Lakshmibai was born in the Mahal district of Nagpur in the year 1905. She was named Kamal meaning lotus. Her parents were Bhaskar Rao Datey, a Government servant and Yashodabai a homemaker. In those days of British rule, purchasing and reading newspapers like ‘Kesari’ edited by Lokmanya Tilak was looked upon as an act of treason if one was a government servant but her mother would purchase the paper and call all the ladies for a combined reading. Thus Lakshmibai’s deep love for the motherland, organising capacity, fearlessness and dauntless spirit came to her from her parents. As a child, the songs, traditions and stories of Hindu legends left an indelible mark on her young mind and she loved going to the temple. She was brave and forthright even at a young age. She exhibited leadership qualities by steering the games away from petty disputes instructing her friends to play fairly without pre-judgement. Listening to her mother reading ‘Kesari’ with the other girls and women every day, the spirit of patriotism and resentment against British rule slowly began to grow in Kamal.
Cow Protection Campaign and Plague Control in early years
When there was a campaign to save cows from being slaughtered young Kamal accompanied the temple priest and ‘Dai’ (nanny) in this holy crusade. This campaign taught her the power of speech, the value of humility and the ability to endure insults and negativity when one was serving a good cause. At the outbreak of plague she helped her parents and Dai in administering service to the sick and needy, irrespective of caste and creed. Her father was very helpful and even performed the last rites of plague victims whom others had refused to touch. All these experiences taught her the values of endurance and patience.
She was to a well known advocate Purushottam Rao of the famous Kelkar family of Wardha. As per the custom her name was changed to Lakshmi after marriage. She continued to participate in social work.
Wardha- The Centre of activity
After the sad demise of Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi left Sabarmati and selected Wardha as his ashram. Sevagram in Wardha began buzzing with political activity as freedom fighters from all over the country visited it. Lakshmibai’s patriotic feelings were kindled and she motivated her sisters in law to join the freedom struggle. They even donated their jewellery for this noble cause. Unfortunately her husband contracted tuberculosis which was a dreaded and incurable disease those days and inspite of all efforts and prayers he passed away leaving her a widow at the age of twenty seven. Her elder daughter too died of the disease.
Unfoldment and Beginning of Active and Formal Socio-Political Life
Lakshmibai realised that there was no school for girls in Wardha to admit her daughter so she took the first step in laying the foundation of a “girl’s school” thus paving the way for women’s literacy in Wardha. She searched for caring and dedicated teachers and provided them accommodation in her own home treating them like members of her family. She encouraged the girls to learn cycling and swimming. She participated in the spinning programmes at Sevagram, Prabhat Pheris, evening prayer meetings and question-answer sessions.
She noticed the plight of women in various walks of life and started looking for solutions for them. Meanwhile her sons joined the RSS where they were taught physical and mental discipline, art of warfare etc. Observing the change and discipline in them, Lakshmibai decided that a similar institution for women was the solution to their problems. She decided to meet Dr. KB Hedgewar, the founder of RSS. Dr Hedgewar was impressed with her quiet strength and philosophy. With examples of great leaders like Swami Vivekanand, she sought to convince him about the need for empowering women. Dr Hedgewar realised asked her if she was willing to take responsibility of leading the women and hence Rashtra Sevika Samiti was formed.
Seeding of Confidence and Providing the Platform
Lakshmibai realized that the first step towards the betterment of women was to inspire women about the glorious past of India and pride for nationalistic values as the women exhibited a lack of confidence under foreign bondage and felt their values and ideals were inferior to Western ideologies. She went door to door with her dedicated workers urging them to step out and involve themselves in national service. On Vijayadashmi day, the Rashtra Sevika Samiti was formally inaugurated. Inspired by her enthusiasm, women began to enroll themselves with new found courage and confidence. All the Sevikas began referring to her as ‘Vandaneeya Mausiji’ and she became a role model, confidante and guide for millions of Sevikas. They began to strengthen themselves with physical and outdoor exercises. She opened new centres or Shakhas in different places and held camps to inspire and induct new arrivals.
Deep sense of duty
She was a woman with unique balance of family and social values. Many times there used to be unavoidable need for her presence at home especially during illness of her children while keeping her social works going on. She had extra-ordinary skills to manage the home and social life without affecting each other. Initially, she used to inspire the women first and setting up the training camps. Once the camps were successfully set up, she laid the groundwork for the second stage which was proposals for setting up nursery schools and small scale industries. Unfortunately the partition of India took place and she had to divert her attention to more pressing matters. She bravely even travelled upto Sindh to give the Hindus there moral, spiritual and physical support. At Karachi she saw firsthand the communal hatred and violence there. She exhorted the Sevikas there to be united and calm and saw to their safe boarding and lodging at Bombay.
