NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday explained the purpose of ‘lathi-training’ given to its cadres. He said that the motive was to instill bravery in the cadres and the skill was not meant for public display.
The RSS does not train its cadres to use the ‘lathi’ or stick for fighting or public display, but because it instills bravery and teaches one to be steadfast, the saffron organisation’s chief said.
“A person who wields the lathi develops ‘veer vritthi’ (sense of bravery) and he is not afraid. The lathi training teaches steadfastness in crises and inspires one to walk on the path with resolve, patience and unwavering strength,” he added.
Speaking at the ‘Swar Shatak Malwa’ programme in Indore, Bhagwat said that Sangh volunteers, driven by patriotism, have created traditional tunes and martial music using various instruments.
The aim of this effort, he explained, was to ensure that the country is not deprived of the artistic traditions found around the world.
“Listening to Indian music redeems a person from worldly attractions and develops a tendency to do good deeds, which brings joy in abundance. Indian music and traditional music teaches harmony and discipline and co-existence,” he said.
This comes days after Bhagwat received dissent from seers over his mandir-masjid comment where he had cautioned against ‘an unacceptable trend of wannabe Hindu leaders raking up temple-mosque disputes at various sites’.
“When the subject of religion arises, it is for religious gurus to decide. And whatever they decide will be accepted by Sangh and VHP,” AKSS general secretary Swami Jitendranand Saraswati had said.
