HVK Archives: Training Camp for senior functionaries - Permanent Prashikshan
Training Camp for senior functionaries - Permanent Prashikshan - BJP Today
K. N. Govindacharya
()
16-30 September 1997
Title: Training Camp for senior functionaries - Permanent Prashikshan
Sansthan set up
Author: K. N. Govindacharya
Publication: BJP Today
Date: September 16-30, 1997
The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to set up a permanent Prashikshan
Sansthan (Training School) to impart comprehensive training to its
activists at various levels. The School is being set up with the objective
of enriching their capabilities as political workers, expanding their
knowledge base, deepening their ideological commitment and strengthening
their sense of idealism-in short, to improve the BJP workers' IQ
(Intelligence Quotient), EP (Emotional Quotient) and MQ (Moral Quotient).
This decision was a concrete outcome of the four day all-India Prashikshan
Shibir of senior party activists held at village Jhinjhouli near Delhi on
August 30-31 and September 1-2,1997. Although the BJP, and earlier the
Bharatiya Jana Sangh, has a long tradition of organising training camps for
its workers, this is the first time that the party has decided to give an
institutional framework to this important endeavour.
The Shibir was attended by 223 participants who form the highest-level of
Party functionaries at the centre and in the states. They included all
members of the National Executive, office-bearers of the Parliamentary
Board and senior functionaries of party's Yuva Morcha, Mahila Morcha, Kisan
Morcha. SC & ST Morcha and the Minorities Morcha. All the Chief Ministers
and Deputy Chef Ministers of the party (past and present)-Shri Bhairon
Singh Shekhawat, Shri Sahib Singh Verma, Shri Kalyan Singh, Shri Sundarlal
Patwa, Shri Gopinath Munde, Shri Harishankar Bhabra, Shri Suresh Mehta and
Dr Shanta Kumar-were present.
Shri L.K.Advani, President of the BJP, was the Shibir Pramukh and guided
all its proceedings. Besides delivering an inspiring inaugural address, he
also made a presentation on 'How the BJP should change its mindset from a
Party of the Opposition to a Party of Governance' in the penultimate
session. Senior leader and former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee
was present throughout the shibir, except when he had to attend the special
session of Parliament to mark the golden jubilee of India's independence.
He gave an illuminating valedictory speech. In an earlier session, he
delivered the keynote address at a session on 'Samajik Samarasata' (social
harmony).
There was lively discussion in all the 14 sessions in the Shibir, which
dealt with wide-ranging subjects such as 'The journey of the BJP from 1951
to 1997'; 'Swadeshi: Its meaning and relevance in the contemporary
context'. 'Current National Concerns'; 'Strengthening inner-party
discipline'; How to prepare for the mid-term parliamentary elections'; and
'How the state apparatus works, and how it should be reformed to achieve
the objective of Su-raj (good governance)'. Under the category of 'Current
National Concerns', four separate sessions were organised on Education,
Unemployment, Industry and Health.
One of the highlights of the Shibir was the margdarshan (guidance) provided
by Shri K.S. Sudarshan, Joint General Secretary of the RSS, who exhorted
leaders and workers of the BJP to strengthen their moorings in the
distinctive ideology and idealism of the party, even as the party continues
to expand and readies itself to shoulder the responsibilities of governance
at the Centre.
In his inaugural address, Shri Advani posed an important question: 'Why
should a political party bother about training for its workers?' and
answered it: 'Political power for the BJP is not an end in itself, but a
means to achieve a larger, higher goal. We wish to use the structures of
governance as powerful catalytic agents to empower the people and set the
country on an evolutionary path towards our chosen national objectives. We
are today the principal political party in the country. We are also in
power in a few states. The day is not far when the BJP would be in
commanding position of governance at the Centre, too. We in the BJP know
fully well, however, that without Good Governance (Su-raj), all the
cherished objectives of India's Swaraj will remain empty slogans of
high-sounding words and even our coming to power at the Centre or in the
States will have no meaning.
"History is placing onerous responsibilities on our party. Problems before
the nation and society are very complex. Today, politics has become a part
of the problem, rather than being a part of the solution. Before 1947,
India needed soldiers and generals ready to dedicate themselves to the
battle for Swaraj. Today, India needs soldiers and generals for the battle
for Su-raj. Indeed, pre-job training, on-job training, mid-career courses
for enrichment of knowledge and expertise are common terms in the military
as well as in other professions such as those of administrators, business
managers, teachers, etc. Politics seems to be the only profession where
the thinking is, that training and qualification are not needed. We,
however, are a Party with a difference. So let us pioneer a new effort in
Indian politics by setting up the BJP Prashikshan Sansthan."
In his valedictory address, Shri Vajpayee said the country was hungering
for stability at the Centre. "But the people do not want a stable
government at any cost - that is, even if it is unresponsive and corrupt.
They want stability combined with accountability. The BJP and its allies
alone can provide such a government. Therefore, our workers at all levels
must educate themselves constantly in various departments of political
work, in order to make themselves capable of good governance."
On all four days. participants began their day with a half-hour session on
Yoga, Meditation and Stress Management. The arrangements of the camp
combined simplicity with efficient functional facilities, thus making the
atmosphere conducive to informal interaction and camaraderie. The Shibir
began and concluded with the singing of Vande Mataram.
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