Inspired zeal
It is said that during this period she got a dream in which a holy sage gave her the Ramayan urging her to work for peace and harmony. She woke up with a sense of elation and decided to give the Samithi a new direction with discourses of Ramayan. Hearing her passionate and heartfelt discourses people became her great admirer. She travelled to a number of states on this mission. She was a powerful orator and held the audiences spellbound. She narrated only upto the coronation of Lord Ram as she wished to emphasize his qualities as an able administrator and ruler whose ideals of duty and sacrifice could be emulated by the masses in their day to day life. Her discourses ended with the coronation ceremony. She exhorted women to emulate Sita and with courage, strength, purity and fearlessness realise their duty to the family, society and nation. Her books and discourses gave direction and purpose to millions of people.
Later works
Mausiji consulted various health practitioners and doctors and redesigned the fitness programme to suit the needs of women. Yogasanas, Suryanamaskar were included and inspiring stories of great women in history were compiled and recited during the prayer meetings. For expert guidance and training of the physical and mental development of women she invited several eminent personalities and doctors to address the Sevikas. She began the publication of a journal ‘Sevika’ in Marathi which is now published in many languages as ‘Rashtra Sevika’. She established Grihini Vidyalaya with vocational courses, training programmes and short term courses to develop the natural talents of women and Bharatiya Shrividya Niketan to reorganise women’s education on the basis of India’s glorious culture. She began the custom of the worship of Goddess Shakti with eight arms each holding lotus, Bhagavad Geeta, Saffron flag, Agni Kund, bell, sword and beads respectively representing women power and installed the idols in various Kendras. She formed Bhajan Mandals to encourage the musical and devotional talents of the women and inspired them to compose the achievements of great women like Rani Lakshmibai and Jijamata in poetic form. She held exhibitions on inspiring subjects like Shivaji’s struggle, Swami Vivekananda’s clarion call and invited artists to contribute to social renaissance and upliftment of the masses through their paintings. She celebrated centenaries of great women leaders and began the tradition of honouring the Motherland by rendering Vande Mataram at every meeting. She constructed the Devi Ahalya Mandir at Nagpur, the Ashtabhuja temple at Wardha and many other temples.
Her Qualities
Inspite of her extensive and varied responsibilities, Mausiji was a model of cleanliness and never neglected her household. She was devout and always took care of the aesthetic appeal of flower decorations during poojas. She went on pilgrimages and paid great attention to the value of time as she had numerous tasks to perform. She never allowed people to place her on a pedestal and dedicated all their praise to the Samithi thus discouraging sycophancy. She had a razor sharp memory and could remember a person even if only introduced once. Her ability to give importance and care and concern to each and every individual endeared her to all the Sevikas. She was like a mother to all of them and they looked upon themselves as fortunate to be her children.
Illness and subsequent death
As time passed by, rural and tribal rehabilitation and a number of other activities were planned to be included by Mausiji. She continued to give discourses and inspire the Sevikas until August 1978 when she had a heart attack and had to be rushed to the ICU. She began improving and thousands of followers from all the states of India began streaming into the hospital at Nagpur. Inspite of being unable to comprehend the language of the Sevikas who came from many states the bond of love between them was enough to be expressed without words. However, soon she suffered another attack and though showing signs of improvement ultimately succumbed on 27th November 1978. On the way to the Ambazari ghat, her body was kept for a while in Shree Shakti Peeth which has now been turned into her memorial.
Conclusion
The life story of Vandaneeya Mausiji is an inspiring saga of a courageous woman who with great moral courage and mental fortitude battled against all odds and finally emerged victorious. Her forward vision, courage and confidence in a male dominated society resulted in the start of a mighty organisation for the rehabilitation of women which awoke the patriotic feelings and the dormant feminine power in the hearts of the traditional Indian women. She struggled to establish the supremacy of the Hindu ideology of ‘Vasudaivaka Kutumbakam’ meaning ‘the world is one family’. She dedicated her life to the service and care of the motherland. She insisted that women nurture the motherhood instinct in order to serve all members of society. According to her, service accompanied by a spirit of duty, love and sacrifice was the true hallmark of a great nation. She tried to instill pride in the glory of the ancient Hindu culture in the hearts of every woman and will be revered by all Indian women for generations to come.
References
Bacchetta, Paola(2004) Gender in the Hindu Nation: RSS Women as Ideologues, Women Unlimited, New Delhi
- S. Chandrababu, L. Thilagavathi (2009) Woman: Her History And Her Struggle For Emancipation, Bharathi Pustakalayam, Chennai
Sarkar, Tanika (1995). “Heroic women, mother goddesses: Family and organization in Hindutva politics”. In Tanika Sarkar; Urvashi Butalia (eds.). Women and the Hindu Right: A Collection of Essays, Kali for Women, New Delhi
Related Article from “The Organiser “
Matrushakti and RSS: The Inspiring Saga of Rashtra Sevika Samiti
Organiser 26-Oct-2018
Contrary to the belief that RSS is a patriarchal organisation, the functioning of Sevika Samiti and Sangh’s ideas about the feminine power demonstrate the just acknowledgement of women’s role
-Priti Gandhi
The year was 1936. Almost ten years after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was formed in 1925, Laxmibai Kelkar met Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar to discuss the idea of women participating in the RSS activities. She wished that women must contribute their bit towards nation building. Laxmibai’s son regularly attended the Shakha at Wardha, Maharashtra.
