RSS’s Awadh Prant Sanghchalak Prabu Narayan Srivastava, who is also a patron of the campaign, said the organisation will reach out to at least one lakh students through these programmes in two years.
With an objective to create awareness among youths about leaders such as Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayananda Saraswati and K B Hedgewar, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Awadh region has launched a two-year programme called Rashtriya Vichar Abhiyan to be organised in colleges and universities of Lucknow and adjoining districts.
Under the campaign, which will run till 2017 Assembly elections, the right-wing organisation will organise debates and essay writing competitions on the contribution of the four leaders in social reform. The campaign has already kicked-off with a debate competition on Ambedkar on April 20 and the winners were felicitated by GovernorRam Naik in Lucknow on Thursday.
Convener of the campaign and RSS office bearer Jaiveer Singh said,”Currently, debates on ‘Ambedkar aur unka jeevan darshan’ are being organised in colleges. Now, we are beginning essay competitions on the life of RSS founding Sarsanghachalak K B Hedgewar. Winners of the competition would be announced on August 15.”
Those who register for the essay competition will be provided literature about Hedgewar by Vishwa Samvad Kendra, the RSS Awadh office, to prepare and learn about him before the competition. A committee under Singh has been formed for the programme.
Singh said the campaign aims is to make youths aware about life and contribution of these social reformers, who do not know the complete profile of a leader like Ambedkar beyond observing a public holiday on his birth anniversary.
Another RSS office bearer said as students will learn about these dignitaries before participating in the competitions, the campaign will allow youths of the modern generation to incorporate a nationalist ideology.
RSS’s Awadh Prant Sanghchalak Prabu Narayan Srivastava, who is also a patron of the campaign, said the organisation will reach out to at least one lakh students through these programmes in two years.
Students winning first, second and third prize in these competitions will be awarded Rs 5100, 2100 and 1100, respectively, along with a certificate and momento.