In their efforts to counter ‘Cutting South’, an event that was attended by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has organised an event of like-minded intellectuals and academicians in Delhi on December 12– ‘Bridging South’.
Prajna Pravah, an RSS affiliate that looks after Sangh’s publication and knowledge platforms, is prime mover for the event. Talking to News 18, J Nandkumar, chief of Prajna Pravah, said, “The event is going to be a platform for nationalist ideas and a cultural-spiritual assimilation of the north and south. We do not believe in cutting any region from our country, but we also work towards bridging gaps.”
The conclave is likely to see several senior central ministers including defence minister Rajnath Singh as the chief guest, while J Nandkumar will deliver the keynote address. The conclave is part of the RSS’s project of bringing the far-flung areas closer to central India, and exchanging ideas. The organization held an event titled – Lokmanthan — in Assam last year to bring the folk culture of the northeast to the forefront.
A senior functionary of the RSS said that there would be follow-up events of ‘Bridging South’ across cities in the southern part of the country. The organisation has already planned a similar event in Bangalore.
“Even though this is a one-day seminar on the cultural-spiritual bonding of north and south, with these events, the like-minded people will work towards connecting the northern and southern part of the country. There will be a social media campaign for the programme and we will carry it on the ground level by reaching out to the nationalist organisations and individuals,” he added.
RSS’S SOUTHERN SOJOURN: BUILDING ITS PRESENCE STRONGER
The event is part of the RSS’s southern outreach programmes. Over the past year, there were many instances in which the RSS tried to position themselves as a strong ground organization in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
The Sanatan controversy, triggered by a statement by Udaynidhi Stalin of Tamil Nadu, gave the RSS a stronger foothold to pitch themselves as the umbrella organisation for Hindus in the state. Introducing Sengol to the nation, facilitating its return to the Parliament, and building a narrative about the ancient Hindu society and culture in Tamil Nadu emerged as another effort to strengthen its outreach in the region.
The organisation is fighting cases to hold their regular marches (Path Sanchalan) in the state and in Kerala. The RSS has always been the primary political rival of the Communist parties.
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