Former model Milind Soman had been trending on Twitter after an excerpt from his memoir ‘Made In India’, which was made available online recently, revealed that he was a part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his childhood days.
A report in The Print revealed that Soman has stated in his book that he is ‘baffled’ by reading all the subversive, communal propaganda the media attributes to RSS shakhas.
He also added in his book that his childhood memories of what went on at the shakhas every evening are ‘completely different’.
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“When I read today all the subversive, communal propaganda the media attributes to RSS shakhas, I am frankly baffled. My memories of what happened at our shakha between 6 and 7 pm each weekday evening are completely different — we marched about in our khaki shorts, did some yoga, worked out in a traditional outdoor gymnasium with no fancy equipment, sang songs and chanted Sanskrit verses that we did not understand the meanings of, played games and had a bunch of fun with our fellows,” Soman said in his book.
The former actor also stated that being a part of an RSS shakha was ‘a very Shivaji Park thing’ for a young boy to do in those days.
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“Once again, it was all about location, location, location. The local shakha, or training centre, was at Shivaji Park itself, and Baba was a great believer in the benefits that would accrue to a young boy, in terms of disciplined living, physical fitness and right thinking, from being part of the junior cadres of the RSS. Also, it was just something many young boys in the neighbourhood did—a very Shivaji Park thing,” Soman added.
Soman also stated that his father, who had been a part of the RSS himself and was a proud Hindu.
“I didn’t see what there was to be proud about, but on the other hand, I didn’t see that there was much to complain about either,” he added.
On Tuesday, Soman stated on Twitter that he was trending for an experience he had undertaken when was a ten-year-old.
“Trending at 54 for an experience I had at the age of 10. Wish it was about swimming, which was at the same time!” he tweeted.