RSS to work with Patanjali, Art of Living to bring about ‘social transformation’

RSS functionaries said people came closer to nature as they tried to improve their way of life during the pandemic, and the campaign aims to take this further.

People residing in the makeshift camp at Yamuna sports complex in Delhi perform yoga in April 2020 | Representational image | PTI

New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is likely to launch a social awareness campaign in association with organisations such as Ramdev’s Patanjali and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living, among others, to steer people towards “Ayurveda, Yoga and other natural remedies”, ThePrint has learnt.  

According to sources, the Sangh is looking forward to starting a “social transformation” campaign to bring about a “positive change in the society”, working with religious and social organisations. 

“In this campaign, not only will people be made aware of Ayurveda, the Indian way of life, but Yoga and other natural remedies too. Organisations like Patanjali, Art of Living, Gayatri Parivar can work together with Sangh Parivar in achieving this,” a senior RSS functionary told ThePrint. 

According to the sources, the outline of the campaign is likely to be discussed in the upcoming meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha. The highest decision-making body of RSS, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha is set to meet in Bengaluru on 19-20 March.

‘People came closer to nature during pandemic’

The RSS functionary quoted above said even as people faced a number of challenges during the lockdown imposed last year to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the country, their interest tilted towards Ayurveda and natural remedies. 

“Not only were people more vigilant about the environment but everyone also tried to improve their way of life by coming closer to nature,” said the functionary.  

Another RSS functionary said the Sangh was unable to function properly during the pandemic but managed to increase its contact a lot, especially by distributing food packets and sanitisers, among other items. “We made contact in about two and a half million villages. Several other social organisations were also contacted during this period. Now we will talk on how we can take a social campaign forward by taking everyone along,” the functionary added.  

This year, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha will be held for only two days, with reduced number of participants in view of the pandemic. Representatives of other organisations of the Sangh Parivar will not attend the meeting this time.