The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) beginning Thursday will take nearly 8,000 students, belonging to deprived classes and largely from the Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for “Kumbh Darshan”.
According to the RSS’ education wing Vidya Bharti, the students of Sanksar Kendras would visit the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela to ensure they become familiar with Hindu traditions, Indian culture and are prevented from “falling prey” to religious conversions. All students taking the trip will be above the age of 10 and will be accompanied by their parents.
“The objective of taking the students for ‘Kumbh darshan’ is to make them aware of India’s rich traditions and culture as well as the spiritual aspect of the Maha Kumbh. This will help when (Christian) missionaries reach their localities and try to convert them claiming they are not Hindus,” instructor of Seva Bharti schools in Awadh region, Ramji Singh, said.
A RSS functionary associated with the programme too confirmed that all touring students hail from the Dalit communities, which are referred to as “vanchit samaj (deprived classes)” in the Sangh.
According to the schedule, around 2,100 children studying in Sanskar Kendras of 14 districts in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh will stay in the Maha Kumbh area between January 16 and 18. The children will visit various ashram of saints, akharas and the Sangam Ghat. The organisation has set up a camp in Sector 9 of the Mela area to facilitate their stay.
Sanskar Kendras, operated by the Vidya Bharti across the country, cater to poor children, mostly of slum dwellers, who cannot afford admission into regular schools. “Children in Sanskar Kendras are taught songs of Bharat Mata, nationalism and patriotism. They are also made aware of our culture and taught how to greet elders, worship gods and chanting slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ apart from regular school subjects. The cultural education and religious practices improves the atmosphere in their localities,” Singh said.
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com. Read the full story here.
