Did RSS ‘traffic’ tribal girls? An open letter to journalist Neha Dixit

Dear Neha Dixit,

Being a strong subscriber of the RSS ideology after carefully following their track record since years, I was extremely pained to read your 'Operation Beti Uthao' article in the Outlook magazine. If I request you to back your allegations with evidence to prove your point, would it be too much to ask? Or are we expected to accept your personal myopic opinion as the final verdict? I hope this humble counter is not dismissed by you as a troll attack, because it is not one.

When I researched your profile and blog to know more about the author of 'Operation Beti Uthao', I came across your blog post dated 29th March 2015, about a young Assamese labourer making a 1,000km journey back and forth as he awaited the verdict for his sister who was sold off as a child bride. In your article related to this news, you have highlighted the plight of young girls, mostly from Assam, who are tricked and trafficked in other parts of the country. You have also quoted a 2013 UNDOC study report to back your claims. I therefore conclude that you agree with the fact that the plight of minor girl in Assam is absolutely miserable. 

Prodding the issue further, I came across a report from Assam's Crime Investigation Department (released during a seminar on children's rights in October 2015), revealing that almost 5000 children in Assam have gone missing from 2012-2015, of whom approximately 3000 were girls. The usual suspects, child trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation were being stated as the main reasons. With these sorry details, it is now amply clear that minor girls in Assam are a disregarded lot. 

And now, some facts about the Rashtriya SwayamsevakSangh's (RSS) educational organisation, Vidya Bharati. With more than 13500 schools today, teaching approximately 31,50,000 students, Vidya Bharati is the largest non-government educational organisation in the country today, providing an education which develops not just the child's physical and social personality but also the emotional & spiritual well-being, helping make them all-rounders with a strong focus on nationalism.

Having said that, I have a few questions related to your article and I hope to get non-partisan answers:

• You have been hyperventilating about a (so called) hidden agenda to "Hinduise" (whatever that means!) children attending the RSS run educational institutions. Firstly, could you please define “Hinduise”? Also, have the terms “Islamise” or “Christianise” ever been used when talking about Madrassa’s and convent schools? Then why single out just one religion? 

• On one hand your article richly describes Sevika Samiti Pracharikas as "stellar reputation women" and an "image of empowerment" who have renounced materialistic and sexual aspects of life, and are associated with purity and spirituality and commit themselves for life to work in remote areas. On the other hand you have totally misconstrued their self-sacrificing intent to educate underprivileged children by using the word “revenge”. Why this misleading expression?

• Your report mentions the fact that Sewa Bharati is running close to 1.5 lakh welfare projects in India, focusing on the marginalised sections of society. It describes how medical camps and Bal Shivirs are organised in the remotest of villages, and gratis help is offered to those who wish to take it. You have also clearly explained how little girls who have previously trained with Seva Bharati are now safely back in their villages, empowered with education and a goal to make a positive difference to several other distressed lives. When positive results of positive deeds are out there for all to see, then shouldn't your fear mongering and baseless assumptions be questioned?

• Your article mentions that the state has failed to provide basic amenities to the people. It also talks about the repercussions of living and growing up in the conflict areas of Assam with incessant ethnic violence. Would it not be a better idea then, that “with the consent of their parents”, the children migrate to safer environments to be able to live and experience a normal childhood? Don’t they even deserve that much? What other practical option are you suggesting for them?

• You have specifically mentioned that instead of “Ba Ba Black Sheep, have you any wool?” the children are taught choral singing which fosters a sense of unity and poems like “Bharat Desh, Mera Desh, Meri Mata aur Pranesh, meri jaan, mere praan, Bharat Mata ko Qurbaan”. When, along with an all rounded education, these children are being taught folk songs and history, what then, is so suspicious about their intentions that you choose to call it “a quiet, subtle indoctrination”?

• What exactly is the issue? Is it the fact that class rooms at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir are named after freedom fighters and historic luminaries? Or is it the fact that CBSE board education provided at Vidya Bharati schools is free of cost for tribal children from North East India, irrespective whether the child is Hindu or Muslim?

• Have you heard of Sarfaraz Hussain, an Indian Muslim, who after having won several awards in Sanskrit Essay writing, has recently topped the state board exam from an RSS run-educational institution in Assam?

• Isn’t it strange that in spite of the Christian population in Assam growing substantially and Assam’s Muslim population having risen by 3.3% (Highest increase in the country, as per Census 2011) it is the RSS that is being accused of indulging in religious conversions?

• Last but the most important question. All your accusations can rest in peace after the parents of the girls have come forward before the media, claiming that they have themselves sent their daughters for a better education after due diligence. Then how does it amount to “Child trafficking”? Do you even understand the meaning and realise the gravity of the word “trafficking”? Does it even apply in this case?

In the end, I will only say that the goodwill that has been earned by the ever-expanding periphery of social work being done by the World’s largest NGO is not something that can be tarnished by baseless allegations. So for you, I can only hope that good sense prevails and you can recognise and learn to respect the gestures of service and virtue. Lastly, as a gesture of harmony with you, I will recite the mantra for peace, harmony and happiness that the children recite at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir, I am sure it will help! 

"ॐ द्यौः शान्तिरन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः 

पृथिवी शान्तिरापः शान्तिरोषधयः शान्तिः ।
वनस्पतयः शान्तिर्विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्तिः 
सर्वं शान्तिः  शान्तिरेव शान्तिः सा मा शान्तिरेधि ॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

No hard feelings!

Regards and Peace,

Priti Gandhi

 (The author is a member of the BJP Mahila Morcha National Executive).