad, etc. The Sangh meanwhile will pursue its objective singlemindedly and will not meddle with these organizations (called "विविध क्षेत्र", which some people call "Sangh Parivar"). That is how the Sangh is non-political, or for that matter, non-educational, non-scientific, etc. These organizations may admit non-Swayamsevaks also. However these organizations may ask the Sangh for guidance or help by seconding Sangh Pracharaks to them, and the Sangh tries to help them to the extent possible without letting its own work suffer. Individual swayamsevaks or groups may also similarly seek guidance from the Sangh. That is why it is said, when asked in a given situation what Sangh will do about it, "संघ कुछ नहीं करेगा; स्वयंसेवक सबकुछ करेगा" .
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (hereafter ''Sangh") was conceived with one and only one objective in mind: To awaken and organize Hindu society as Hindus, "हिन्दू समाज को हिन्दू के नाते जाग्रत और संगठित करना" and to build human beings based on this idea, what we call "मनुष्य निर्माण" . Politics interferes with this objective (as does any other laudable objective, such as spread of education, labour welfare, disaster management, etc.) and therefore the Sangh always stays clear of all other activities, including politics. However, the Sangh encourages its Swayamsevaks who have the appropriate inclinations to create separate organizations and work there with the training, culture and inspiration of the Sangh (called "संस्कार" ). Thus, those who are inclined towards politics created the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, which later became the Bharatiya Janata Party. Similarly Swayamsevaks inclined towards religious work, Labour Welfare, Students'welfare respectively created the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi parishad, etc. The Sangh meanwhile will pursue its objective singlemindedly and will not meddle with these organizations (called "विविध क्षेत्र", which some people call "Sangh Parivar"). That is how the Sangh is non-political, or for that matter, non-educational, non-scientific, etc. These organizations may admit non-Swayamsevaks also. However these organizations may ask the Sangh for guidance or help by seconding Sangh Pracharaks to them, and the Sangh tries to help them to the extent possible without letting its own work suffer. Individual swayamsevaks or groups may also similarly seek guidance from the Sangh. That is why it is said, when asked in a given situation what Sangh will do about it, "संघ कुछ नहीं करेगा; स्वयंसेवक सबकुछ करेगा" .
