From teacher's pet to 'bully' on campus: ABVP and its relationship with BJP

Despite being the BJP's older sibling, the ABVP's relationship with the Sangh's political progeny is peculiar

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP’s) charter of aims and purposes is clear that students’ power should be treated as “the nation’s power and not a nuisance” to be frittered away on turbulent varsity conflicts and “politicking”. Ideally, it is an “asset” that should be funnelled into playing a “leading role in public education, public service...while confronting corruption and anti-national attributes with fervent pride...” 

Founded as the student front of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1949 by Yashwantrao Kelkar, a Sangh pracharak and literature professor from Mumbai, the ABVP predates the birth of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (the precursor