‘Namamo Vayam Matrubhu Punya Bhustwam…’ This is the prayer of Rashta Sevika Samiti that says we are ready to sacrifice our lives for the nation and remain loyal. The first Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, had advised Laxmibai Kelkar to have a separate, autonomous and independent organisation. According to him, both groups were ideologically identical. Dr Hedgewar had promised Kelkar support and guidance. Laxmibai Kelkar, popularly known as Mavshi Kelkar, took the organisation ahead, giving a separate identity to it. The Samiti came into being in 1936 and has kept growing since then. By the time Mavshi Kelkar passed away in 1978, the Samiti had covered most states. Tai Apte took charge as Pramukh Sanchalika, who steered the organisation with a view to expand and bring more women into its ambit. Around the same time Ranima Gaidinlu, noted revolutionary leader of Nagaland came into contact with Rashtra Sevika Samiti.

 

She was impressed by the work of Samiti. She felt that Samiti should go to Nagaland and take efforts to educate girls in Nagaland. One more girl from Nagaland had come to Nagpur who did her master's in Physical Education. She insisted that the girls of Nagaland should be adopted by Samiti. Considering the rising demand, the then Pramukh Karyawahika Pramiltai Medhe visited the Northeastern states. She realised that girls from Purvanchal needed proper education. Accordingly, Chhatravas was started at Nagpur’s Devi Ahalya Mandir in 1984. From 1987 the girls from North Eastern states started coming to Nagpur. These girls not only got shelter at Devi Ahalya Mandir but also Samiti took the responsibility of their education.

 

For the last 40 years the work of Chhatravas is going on. These girls take complete education and then go to their states. Earlier the girls from Nagaland used to come. Now, the girls from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura come to Nagpur. This year there are 38 girls. There are some girls who went to their respective states after completing education and established Chhatrawas. They remained affiliated to Samiti. This way, Samiti connected the organisation to Purvanchal. It is said that Samiti made the first entry, and then the other units of the RSS Parivar started their work in the Northeastern states.