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RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh,abbreviatedasRSS(Rst ryaSvayamsvaka
SaghaIPA:[r rij()swjmsevks] ,lit."NationalVolunteer RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh
Organisation"[12]or"NationalPatrioticOrganisation"[13]),isarightwing, [1]
Hindunationalist, [5]paramilitary[4]volunteerorganisationinIndiathatis
widelyregardedastheparentorganisationoftherulingpartyofIndia,the
BharatiyaJanataParty. [14]
Foundedon27September1925,theorganisationisanongovernmental
organisation, [15]theworld'slargestsuch,andclaimsacommitmentofselfless
servicetoIndia. [16]Theinitialimpetuswastoprovidecharactertraining
throughHindudisciplineandtounitetheHinducommunitytoformaHindu
Rashtra(Hindunation). [17][18]Theorganisationcarriestheidealofupholding
Indiancultureandcivilizationalvalues. [19]Itdrewinitialinspirationfrom
EuropeanrightwinggroupsduringWorldWarII. [18]GraduallyRSSgrewinto
aprominentHindunationalistumbrellaorganisation,spawningseveralaffiliated Abbreviation RSS
organisationsthatestablishednumerousschools,charitiesandclubstospreadits
Formation 27September1925
ideologicalbeliefs. [18]
Founder KeshavBaliramHedgewar
TheRSSwasbannedonceduringBritishrule, [18]andthenthricebythepost Type Rightwingvolunteer,[1]
independenceIndiangovernmentfirstin1948whenaformerRSS
paramilitary[2][3][4][5][6]
member[20]assassinatedMahatmaGandhi[18][21][22]thenduringthe
emergency(197577)andforathirdtimeafterthedemolitionofBabriMasjid Legalstatus Active
in1992. Purpose AdvocatingHindunationalism [7]
Headquarters Nagpur,Maharashtra,India
History
Founding
RSSwasfoundedin1925byKeshavBaliramHedgewar,adoctorinthecityofNagpur,British
India. [23]Hehadbeenchargedwithseditionin1921bytheBritishAdministrationandwas
imprisonedforoneyear. [24]
Hedgewarwaseducatedbyhiselderbrother.HethendecidedtostudymedicineinCalcutta,West
Bengal.HewassenttherebyB.S.Moonjein1910topursuehismedicalstudies.Therehelived
withShyamSundarChakravarthy[25]andlearnedthetechniquesoffightingfromsecret
revolutionaryorganisationsliketheAnushilanSamitiandJugantarinBengal.Heissaidtohave
joinedAnushilanSamitiandhehadcontactswithrevolutionarieslikeRamPrasadBismil. [26]
Previouslyhewasinvolvedinsuchtypeofrevolutionaryactivities,afactdisclosedbywriters
suchasviz.C.P.Bhishikar, [27]M.S.Golwalkar, [28]K.S.Sudarshan[29]andRakeshSinha. [30]
Aftercompletinghisstudiesandgraduating,hereturnedtoNagpur,inspiredbythearmed KeshavBaliramHedgewar
movement.Inhismemoirs,thethirdchiefofRSS,BalasahabDeorasnarratesanincidentwhen
HedgewarsavedhimandothersfromfollowingthepathofBhagatSinghandhiscomrades. [31]
Laterhelefttherevolutionaryorganisationsintheyear1925andformedtheRashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh.
