Ratan Sharda has been an RSS member since his childhood, holding responsibilities in the organisation from local to national level. He also worked as an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) member during the Emergency period of 1975-77 and was jailed when he was the General Secretary the College Students' Union. He has worked closely with a large number of RSS allied organisations, hence, enjoys a wide exposure to the working style of not only the RSS, but also of wider 'ideological parivar'. Sharda was a founder secretary of the Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra (Centre for International Studies), Mumbai for eight years. He advises many educational and social service organisations. He is a well-known TV panellist and public speaker. He has travelled widely in Bharat and in 26 countries overseas.
Dr Ratan Sharda has been awarded PhD for his research on RSS - Understanding RSS through its Resolutions, with focus on North East, Punjab & Jammu Kashmir. Born in Mumbai in December 1954, he graduated from St. Xavier's College Mumbai, and went on to complete his post- graduation from Mumbai University in 1982. Sharda also holds a Diploma in Textile Chemistry, and has had varied business experience.
He has written 11 books in English and Hindi, of which 7 are on RSS. He has translated 2 important books on Shri Guruji, second Sarsanghchaalak of RSS, by veteran RSS thinker Ranga Hari ji. He has edited/ designed 16 books. His trilogy - RSS360, Demystifying Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, RSS - Evolution from an Organisation to a Movement & Conflict Resolution - The RSS Way, is considered as the best introduction to RSS. His 'Sangh & Swaraj' is a well-researched concise document about RSS role during freedom struggle. His books have been translated in many Bharatiya languages.
At the book release function of the earlier version of RSS360 at the hands of Shri Nitin Gadkari in January 2011, I had said, "When I began writing this book, RSS was not in the centre of any controversy or news. Now, courtesy our friends like Raja Digvijay Singh and his cohorts RSS has become the prime time targeted as the inspiration to so called saffron terror. Suddenly it has become more urgent to crush this home-grown rag-tag terror than the internationally networked and well-funded Islamic supremacists whose declared goal is to dismember non-Muslim countries, establish rule of Islam, whatever the cost. Since, the times of earlier invaders we had people like Raja Mansingh who supported aggressors against nationalist fighters like Rana Pratap, Guru Gobind Singh, and Shivaji. We do not seem to learn from history." And as was expected, this fake narrative has failed at the doors of justice in courts. Hindu society has bounced back from self-doubt with new vigour since then.
I had also noted in the speech that the abiding code of conduct of RSS about not seeking publicity has been taken to extreme lengths when it has not been able to project its side well to the media and the people. Its firm belief is that its work at ground level and close social network will counter all negative propaganda. And I noted that I, however, believed that there is a genuine lack of information about RSS even for its well-wishers. Thus, was born this book. It is satisfactory to see a huge change in RSS approach to propagating its view point and responding to fake charges.
The sustained interest in RSS360 even after 15 years with multiple editions and reprints shows that people do want to understand RSS and know about RSS. I feel a sense of satisfaction when many people approach me to tell me that they became RSS swayamsevaks after reading my book This year will witness RSS completing 100 years of its existence with an unprecedented record of any Bharatiya organisation not just completing 100 years, but doing it successfully, without any splits, thriving and expanding its reach not just in pure organisational form but also reaching out to millions of more Bharatiyas with new organisations inspired by it and breaking new grounds. This has led me to add a new chapter on the latest ambitious movement a very ambitious programme of "Panch Parivartan - Five big changes in the Bharatiya society. It is a challenging task that the Sarsanghchaalak of RSS Shri Mohan Bhagwat ji has set before the RSS and allied organisations. But I am sure it will also succeed like all other projects of RSS.
The first edition of RSS360 degree went through three reprints within one hand half years. This period also saw a tectonic shift in Indian socio-political environment. Most of these changes that we see today can be considered a result of sustained work of RSS on various national issues through its opinion building exercise and work on the ground over years. The tenacity it exhibited in pursuing the subjects of national interest for years exhibits its organisational clarity and strength.
Recent changes are so fundamental that it would probably be impossible to go back to Nehruvian ecosystem and world view again. Bitter efforts are being made by entrenched interests to somehow maintain their stranglehold over public opinion and paint alternative - actually the dominant Indian view point today as destructive and antediluvian. But native wisdom of this ancient nation is not in a mood to fall for this falsehood now.
Issues like virtual abrogation of Article 370 and removal of 35(A), Citizens Amendment Bill (CAA) giving citizenship to our own brethren who are being persecuted by Islamic governments in the neighbourhood, building of Ram Temple, abolition of Triple Talaq - a step towards Uniform Civil Code, special focus to North East for its development and emotional integration with rest of India; have been the subjects dear to RSS. Highest number of resolutions passed since 1951 by RSS in its highest decision-making bodies have been on Jammu & Kashmir and North East. It has repeatedly requested simple and quicker citizenship for orphans of partition whose roots lay in our Dharmic traditions. It has been working on these issues since decades. Naturally, people in government closely associated with it have worked hard to bring about these changes.
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