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RSS-linked institution gets Mumbai University affiliation

The RMP, headed by RSS' All India Sampark Pramukh Anirudh Deshpande, is now a Mumbai University recognised centre for research

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The RSS-affiliated Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP), a base for the socio-political activities of several RSS and BJP leaders since its inception in 1982, is now a recognised research institute affiliated to the University of Mumbai.

Though leadership training programmes for elected representatives and activists, awareness campaigns and socio-economic research have been its core area, RMP, which operates from the outskirts of Mumbai, will now be able to offer courses like PhD and MA in political science.

Those graduating will get degrees from the University of Mumbai, whose Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sanjay Deshmukh, worked as RMP's research director from 2003 to 2007.

With a total of 20 seats in MA and PhD, the centre has also roped in two research guides – Dr Swati Pitale from Shailendra Education Society's Arts, Commerce and Science College (Dahisar) and Dr Mahesh Bhagwat from Mithibai College (Vile Parle) have been listed as research guides for international relations and public administration respectively.

This is the first time that it has applied for affiliation from the 160-year old prestigious University.

It is very rare for the university to recognise such a politically leaning centre, say experts. Prakash Bal Joshi, senior journalist, says, "University Grants Commission allows universities to recognise non-traditional institutes as research centres. However, centres offering religious teaching are prohibited from such linkages. Had BJP government not been at the Centre and the state, Rambhau Mhalgi Porbodhini would have never got affiliation from such a prestigious university."

Congress legislator Sanjay Dutt calls it as 'saffronisation of education'. "While the state government has done nothing to improve the educational standards of the varsities, saffronisation of education as per the RSS agenda becomes top agenda of chief minister. This is condemnable."

RMP is headed by Anirudh Deshpande, RSS All India Sampark Pramukh, while the vice chairman is BJP's national vice president and MP Vinay Sahastrabuddhe. Besides, Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde and several BJP MLAs are on the board of the organisation.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is also associated with it, claims the RMP website.

The late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan had been at the helm of RMP for 16 years as chairman and nurtured it like his own baby, recalled a senior BJP leader. The late Gopinath Munde was also chairman till his demise.

Next steps

"We have been doing research work for many years now… it's just that we have got affiliation from Mumbai University now. Our MA course is also research based," said Govind Ambadekar, RMP's chief manager, administration. With the MU recognition, more interdisciplinary research work would be taken up.

According to the organisation's website, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay had conceived the idea of an academy for socio-political activists. "However, before Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay could translate this vision into reality, he was brutally murdered. Then Panditji, Rambhau Mhalgi, a prominent political figure from Maharashtra, made it his responsibility to materialize this idea," states the RMP website.

"Apart from training elected representatives, activists, civil servants and journalists, RMP also provides conference and accommodation facilities to corporate houses," it says.

While the affiliation of an RSS affiliated institution is being widely seen as a political one, Mumbai University registrar M.A. Khan said, "Affiliation to RMP is given as per the University procedure. Nothing wrong about it."

Khan also clarified that the affiliation had been given only for the research course, not for the MA.

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