SinceHedgewarwasprimarilyassociatedwiththeHindustanRepublicanAssociation,headoptedthefullconstitutionoferstwhile
HRAandimplementeditforciblyinhisnewlyestablishedorganisationRSSlateron.TheRSSfirstmetin1925justaftertwo
monthsofKakoritrainrobberyinasmallgroundofNagpurwith56personsonVijayaDashami.Aftertheformationofthe
RSS,Hedgewarkepttheorganisationawayfromhavinganydirectaffiliationtoanyofthepoliticalorganisationsthenfighting
Britishrule. [33]ButHedgewarandhisteamofvolunteers,tookpartintheIndianNationalCongress,ledmovementsagainstthe
Britishrule.HedgewarwasarrestedintheJungleSatyagrahaagitationin1931andservedasecondterminprison. [34][35][36]
WorldWarII
DuringWorldWarIIRSSleadersopenlyadmiredAdolfHitler. [18][37]MadhavSadashiv
Golwalkar,whobecamethesupremeleaderoftheRSSafterHedgewar,drewinspiration
fromAdolfHitler'sideologyofracepurity. [38]RSSleadersweresupportiveofthe
JewishStateofIsrael,includingSavarkarhimself,whosupportedIsraelduringits
formation. [39]GolwalkaradmiredJewsformaintainingtheir"religion,cultureand
language". [40]
IndianIndependenceMovement
TheRSS,whichportraysitselfasasocialmovement,stayedawayfromtheIndian Araregroupphotoofsixinitial
independencemovementanddidnotengageinanyformofresistanceagainstthecolonial swayamsevakstakenontheoccasionof
BritishGovernment.ItalsorejectedGandhi'swillingnesstocooperatewiththe aRSSmeetingheldin1939[32]
Muslims. [41][42]
Afterfoundingtheorganisation,K.B.HedgewarstartedthetraditionofkeepingtheRSSawayfromtheIndianIndependence
movement.AnypoliticalactivitythatcouldbeconstruedasbeingantiBritishwascarefullyavoided.AccordingtotheRSS
biographerC.P.Bhishikar,HedgewaronlytalkedaboutHinduorganisationavoidinganydirectcommentontheGovernment. [43]
The"IndependenceDay"announcedbytheIndianNationalCongressfor26January1930wascelebratedbytheRSSonlythat
yearandsubsequentlyavoided.TheTricoloroftheIndiannationalmovementwasshunned. [44][45][46][47]Hedgewarpersonally
participatedinthe'Satyagraha'launchedbyGandhiinApril1930,buthedidnotgettheRSSinvolvedinthemovement.Hesent
informationeverywherethattheSanghwouldnotparticipateintheSatyagraha.Howeverthosewishingtoparticipateindividually
initwerenotprohibited. [48][49]In1934,CongresspassedaresolutionprohibitingitsmembersfromjoiningRSS,Hindu
MahasabhaortheMuslimLeague. [44]
M.S.Golwalkar,whobecametheleaderoftheRSSin1940,continuedandfurtherstrengthenedthe
isolationfromtheindependencemovement.Inhisview,theRSShadpledgedtoachievefreedomthrough
"defendingreligionandculture"andnotbyfightingtheBritish. [50][51][52]Golwalkarevenlamentedthe
antiBritishnationalism,callingita"reactionaryview"thathaddisastrouseffectsupontheentirecourseof
thefreedomstruggle. [53][54]ItisbelievedthatGolwalkardidnotwanttogivetheBritishanyexcusetoban
theRSS.HecompliedwithallthestricturesimposedbytheGovernmentduringtheSecondWorldWar,
evenannouncingtheterminationoftheRSSmilitarydepartment. [55][56]TheBritishGovernmentstated
thattheRSSwasnotatallsupportinganycivildisobedienceagainstthem,andassuchtheirotherpolitical
activitiescanbeoverlooked.TheBritishHomeDepartmenttooknoteofthefactthatspeakersatSangh
meetingsurgeditsmemberstokeepalooffromtheantiBritishmovementsoftheIndianNational M.S.Golwalkar
Congress,whichwasdulyfollowed[57]TheHomeDepartmentwastherebyoftheopinionthattheRSSdid
notconstituteamenacetothelawandorderinBritishIndia. [55][56]TheBombaygovernment,inareport,appreciatedtheRSSby
notingthattheSanghhadscrupulouslykeptitselfwithinthelawandrefrainedfromtakingpartinthedisturbances(QuitIndia
