Modi's Mentors: Babubhai Oza, the other OBC luminary of RSS

Is the RSS Brahmin-dominated? In this chapter of his book Jyotipunj, Narendra Modi says it is not. He profiles the rise of Babubhai Oza, like Modi from an OBC family, to the post of Prantpracharak in the Gujarat RSS. Oza was the man who brought astronaut Sunita Williams’s father into the Sangh. It is usually thought of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh that it is the preserve of Brahmins. That there is no place in it for other castes. But this is totally untrue. If we observe the rise of the RSS in Gujarat, this becomes obvious. In the RSS, no discrimination - whether rooted in caste or economic class - is visible. No so-called upper caste is acknowledged in it, nor is any ’low-caste’ discouraged.. Every section is accommodated in the Sangh, though this isn’t advertised, which gives mischief-makers the opportunity to spread their lies. But the truth cannot be changed. Shri Babubhai Oza was for years in the senior-most position in the Gujarat RSS. Because of his last name (AP: Ozas are a Brahmin community in Gujarat) and the fact of his position in the RSS, it was assumed by others that he was a Brahmin. But since the RSS did not acknowledge caste, this was not taken seriously. Babubhai was born in northern Gujarat’s Mehsana district to an ordinary prajapati (AP: The caste of potters) family. He lost his father early. Everyone in the family worked in the traditional occupation of shaping things with clay. Touched by the RSS in his childhood, Babubhai was influenced in another direction. He turned to education. He was persevering by nature, and his family situation never stopped him from his ambitions. He studied to become an engineer, working in the Sangh all along. He then became the first person in his family to study in the United States. He got his Master’s from the University of Illinois. [caption id=“attachment_1378941” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Babubhai Oza.[/caption] Here let’s look at another myth about the RSS - that only those with poor education gravitate towards it. The reality is different and Babubhai is proof. To have a Master’s degree from a US university five decades ago was a marvel, not just for Indians but also for Americans. The one question he would be asked there was: “How does your wife live with your parents in your absence?” Babubhai would explain to them: “In India, marriage is not the union of two individuals, but a social alliance of two families. The wife doesn’t just accept a husband, but his clan.” In the 1950-55 era, for someone to whom the prosperity of America was open, to reject this illusion and return to his motherland to serve her, was no small matter. But Babubhai did just this. The Sangh has a unique cultural attribute - the ability to look on all of society as a family. Babubhai showed this in his time in the US. At the university, he befriended a man from Laliyad village of Limbdi in Surendranagar district, called Kiransinh Jhala. Sadly, the young man died in an accident. Babubhai cremated him and sent his family the details. When he returned to India, Babubhai carried with him the urn containing Kiransinh’s remains, which he handed over to the young man’s father, Mobatsinh. Everyone was in tears. Instead of the strapping young man, his ashes had returned. From that day onwards, Babubhai was like family to the Jhalas. Another example will illuminate Babubhai’s character. The world-famous astronaut Sunita Williams’s father Dr Deepakbhai Pandya was in touch with Babubhai. The latter’s influence made Deepakbhai a good Swayamsevak and this was always acknowledged by him. Deepakbhai had lost his father and then his mother in childhood and at that time, Babubhai and another half-dozen Swayamsevaks took charge of him. Not just that, these young Swayamsevaks stayed with him for the first 24 hours, making all the funeral arrangements as family would. Memories of this brings tears to Deepakbhai’s life even today. Those who keep beating the drum of democracy in India never miss an opportunity to take a swipe at the RSS. Because of his affiliation with the Sangh, Babubhai had to leave his job in Ahmedabad Electricity Company and take up ordinary employment in Maharashtra. He chose to do this rather than give up the Sangh. On returning from the US, he got a senior job in Baroda’s Jyoti Ltd, owned by Nanubhai Amin, with whom Babubhai developed an excellent bond. In this position, he had every opportunity to become one of Baroda’s elites. An America-returned individual had the world open before him 40-50 years ago. But Babubhai chose to stay away from the glitter. He was focussed on his Sangh work, while ensuring that his responsibilities at Jyoti Ltd did not suffer. His possibilities with the company were endless. But he chose to retire at 58 and then dedicated the rest of his life to the RSS. Once he retired he went to every corner of Gujarat to spread the Sangh’s work. In this same period unfortunately, the Gujarat Prantpracharak Keshavrao Deshmukh, suddenly passed away. In the RSS, the Prantpracharak is the principal instrument of work and suddenly the state unit was bereft of its pillar. In these circumstances, for the first time, a married householder like Babubhai was chosen to the post. Despite his family responsibilities, Babubhai took on the task. He made the Sangh office his home, keeping in touch with family through the telephone and letters. Physically, he did everything possible towards his Sangh responsibility. With this self-sacrificing attitude, this care and concern for even the smallest detail, he immersed himself into the Sangh, taking no care of himself or his health. He worked through illnesses minor and major, and in fact hid them so that colleagues would not worry about him. He died, working to the last, leaving behind the fragrance of his affectionate nature and indomitable will to serve, for many RSS workers.