and 87 students. So far as their educational background was concerned 306 were graduates, 240 matriculates, 29 illiterates, and the rest had elementary or secondary education. Question of ideology: Both the youth and student conferences finally settled the question of ideology. They unanimously adopted Marxism–Leninism as the guide to revolutionary practice. The respective national councils reached the decision in June 1972 in Hyderabad after prolonged discussions. This did not mean that the character of AIYF and AISF would be restricted as mass organisations. The AIYF would continue to attract and enroll common youths of factories, farms, universities, services, unemployed etc. They would be drawn into various spheres of sports, culture, physical training, entertainment, etc. At the same time attempts would be made to lead them into struggles on the specific demands. The youth would be educated and politicised in the theory of Marxism–Leninism after they joined. Sixth conference, 1979 The sixth conference of All India Youth Federation was held in Hyderabad from 15 to 17 May 1979. The conference gave a clarion call to the youth to fight the RSS seriously and to defend secularism and national unity. The dangerous growth of RSS was a serious threat to the nation in the wake of the formation of Janata Dal government in 1977. The RSS and its concept of Hindu Rashtra had acquired new aggressiveness. It penetrated into police, bureaucracy and government institutions. The conference called upon the youth to meet the RSS threat and to chalk out a programme of action on all India basis. Seventh conference, 1983 The seventh conference of the AIYF was held in Patna from 13 to 16 January 1983. AIYF decided to continue 'job or jail'campaign in a more militant manner by organising padayatras at all levels, with the main padayatras in a few selected centers. They were to cover villages throughout the country and were to culminate in Delhi March. About 1200 delegates attended the conference from all the states. It was great success. Fraternal delegates from 15 countries were also present. Eighth conference, 1985 The eighth conference of All India Youth Federation was held from 1 to 3 November 1985 in Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh 600 delegates attended it from all the states, also by foreign delegates from several countries. The venue of the conference was named after Sarada Mitra, the founder general secretary of AIYF. The hall in which the delegates session took