A decision was taken to establish an organisation that would enjoy the support and guidance from the Sangh. It was also affirmed that despite having the same ideological and visionary tilt, both organisations would function independently of each other. Thus, Rashtra Sevika Samiti was formed, a women’s only organisation actively involved in inculcating cultural and moral values along with patriotism. It was to be done by uniting women and channelising their skills and intellect for the benefit of our future generations and the nation.
False Narrative about Admittance
Being quite active on social media and a vocal supporter of the Sangh ideology, I am often asked, even mockingly at times, about why women don’t attend Sangh Shakhas and why RSS does not admit female members. It’s quite evident that this false narrative about gender discrimination in the RSS is being built and presented by the BJP’s political opponents who view the RSS as a colossal challenge that now stands firmly between them and the unaccounted, boundless power that they have enjoyed for several decades. There is no need for an explanation, but for those who are genuinely concerned about the stature of women in society and women empowerment, it is important to present few facts about the organisation and their founding principles.
Unlike the patriarchal image that is being portrayed, the RSS has a very clear view that women are the inspiring force not just for their families but also for the society and the nation. In his address to the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, RSS Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat had specifically mentioned that Bharat would not be able to achieve its full potential and pristine glory in the world unless ‘Matrushakti’ is given due respect and significance.
Bharat’s is one of the rare cultures in which worship of the feminine has prevailed. Our culture teaches us to worship Maha Lakshmi, Maha Saraswati and Maha Durga. Interestingly, as a mark of respect, we Hindus give the stature of mother to what we consider sacred, whether it is the pious Ganga, the Holy Cow and even our nation that we lovingly address as ‘Matrubhumi’.
Laxmibai Kelkar popularly called as Moushi ji
Woman is the inspiring force for the family and for the nation. So long as this force is not awakened, society cannot progress.”— Laxmibai Kelkar founder, Rashtra Sevika Samiti So where exactly did the question of patriarchy arise when every morning, at the break of dawn, lakhs of Swayamsevaks across thousands of Sangh Shakha begin their day by paying obeisance to Ma Bharati?
Sangh Against Patriarchy
RSS chose to enhance and channelise these two unique energies to provide maximum benefit to the society by giving them different responsibilities best suited to their abilities and expertise. In fact, their diverse roles are meant to complement, rather than contradict each other, where a man and a woman, in spite of their contrasting energies, co-exist in harmony and complete coordination, not just to bring up their own families but also to nurture a healthy eco-system so as to build the foundation of a strong society. Hence, it is important to understand, that for the RSS, which draws its inspiration from the Hindu way of life, both men and women have separate-but-equally-important roles even in nation-building.
With a strong belief that women are by no standards the weaker gender, the Rashtra Sevika Samiti trains their Sevikas not only in outdoor sports but also teaches them skills like horse riding and sword fighting, which help them develop physical capacity and are confidence-building exercises. The Samiti recognises and celebrates the inherent qualities of a woman—‘Matrutva,’ i.e. Universal Motherhood, ‘Kartrutva,’ i.e. Efficiency and Social Activism and ‘Netrutva,’ i.e. Leadership. An exemplary mother like Jijabai, a capable administrator like Ahilyabai Holkar and a brave, fearless leader like Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi are the role models of the Sevikas. It is with this strong 360° mindset that they actively participated in the ‘Quit India Movement’ in 1942 and also contributed their services during rescue efforts after the Bhopal gas tragedy and natural disasters like the Latur earthquake and Morbi floods. “Build the individual to build the nation” – is the motto that is the driving force of the Samiti. Living up to it, the Sevikas have committed themselves to various social service projects that include schools, libraries, computer training centres and orphanages. Currently, they have almost 475 fully operational service projects all over Bharat. These seva projects cover all aspects of service to humanity – from Swasthya (health) and Shiksha (education) to Seva (service), Sanskar (value-education) and Swavalamban (Self-reliance).
After earnestly and tirelessly working for more than 80 years, the Rashtra Sevika Samiti has grown to become the world’s largest Hindu women’s organisation working selflessly to uphold Bharatiya culture and traditions not just in India but also across 22 nations around the world. The Samiti currently operates in 5215 active shakhas. 875 centres conduct the Shakhas on a daily basis. Presently, the strength of the Samiti is almost 4 lakh members.
Today, the RSS and its affiliate, the Rashtra Sevika Samiti have built a strong, deep-rooted network of selfless nationalists, not just in India but across the world, and their number is only increasing. In spite of several attempts by their critics to malign their image, their conscious decision to remain low key and not publicise their work has made no difference to their growing popularity.
(The writer is National In-Charge of Social Media, BJP Mahila Morcha)
