As soon as your contact with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh starts increasing, you start getting some words of the terminology of the organization in a conversation with their officers and self. In such a situation, there is curiosity about them. OTC was in circulation for decades in the Sangh.
Interestingly, many will still not know its meaning. But it will be known that this word has been spoken to them in summer. However, since the 1950s, it has become the name of the Sangh Shiksha Varg i.e. (SSV). But OTC speakers still speak the same.
These training camps of the Sangh have been stopped only twice in history, once when the Sangh was banned in 1948 and the second time in 1975 when Indira Gandhi announced the Emergency in the country. However, for 2 years, due to Corona, the Sangh education class could not be done.
For the first time in 1927, it was decided that a training camp should be set up for all volunteers, so that they can know more and more about the Sangh by staying away from home. For this, summer holidays were kept, that is, from May 1 to June 10, full 40 days. The reason for this was that at that time most of the volunteers were young, were students, so they could get their time during the summer holidays.
It is a different matter that this 40 -day time is now almost half. Then this camp was named, Summer Camp or Summer Camp, but later it was named ‘Officer Training Camp’ i.e. OTC. Since then, despite not being official, this name has been going on for decades. However, in the mutual interaction of the Sangh, it is said that I am first year educated or second year educated. The third year who participates in this camp, he has to go to Nagpur and usually it is for campaigners.
Read here: Every story of this special series related to the hundred years of RSS
How do you feel union training camps?
The Sangh has also created some provinces according to its convenience, which are not administratively in existence. In about 45 such provinces, the first year class of its province is imposed. Whereas for the second year, class is held at the regional level, in which groups of many provinces are formed. And the third year class is always in Nagpur, where the intellectual direction of Sarsanghchalak and any great Vibhuti of the country is found directly.
In this way, volunteers are introduced to their neighboring districts in the first year category. In the second year category, fellow provinces get to live with colleagues and in the third year category, there is an opportunity to meet fellow volunteers from all over the country. Volunteers who participate in these classes never forget this experience, especially in the last days, Chakravyuh -like Mahakhel and Pathshalla to welcome the entire city to welcome them.
Once Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar had said that, “These camps are for the volunteers who have to pursue the work of the Sangh in the future, we prepare workers with special qualifications through these camps”. The initial volunteers were also from the akharas, so physical training activities were more in these camps. Although his chief instructor was an ex-serviceman, he also had English effects on his training and command, but English words were completely removed from 1939-40.
When such a first class was set up in Nagpur, 17 volunteers participated in it. It was engaged in the month of May, morning and evening time was for physical training, sports etc. and intellectual discussions were held in the afternoon. Time was also kept for swimming and the place was selected Mohit’s Wada. In 1935, when such a second class started in Pune, its dates were fixed from 22 April to 2 June. In such a situation, Dr. Hedgewar used to stay in the category of Pune till May 15 and after that he used to come in the class of Nagpur.
For the first time in 1938, such a class also started in Lahore. In every category, Dr. Hedgewar himself used to meet every volunteer and establish an affinity. They had to prepare the leadership to increase the work of the Sangh across the country. It is also interesting that all the celebrities came from Gandhiji to Baba Saheb Ambedkar in these sections and wrote a lot about this dedication, dedication and without discrimination of volunteers.
The volunteers selected from the branches were also sent from the class to another village to set up a new branch for some time and when a local youth who took the responsibility of the branch was ready, they were called back. Gradually, the Sangh also planned other sections besides this class, such as the Sangh education class was started once in two years for senior volunteers aged 40 to 60 years. After that the primary union education class was also started for the early level volunteers, so that trained volunteers can be selected for the Sangh Education class.
All the programs like physical training, intellectual discussions, cultural programs, sports, implementation have been part of these education classes, which is now 7 days. But now even before this, another class has been started, it is only 3 days, for the new ones.
Some more classes also take one or three days at tehsil, city, district or department level. For example, there is a three -day winter class in December, there is also a resident class of a day.
Everything happens in large sections, but different classes of intellectual and physical are also in cities or districts. Some classes are also organized on special subjects, such as playing in the Ghosh class and playing instruments, then only punishment training is done in the punishment class. How to sing a rhythmic singing of the Sangh, how to sing in a pure manner, also has a separate class.
The publicity department of the union has also started organizing small, one or two classes for discussion for those who write in separate magazines. As such, you are organized anytime, bring food from your respective homes and eat all together, discuss together.
The changing phase has also affected. The class of the first year was 40 days, nowadays it is only 15 days. The second year class which was 30 days is now 20 days. Whereas the third year class in Nagpur has come down from 40 days to 25 days. There is a call to celebrate no gadgets day, no TV day around a special day around the world, so it is easy to stay without gazettes for 25 days?
Dr. Hedgewar’s last union education class
The old people of the Sangh never forget the Union Education classes of 1940. Dr. Hedgewar was very ill in those days, yet went to the class of Pune in April. Stayed in the entire class, although he was very upset. The speech also sat in the chair for 2 hours. Then came to Nagpur, stayed in the category but due to high fever, he was brought home on the advice of doctors. There was fever in the body, but the Muslim League in the mind is demanding Pakistan, this issue should be discussed, a strategy should be made. The second world war has erupted, this was also a concern.
This was the first time that the training class was engaged and he himself was not there. With great difficulty, the doctors allowed him to speak at the closing program on 9 June. Volunteers from all over the country were emotional, by saying this, Dr. Hedgwar made him more emotional that “I could not serve you guys”. Everyone’s eyes were filled. After 12 days, Dr. Hedgewar left this world by handing Guru Golwalkar the responsibility of Sarsanghchalak.
Previous Story: The story of the first Gurudakshina, why does not RSS take donations?
—- End —-