Movement)thatbrokeoutinAugust1942. [58][59][60]ItalsoreportedthattheRSShadnot,inanyway,infringedgovernment
ordersandhadalwaysshownwillingnesstocomplywiththelaw.ThesameBombayGovernmentreportfurthernotedthatin
December1940itself,ordershadbeenissuedtotheprovincialRSSleaderstodesistfromanyactivitiesthattheBritish
Governmentconsideredobjectionable,andtheRSS,inturn,hadassuredtheBritishauthoritiesthat"ithadnointentionsof
offendingagainsttheordersoftheGovernment". [61][62]
M.S.GolwalkarlateropenlyadmittedtothefactthattheRSSdidnotparticipateintheQuitIndiaMovement.Golwalkarfurther
statedthatsuchastanceledtotheSanghbeingviewedasaninactiveorganization,whosetalkshadnosubstanceinreality. [50][63]
TheRSSneithersupportednorjoinedintheRoyalIndianNavyMutinyagainsttheBritishin1945. [42]
Activitiesduringpartition
ThePartitionofIndiaaffectedmillionsofSikhs,Hindus,andMuslimsattemptingtoescapetheviolenceandcarnagethat
followed. [64]NotedGandhianandrecipientofthehighestcivilianawardinIndia,BharatRatna,BhagwanDascommendedthe
roleofthe"highspiritedandselfsacrificingboys"oftheRSSinprotectingthenewlyformedRepublicofIndia,fromaplanned
couptotoppletheJawaharlalNehruAdministrationinDelhi. [65][66]
Firstban
ThefirstbanontheRSSwasimposedinPunjabProvince(BritishIndia)on24January1947byMalikKhizarHayatTiwana,the
premieroftherulingUnionistParty,apartywhichrepresentedtheinterestsofthelandedgentryandlandlordsofPunjab,which
includedMuslims,HindusandSikhs.AlongwiththeRSS,theMuslimNationalGuardwasalsobanned. [67][68]Thebanwas
liftedon28January1947. [67]
Secondbanandacquittal
FollowingMahatmaGandhi'sassassinationin1948byaformermember[22]oftheRSS,NathuramGodse,manyprominent
leadersoftheRSSwerearrestedandRSSasanorganisationwasbannedon4February1948.ACommissionofInquiryinto
ConspiracytothemurderofGandhiwassetanditsreportwaspublishedbyIndia'sMinistryofHomeAffairsintheyear1970.
Accordingly,JusticeKapurCommission[69]notedthatthe"RSSassuchwerenotresponsibleforthemurderofMahatmaGandhi,
meaningtherebythatonecouldnotnametheorganisationassuchasbeingresponsibleforthatmostdiabolicalcrime,themurder
oftheapostleofpeace.Ithasnotbeenprovedthatthey(theaccused)weremembersoftheRSS."[69]:165
RSSLeaderswereacquittedoftheconspiracychargebytheSupremeCourtofIndiaandfollowinganinterventionbytheCourt,
theIndianGovernmentagreedtoliftthebanwiththeconditionsthattheRSSpledgeitsloyaltytotheConstitutionofIndia,
accepttheTricolorastheNationalFlagofIndiaandadoptaformalwrittenconstitution,andmakeitpublic. [70]:42Thesecond
Sarsanghachalak,M.S.GolwalkardraftedtheconstitutionfortheRSSwhichhesenttotheGovernmentofIndiaon11April
1949.On11July1949,theGovernmentofIndialiftedthebanontheRSSbyissuingacommuniquestatingthatthedecisionto
liftthebanontheRSShadbeentakeninviewoftheRSSleaderGolwalkar'sundertakingtomakeloyaltytowardsthe
ConstitutionofIndia,andacceptanceandrespecttowardstheNationalFlagofIndiamoreexplicitintheConstitutionoftheRSS
whichwastobeworkedoutinademocraticmanner[23][70]
OppositiontotheNationalFlagofIndia
TheRashtriyaSwayamsevakSanghinitiallydidnotrecognizetheTricolorastheNationalFlagofIndia.TheRSSmouthpiece
Organiser,initsissuedated17July1947demanded,inaneditorialtitled"NationalFlag"thattheBhagwaDhwaj(SaffronFlag)
beadoptedastheNationalFlagofIndia. [71]AftertheTricolorwasadoptedastheNationalFlagofIndiabytheConstituent
AssemblyofIndiaon22July1947,theRSSmouthpieceOrganiserviciouslyattackedtheTricoloranddenigrateditsbeingchosen
astheNationalFlagofIndia.The14August1947issueoftheOrganiser,inanarticletitled"MysterybehindtheBhagwa
Dhwaj",stated
