Shakha

(“branch”) The name given to a local
“branch” of the Rashtriya
Svayamsevak Sangh (RSS), whose
membership is often drawn from a
particular neighborhood or section of
a city. The RSS is a conservative Hindu
organization whose express purpose
is to provide the leadership cadre for a
revitalized Hindu India. The RSS has
historically characterized itself as a
cultural and character-building organization, and for much of its existence
has shunned direct political involvement, although it has exercised considerable influence through its many
affiliated organizations. Each shakha,
or local RSS unit, holds a daily meeting
for its members, who are known as
svayamsevaks (“volunteers”). The
meeting’s typical activities include an
opening ceremony in which the organization’s saffron banner is raised; traditional games or exercises, including
martial drill, and a discussion period
in which RSS ideals can be disseminated and propagated. The shakhas in
any given area are overseen by a fulltime RSS worker known as a pracharak
(“director”), who serves as a liaison
between the local units and the RSS
leadership, and who oversees RSS
activity in his area. Most of the
shakha’s members will never advance
beyond this local level, and those who
do are usually gifted leaders. Thus, the
primary stress at the shakha level is
on forming personal relationships
with other members, as a way to
develop loyalty to the organization.
Although the shakhas often have very
high attrition, the bonds developed
there are often very strong as well and
are particularly beneficial in helping
displaced and newly urbanized people develop a sense of community. For
further information see Walter K.
Andersen and Shridhar D. Damle, The
Brotherhood in Saffron, 1987.
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Shakha