Conviction...

A question that we ask many a time within our own circles is: how do we instil conviction of the organisational mission within our Swayamsevaks? One method I have been experimenting with, is providing inspiration in the form of stories about great people. Simple graphic novels with morals behind them, such as Amar Chitra Katha, small books such as the Bharat Bharti series (Available from Hindu Sahitya Kendra) and full blown biographies are all sources of inspirational stories on great people such as Guruji, Jijabai, Shivaji Maharaj, Swami Vivekanada. These great people lived in a way befitting an example of our mission, and exposing swayamsevaks to their experiences and deeds is bound to inspire a deep conviction. Baudhiks at Shakha are a good platform for telling of such stories, role playing stories and doing anything else creative that provides the underlying message of the lives these great people lived. As members of Sangh, we too have a responsibility to be a living example of our mission. We cannot afford to have separate lives, for example, one at Shakha where we do not swear or mess around and are generally beacons of society, and one outside Shakha, where we act in a completely different manner altogether. We must act in a way that 50 years from now shikshaks will look back on our lives to draw inspiration for their students. If we do not, shikshaks will forever be referring to the likes of Shivaji Maharaj. Though his story is immensely inspirational to us, young swayamsevaks are slowly losing the ability to relate to someone from such a different time. We need people leading by example today, not just at Shakha, but 24/7.