RSS revives ‘Akhand Bharat’ vision through its youth wing Yuva Aayam

Nagpur: The RSS through its plethora of front organizations is reviving its pet concept of ‘Akhand Bharat’. This year, for the first time, several public functions have been organized here before August 15. Not reconciled to Partition, the Hindutva fountainhead believes in the dream that Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and even Tibet and Myanmar which once had common Hindu cultural identity would some day reunite into ‘Akhand Bharat’.
On Sunday ‘Yuva Aayam’, a little-known youth forum is holding ‘Akhand Bharat Smriti Divas’. While its convener Pankaj Kothari claimed it isn’t a RSS event, the fact that it is being hosted by the RSS on its sprawling Reshimbagh premises and a Sangh functionary Indresh Kumar is the guest speaker, revealed more than they sought to conceal. Insiders said this is the first time such a public function on the theme will be held on the RSS premises.
After its political arm, BJP, came to power on its own at the Centre two years ago, the RSS saw an opportunity to express itself without inhibitions. It hastily pushed for strict implementation of cow protection laws that led to vigilantism, targeting Dalits and minorities. Now, for the first time ‘Akhand Bharat’ gets a big push starting from Nagpur and is likely to spread all over the country.
Kothari said ‘Aayam’ was launched three years ago but could not give details of its activities or membership contending that it held occasional gatherings of patriotic youth. “We want to make today’s youth aware about Bharat’s glorious past. It’s just to revive the smriti divas, not yet sankalp divas,” said Kotatri.
On Saturday, Union minister Nitin Gadkari was present at a Akhand Bharat Sankalp Divas event organized by a nascent outfit Matrubhoomi Foundation where All-India Anti-Terrorist Front chief Maninderjeet Singh Bitta recounted his heroic fight against anti-nationals and the 14 attacks on his life. While memories of Akhand Bharat were revoked, students were asked to recite ‘vande mataram’.
A day ago, Bajrang Dal and VHP held a similar ‘Akhand Bharat Smriti Divas’ at the pro-RSS Dharampeth Science College. State VHP President Ajay Nildhawar said: “It is necessary to understand history to promote patriotism.” College principal Akhilesh Pishwe exhorted students to inculcate the idea of Akhand Bharat for overall personality development.
Second Sarsanghachalak M S (Guruji) Golwalkar in 1949 came out with the concept of Akhand Bharat terming Pakistan “too uncertain state” to survive and that efforts should be continued to reunite the divided nations. The Sangh offices are known to display maps that show Bharat Rashtra that includes areas of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Suruchi Prakashan, a publishing house run by the RSS, has brought out a map called ‘Punyabhoomi Bharat’ in which Afghanistan is called “Upgansthan”, Kabul “Kubha Nagar”, Peshawar “Purushpur”, Multan “Moolsthan”, Tibet “Trivishtap”, Sri Lanka “Singhaldweep” and Myanmar “Brahmadesh”, among others.. There are several other RSS publications, including a book titled, Pratyek Rashtrabhakta Ka Sapna: Akhand Bharat (Dream of every patriot: Akhand Bharat), that champions the cause of Akhand Bharat.