"ThepeoplewhohavecometopowerbythekickoffatemaygiveinourhandstheTricolorbutitneverbe
respectedandownedbyHindus.Thewordthreeisinitselfanevil,andaflaghavingthreecolourswillcertainly
produceaverybadpsychologicaleffectandisinjurioustoacountry"[72][73]
Further,M.S.Golwalkar,thesecondsarsanghchalakoftheRSS,inanessaytitled"DriftingandDrafting"publishedinhisbook
BunchofThoughts,lamentedthechoiceoftheTricolorastheNationalFlagofIndia,andcomparedittoanintellectual
vacuum/void.Inhiswords,
"Ourleadershavesetupanewflagforthecountry.Whydidtheydoso?Itjustisacaseofdriftingand
imitating...Oursisanancientandgreatnationwithagloriouspast.Then,hadwenoflagofourown?hadweno
nationalemblematallthesethousandsofyears?Undoubtedlywehad.Thenwhythisuttervoid,thisuttervacuum
inourminds"[74][75][76][77]
TheRSShoistedtheNationalFlagofIndiaatitsheadquartersinNagpur,on14August1947andonthe26thJanuary,1950and
stoppeddoingsosincethen. [78]Thisissuehadalwaysbeenasourceofcontroversy.In2001,threeactivistsofRashtrapremi
YuwaDalpresidentBabaMendhe,andmembersRameshKalambeandDilipChattanialongwithothersallegedlyenteredthe
RSSheadquartersinReshimbagh,Nagpuron26January,RepublicDayofIndiaandforciblyhoistedthenationalflagthereamid
patrioticslogans.TheycontendedthatRSShadneverbeforeorafterindependence,everhoistedthetricolourintheirpremises,
evenonIndependenceDayandRepublicDay.OffencesunderrelevantsectionofBombayPoliceActandIPCwereregisteredby
Policeagainstthetrio,resultingintheirbeingjailed.Theywerereleasedafter11yearsin2013. [79][80]Thearrestsandtheflag
hoistingissuestokedacontroversy,whichwasraisedintheParliamentaswell.In2002,subsequentlytheNationalFlagwas
raisedintheRSSheadquartersontheoccasionofRepublicDayforthefirsttime,after52years. [78]
OppositiontotheConstitutionofIndia
TheRashtriyaSwaysevakSanghinitiallydidnotrecognizetheConstitutionofIndiaandheavilycriticiseditinviewofthefact
thattheIndianConstitutionmadenomentionof"Manu'slaws"fromthecontroversialancientHindutextManusmriti,whichhad
beenaccusedofdenigratingthelowercastesanduntouchablesinIndia.WhentheConstituentAssemblyfinalizedtheConstitution
ofIndia,theRSSmouthpiece,Organiser,complainedinaneditorialdated30November1949that,
"Butinourconstitution,thereisnomentionofthatuniqueconstitutionaldevelopmentinancientBharat...Tothis
dayhislawsasenunciatedintheManusmritiexcitetheadmirationoftheworldandelicitspontaneousobedience
andconformity.Buttoourconstitutionalpunditsthatmeansnothing"[46]
TheRashtriyaSwayamsevakSanghdidnotstopitsunrelentingattacksonthisissue,andcriticisedB.R.Ambedkar'spublic
pronouncementsthatthenewIndianConstitutionwouldgiveequalitytoallcastes.On6February1950,theRSSmouthpiece
Organizercarriedanotherarticle,titled"ManuRulesourHearts"byaretiredHighCourtJudgeSankarSubbaAiyar,which
reaffirmedtheirsupportfortheManusmritiasthefinallawgivingauthorityforHindus,ratherthantheConstitutionofIndia.It
stated,
"EventhoughDr.AmbedkarisreportedtohaverecentlystatedinBombaythatthedaysofManuhaveendeditis
neverthelessafactthatthedailylivesofHindusareevenatpresentdayaffectedbytheprinciplesandinjunctions
containedintheManusmrithiandotherSmrithis.EvenanunorthodoxHindufeelshimselfboundatleastinsome
mattersbytherulescontainedintheSmrithisandhefeelspowerlesstogiveupaltogetherhisadherencetothem"[81]
TheRSS'oppositionto,andvitriolicattacksagainsttheConstitutionofIndiaanditsauthorB.R.Ambedkarcontinuedpost
independence,evenlongafterAmbedkar'sdeath.M.S.Golwalkar,thesecondSarsanghchalakoftheRSS,inhisbooktitled
BunchofThoughtsasserted,
"OurConstitutiontooisjustacumbersomeandheterogeneouspiecingtogetherofvariousarticlesfromvarious
