Caste Dynamics, Plight of Hindus in Bangladesh & Political Outreach: What RSS Will Discuss in Kerala Meet Starting Today

The plight of Hindus in Bangladesh, caste dynamics, and strategic course correction in social and political outreach will be central to discussions at the RSS and its affiliates’ three-day Samanvaya Baithak. The coordination meeting, set to begin on Saturday in Palakkad, Kerala, has brought together 32 Sangh-inspired and affiliated organisations, including its political front BJP.

A total of 230 representatives and 90 national-level Sangh office bearers, including national presidents, organisational secretaries, and senior leaders of the organisations, will participate in this landmark event, the first-of-its-kind in Kerala.

This year’s Samanvaya Baithak in Palakkad is pivotal for the RSS and its affiliates, including the BJP, for several reasons. As the largest coordination meeting of its kind, it comes at a critical juncture following electoral setbacks in key states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.

Spotlight on caste, Hindus in Bangladesh

The meeting’s spotlight is on caste issues, which have taken on new urgency. All affiliated groups have been tasked with presenting reports on emerging caste fault lines across states. This focus intensifies amid ongoing debates about a comprehensive caste census, and other caste related disparity in professional structures, especially in government jobs.

With caste issues emerging as a sensitive and significant national concern, and routinely raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the demand for a caste census gains momentum. Despite mounting pressure, the RSS continues to oppose the publication of caste data, as senior functionaries said release of caste data could deepen societal divisions.

The inclusion of the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh marks a significant shift from the RSS’s usual domestic focus. Senior RSS leaders are alarmed by the severe persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and plan to discuss strategies to support them. Many senior RSS functionaries have changed their social media profile picture to some symbolic photos supporting Bangladeshi Hindus. A senior RSS functionary said the inclusion of international concerns underscores the RSS’ broader commitment to Hindu communities beyond India’s borders.