Author: Pawan Dixit
Publication: Hindustan Times
Date: February 21, 2007
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1934385,0015002500030000.htm
The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has
embarked on a mission to convert non-resident Indians from 'American Born
Confused Desi' (ABCD) into 'American Born Confident Desi'.
Full-time functionaries of the RSS have undertaken
the responsibility to imbibe Indian culture and values among NRIs with the
help of its 740 international 'shakhas' (branches) spanning in more than 40
countries the world over.
Out of the 740 international shakhas, 120
are being convened on daily basis like any other RSS shakha operating in India.
All international shakhas are being regulated and controlled by a special
cell of the RSS aptly named the 'foreign affairs cell'.
Hong Kong is the international headquarters
of the party's foreign affairs cell and a full-time functionary of the organisation
is regulating it. The international affairs of the RSS, specially the monitoring
of shakhas all over Asia, Europe and America, are being controlled from Hong
Kong.
Talking to Hindustan Times, head of the cell
Ravi Kumar, who was in the city, informed that RSS had undertaken the responsibility
to connect the Indian diaspora abroad with the Indian mainstream.
"At present, almost all NRIs are completely
cut off from the Indian culture and are not even aware of festivals like Makarsankranti,"
said Kumar. On the importance of international RSS shakhas, Kumar stated that
an NRI, especially a youth, was a confused person.
No matter how much he tried to identify himself
with the culture of the country he lived in, an NRI would always remain an
Indian, he added. This confusion led to the 'American Born Confused Desi'
tag for an NRI. Now RSS is trying to change it into 'American Born Confident
Desi', Kumar pointed out. On the acceptance of RSS shakha by the respective
foreign governments, Kumar stated that impressed by the working of the RSS
foreign governments had extended all support.
Impressed by the teachings and moral values
the shakhas preach, the Australian government even offered financial assistance
to the RSS, Kumar stated. "But, when we refused to take any financial
assistance the Australian government issued free travel passes to RSS functionaries
who often travel from one city to another for regulating the shakas,"
informed Kumar. The British government too offered financial assistance to
RSS shakhas, Kumar added.
Impressed by the contribution made by Indians
to the Australian society, their government had also asked RSS to name any
day of the year that could be dedicated to Indians, especially some Indian
festival.
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