ConstitutionsofWesterncountries.Ithasabsolutelynothing,whichcanbecalledourown.Isthereasinglewordof
referenceinitsguidingprinciplesastowhatournationalmissionisandwhatourkeynoteinlifeis?No!"[46][75]
DecolonisationofDadra,NagarHaveliandGoa
AftertheindependenceofIndia,RSSwasoneofthesociopoliticalorganisationswhosupportedandparticipatedinmovements
todecoloniseDadraandNagarHaveli,whichwasatthetimeruledbyPortugal.Inearly1954,volunteersRajaWakankarand
NanaKajrekaroftheRSSvisitedthearearoundaboutDadraandNagarHaveliandDamanseveraltimestostudythetopography
andalsotogetacquaintedwithlocalswhowantedtoswitchfrombeingaPortuguesecolonytobeinganIndianunionterritory.In
April1954,theRSSformedacoalitionwiththeNationalMovementLiberationOrganisation(NMLO),andtheAzadGomantak
Dal(AGD)fortheannexationofDadraandNagarHaveliintotheRepublicofIndia. [82]Onthenightof21July,Unitedfrontof
Goans,agroup,workingindependentlyofthecoalition,capturedthePortuguesepolicestationatDadraanddeclaredDadra
independent.Subsequently,on28July,volunteerteamsoftheRSSandAGDcapturedtheterritoriesofNaroliandPhipariaand
ultimatelythecapitalofSilvassa.ThePortugueseforceswhichescapedandmovedtowardsNagarHaveli,wereassaultedat
KhandvelandwereforcedtoretreatuntiltheysurrenderedtotheIndianborderpoliceatUdavaon11August1954.Anative
administrationwassetupwithAppasahebKarmalkarofNMLOastheAdministratorofDadraandNagarHavelion11August
1954. [82]
ThecaptureofDadraandNagarHaveligaveaboosttothemovementagainstPortuguesecolonialruleintheIndian
subcontinent. [82]In1955,RSSleadersdemandedtheendofPortugueseruleinGoaanditsintegrationintoIndia.WhenPrime
MinisterJawaharlalNehrurefusedtoprovideanarmedintervention,RSSleaderJagannathRaoJoshiledtheSatyagrahaagitation
straightintoGoa.HewasimprisonedwithhisfollowersbythePortuguesepolice.Thenonviolentprotestscontinuedbutmetwith
repression.On15August1955,thePortuguesepoliceopenedfireonthesatyagrahis,killingthirtyorsocivilians. [83]
Wartimeactivities
In1971BangladeshWarofIndependence,RSSvolunteersofferedtheirservicestomaintainlawandorderofthecountryand
wereapparentlythefirsttodonateblood. [84]
MovementagainsttheEmergency
In1975,theIndiraGandhigovernmentproclaimedemergencyruleinIndia,therebysuspendingthefundamentalrightsand
curtailingthefreedomofthepress. [85]ThisactionwastakenaftertheSupremeCourtofIndia,cancelledherelectiontothe
IndianParliamentonchargesofmalpracticesintheelection. [85]Democraticinstitutionsweresuspendedandprominentopposition
leadersincludingGandhianJayaprakashNarayan,werearrestedwhilstthousandsofpeopleweredetainedwithoutanyproper
chargestakenupagainstthem. [86]RSS,whichwasseenclosetooppositionleaders,andwithitslargeorganisationalbasewas
seentohavepotentialoforganisingprotestsagainstthegovernment,wasalsobanned. [87]
TheRSSdefiedthebanandthousandsparticipatedinSatyagrahaagainstthebanandagainsttheviolationofhumanrights
regulations.Later,whentherewasnoletup,thevolunteersoftheRSSformedundergroundmovementsfortherestorationof
democracy.Literaturethatwascensoredinthemediawasclandestinelypublishedanddistributedonalargescaleandfundswere
collectedforthemovement.Networkswereestablishedbetweenleadersofdifferentpoliticalpartiesinthejailandoutsideforthe
coordinationofthemovement. [88]Itsaidthatthemovementwas"dominatedbytensofthousandsofRSScadres,thoughmore
andmoreyoungrecruitsarecoming".Talkingaboutitsobjectivesitsaid"itsplatformatthemomenthasonlyoneplank:tobring
democracybacktoIndia". [89]TheEmergencywasliftedin1977andasaconsequencethebanontheRSSwasalsolifted.
