Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) (Hindi: अखिल भारतीय विद्यार्थी परिषद), is an all India student organization working in the field of education. Founded in 1948 and formally registered on July 9, 1949, ABVP is the largest student organization in the world. ABVP drew its inspiration from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.History
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is an all India student organization, working in the field of education with the wider perspective of National Reconstruction. ABVP works with a faith in the collective existence of the educational community, a firm belief in constructive work and a nationalist approach which stays above partisan politics.
ABVP was started soon after Independence with the objective of channelizing student's energies in the task of national reconstruction by a group of students andteachers who drew their inspiration from the RSS, the premier Hindu nationalist organization of the country.Its growth process was slow and sporadic in the first few years but it picked up after Prof. Yeshwantrao Kelkar, a lecturer in Bombay, became its main organizer in 1958. As a consequence of singe-minded devotion of Prof. Kelkar, who passionately tried to build up this organization till his death in 1987, the ABVP is what it is today. Today ABVP is the largest student organization in India. During the International Youth Year 1985, ABVP took the initiative of launching the World Organization of Students and Youth (WOSY), the first international student and youth body with India as headquarters. ABVP is known to have conducted many programs to bring awareness about rights and responsibilities among the poor and less fortunate in remote areas of India.
Independence brought in its wake the challenges of reconstruction. The genius of the country has rusted through hundreds of years of foreign rule. It was imperative, therefore that the society re-oraganised itself in all its fields, each member doing doing his bit in his own field. AS the recoganisation and reconstruction of each field would ultimately result in to national reconstruction, the Parishad chose the field of education its field of activity
Founded in 1949 in Delhi the Prishad has gradually spread its work into all the University areas of our country The Parishad has successfully led the students in the different part of the country, in their struggles and agitations for their rightful demands and against corrupt and inefficient authorities. It is a force to be reckoned with in the student world today. The parishad’s record in the national emergencies is also worthy to be proud of its participation and selfless devotion in the various State Civil Defence Committee and Youths and Students leadership programmes have been applauded by the officials and the people.
The manifold activities conducted by the Parishad include projects and prorammes aimed at national integration and social consciousness programmes to solve the economic and other problems of the students and programs to encourage the hidden talent of students, with a view to bringing the best out of everyone. Thus Parishad conducts Book Bank, Students Vacation Employment, First class First Felicitation Functions, inter Collegiate and inter-University Music Competitions, Painting Competitions, Literary Competitions, Student – Writers Meet, Sports meet, Social Participation Camps, Personality Development Camps, Technical, Medical, Management, Agri Students Bureau, Study Circles and Art Circles, Student’s Experience in inter –State Living, My Home is India, Students for Development etc.
Parishad is of the view that the student today is not a citizen of tomorrow, But is very much a citizen of today. As such he is destined to play a participatory role in the national life of the country. In the extracting struggle for life, the student does not stand on a pedestal. Along with other sections of the society, he also suffers from the same socio-economic stresses and strains. His education thus is only a part of the prolonged struggle for life. The Parishad, therefore holds that this distinct, independent social class of educated young citizens has a significant part to play in the revolutionary process of social change. The Parishad also holds that his class if organized with a constructive approach, will grow into a potent force for social change, which would under take the responsibilities of reconstruction and at the same time fight and banish the forces of corruption and activities of anti social and antinational elements.
Publication
The official magazine Rashtriya Chhatrashakti is published monthly in Hindi from New Delhi.