Participationinlandreforms
IthasbeennotedthattheRSSvolunteersparticipatedintheBhoodanmovementorganisedbyGandhianleaderVinobhaBhave,
whohadmetRSSleaderGolwalkarinMeerutinNovember1951.Golwalkarhadbeeninspiredbythemovementthatencouraged
landreformsthroughvoluntarymeans.HepledgedthesupportoftheRSSforthismovement. [90]Consequently,manyRSS
volunteersledbyNanajiDeshmukhparticipatedinthemovement. [1]ButGolwalkarhasalsobeencriticaloftheBhoodan
movement,onotheroccasionsforbeingreactionaryandforworking"merelywithaviewtocounteractingCommunism".He
believedthatthemovementshouldinculcateafaithinthemassesthatcanmakethemriseabovethebaseappealof
communism. [91]
Structure
RSSdoesnothaveanyformalmembership.Accordingtotheofficialwebsite,anyonecanbecomememberbyjoiningthenearest
"shakha",whichisthebasicunit. [92]AlthoughtheRSSclaimsnottokeepmembershiprecords,itisestimatedtohave2.56.0
millionmembers. [93]Thenumberofshakhasstoodat51,335inAugust2015. [94]
Sarsanghchalaks
TheSarsanghchalakistheheadoftheRSSorganisationthepositionisdecidedthroughnominationbypredecessor.Untilasof
October2015,RSSleadershiphasalwaysbeenuppercaste,primarilyBrahmin. [95][96]Theindividualswhohaveheldthepostof
sarsanghchalakinthisorganisationare:
K.B.Hedgewar(19251930.19311940)
LaxmanVamanParanjpe(19301931)
M.S.Golwalkar(19401973)
MadhukarDattatrayaDeoras(19731993)
RajendraSingh(19932000)
K.S.Sudarshan(20002009)
MohanBhagwat(incumbentsince21March2009)
Shakha
"Shakha"isHindifor"branch".Mostofthe
organisationalworkoftheRSSisdonethroughthe
coordinationofshakhasorbranches.Theseshakhasare
runforonehourinpublicplaces.In2004,morethan
51,000shakhaswererunthroughoutIndia.Thenumber
ofShakashadfallenbyover10,000sincethefallofthe
BharatiyaJanataParty(BJP)ledgovernmentin2004.
However,thenumberofShakashasagainincreasedto
about40,000bymid2014afterthereturnofBJPto
powerinDelhiinthesameyear. [97][98][99]
SanghshakhaatNagpurheadquarter
Theshakhasconductvariousactivitiesforitsvolunteers
whichincludephysicalfitnessactivitiesthroughyoga,
exercisesandgames.Ithasotheractivitieswhichemphasizequalitieslikecivicsense,social
service,communitylivingandpatriotism. [100]Thevolunteersaretrainedinfirstaidandinrescue
andrehabilitationoperations.Thevolunteersarealsoencouragedtobecomeinvolvedinthe
developmentalactivitiesofthevillageorlocality. [100][101]
Mission
GolwalkardescribesthemissionoftheRashtriyaSwayamsevakSanghastherevitalisationofthe AnRSSvolunteertakingthe
Indianvaluesystembasedonuniversalismandpeaceandprosperitytoall. [91]Vasudhaiva oathinolduniform
Kutumbakam,theworldviewthatthewholeworldisonefamily,propoundedbytheancient
thinkersofIndia,isconsideredastheultimatemissionoftheorganisation. [102]
Buttheimmediatefocus,theleadersbelieve,isontheHindurenaissance,whichwouldbuildanegalitariansocietyandastrong
Indiathatcouldpropoundthisphilosophy.Hence,thefocusisonsocialreform,economicupliftmentofthedowntroddenandthe
protectionofculturaldiversityofthenativesinIndia. [102]Theorganisationsays,itaspirestouniteallHindusandbuildastrong
India,whichcouldcontributetothewelfareoftheworld.InthewordsofRSSideologueandthesecondheadoftheRSS,
Golwalkar,"inordertobeabletocontributeouruniqueknowledgetomankind,inordertobeabletoliveandstrivefortheunity
andwelfareoftheworld,westandbeforetheworldasaselfconfident,resurgentandmightynation". [91]
InVichardhara(ideology)GolwalkaraffirmstheRSSmissionofintegrationas:[91]
RSShasbeenmakingdeterminedeffortstoinculcateinourpeopletheburningdevotionforBharatanditsnational
ethoskindleinthemthespiritofdedicationandsterlingqualitiesandcharacterrousesocialconsciousness,mutual
goodwill,loveandcooperationamongthemalltomakethemrealisethatcasts,creedsandlanguagesare
secondaryandthatservicetothenationisthesupremeendandtomoldtheirbehaviouraccordinglyinstillinthem
asenseoftruehumilityanddisciplineandtraintheirbodiestobestrongandrobustsoastoshoulderanysocial
responsibilityandthustocreateallroundAnushasanainallwalksoflifeandbuildtogetherallourpeopleintoa
unifiedharmoniousnationalwhole,extendingfromHimalayastoKanyakumari.
M.S.Golwalkar
GolwalkaralsoexplainsthatRSSdoesnotintendtocompeteinelectioneeringpoliticsorsharepower.Themovementconsiders
HindusasinclusiveofSikhs,Jains,Buddhists,tribals,untouchables,Veerashaivism,AryaSamaj,RamakrishnaMissionandother.
asacommunity,aviewsimilartoinclusivereferencingofthetermHinduintheIndianConstitutionArticle25(2)
(b). [103][104][105]
WhenitcametononHindureligions,Golwalkar's(whooncesupportedHitler'screationofasupremeracebysuppressionof
minorities)[106]viewonminoritieswasthatofextremeintolerance.Inamagazinearticlein1998someRSS,andBJPmembers
havebeensaidtohavedistancedthemselvesfromM.SGolwalkar'sviewsthoughnotentirely. [107]
ThenonHindupeopleofHindustanmusteitheradoptHinducultureandlanguages,mustlearnandrespectandhold
inreverencetheHindureligion,mustentertainnoideabutofthoseofglorificationoftheHinduraceand
culture...inawordtheymustceasetobeforeignersOrmaystayinthecountry,whollysubordinatedtotheHindu
nation,claimingnothing,deservingnoprivileges,farlessanypreferentialtreatmentnotevencitizens'rights
M.S.Golwalkar[108]
Affiliatedorganisations
OrganisationswhichareinspiredbytheRashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh'sideologyreferthemselvesasthemembersoftheSangh
Parivar. [93]Inmostofthecases,pracharaks(fulltimevolunteersoftheRSS)weredeputedtostartupandmanagethese
organisationsintheirinitialyears.
Theaffiliatedorganisationsinclude:[109]
BharatiyaJanataParty(BJP),literally,IndianPeople'sParty(23m)[110]
BharatiyaKisanSangh,literally,IndianFarmers'Association(8m)[110]
BharatiyaMazdoorSangh,literally,IndianLabourAssociation(10millionason2009)[110]
SevaBharti,Organisationforserviceoftheneedy.
RashtraSevikaSamiti,literally,NationalVolunteerAssociationforWomen(1.8m)[110]
AkhilBharatiyaVidyarthiParishad,literally,AllIndiaStudents'Forum(2.8m)[110]
ShikshaBharati(2.1m)[110]
VishwaHinduParishad,WorldHinduCouncil(2.8m)[110]
HinduSwayamsevakSangh,literally,HinduVolunteerAssociationoverseaswing
SwadeshiJagaranManch,NativistAwakeningFront[111]
SaraswatiShishuMandir,Nursery
VidyaBharati,EducationalInstitutes
VanavasiKalyanAshram,Organisationsfortheimprovementoftribals,andFriendsofTribalsSociety
MuslimRashtriyaManch,OrganisationfortheimprovementofMuslims
BajrangDal,ArmyofHanuman(2m)
AnusuchitJatiJamatiArakshanBachaoParishad,OrganisationfortheimprovementofDalits
LaghuUdyogBharati,anextensivenetworkofsmallindustries. [112][113]
BharatiyaVicharaKendra,ThinkTank.
VishwaSamvadKendra,CommunicationWing,spreadalloverIndiaformediarelatedwork,havingateamofIT
professionals(samvada.org(http://samvada.org/))
RashtriyaSikhSangat,asocioculturalorganisationwiththeaimtospreadtheknowledgeofGurbanitotheIndian
society. [114]
VivekanandaKendra,promotionofSwamiVivekananda'sideaswithVivekanandaInternationalFoundationinNewDelhi
asapublicpolicythinktankwith6Centresofstudy
OtherHinduorganisationsarealsoinspiredfromRSS'sphilosophy.
RSShasneverdirectlycontestedelections,butsupportspartiesthatareideologicallysimilar.AlthoughRSSgenerallyendorses
theBharatiyaJanataParty(BJP),itattimesrefusedtodosoduetodifferenceofopinionwiththeparty.RSSisopentosupport
anypoliticalpartythatsubscribestoitsviews. [115][116]
ThevolunteersoftheRSShavealsoheldprominentpoliticalandadministrativepositionsinIndiaincludingthePrimeMinisterof
India,theVicePresidentofIndia,theHomeMinisterandMinistersintheCentralGovernment,GovernorsandChiefMinistersof
variousstatesandthemembersofelectedbodiesatthestateandthenationallevelandtheIndianambassadortothe
US. [117][118][119]
Socialserviceandreform
TheRSShasadvocatedthetrainingofDalitsandotherbackwardclassesastemplehighpriests(apositiontraditionallyreserved
forCasteBrahminsanddeniedtolowercastes).TheyarguethatthesocialdivisivenessoftheCastesystemisresponsibleforthe
lackofadherencetoHinduvaluesandtraditionsandreachingouttothelowercastesinthismannerwillbearemedytothe
problem. [120]TheRSShasalsocondemned"uppercaste"HindusforpreventingDalitsfromworshippingattemples,sayingthat
"evenGodwilldesertthetempleinwhichDalitscannotenter". [121]
ChristopheJaffrelotsaidthat"thereisinsufficientdataavailabletocarryoutastatisticalanalysisofsocialoriginsoftheearly
RSSleaders"butgoesontoconclude,basedonsomeknownprofilesthatmostoftheRSSfoundersanditsleadingorganisers,
withexceptionswereMaharashtrianBrahminsfrommiddleorlowerclass[122]andarguesthatthepervasivenessofthe
Brahminicalethicintheorganisationwasprobablythemainreasonwhyitfailedtoattractsupportfromthelowcastes.Heargues
thatthe"RSSresortedtoinstrumentalisttechniquesofethnoreligiousmobilisationinwhichitsBrahminismwasdilutedto
overcomethishandicap". [123]HoweverAndersonandDamle(1987)findthatmembersofallcasteshavebeenwelcomedintothe
organisationandaretreatedasequals. [1]
DuringMahatmaGandhi'svisittoRSSCampaccompaniedbyMahadevDesaiandMirabehnatWardhain1934,hesaid,"WhenI
visitedtheRSSCamp,Iwasverymuchsurprisedbyyourdisciplineandabsenceofuntouchablity."Hepersonallyinquiredto
Swayamsevaksandfoundthattheywerelivingandeatingtogetherinthecampwithoutbotheringtoknowtheircastes. [124]
ItisnotedthatRSSprovideseducationtothepeopleofruralIndiaandsociallybackwardclasseslivingunderthepoverty. [125]
Reliefandrehabilitation
TheRSSwasinstrumentalinreliefeffortsafterthe1971OrissaCyclone,1977AndhraPradeshCyclone[126]andinthe1984
Bhopaldisaster. [127][128]Itassistedinreliefeffortsduringthe2001Gujaratearthquake,andhelpedrebuildvillages. [126][129]
Approximately35,000RSSmembersinuniformwereengagedinthereliefefforts, [130]andmanyoftheircriticsacknowledged
theirrole. [131]AnRSSaffiliatedNGO,SevaBharati,conductedreliefoperationsintheaftermathofthe2004IndianOcean
earthquake.Activitiesincludedbuildingsheltersforthevictimsandprovidingfood,clothesandmedicalnecessities. [132]TheRSS
assistedreliefeffortsduringthe2004SumatraAndamanearthquakeandthesubsequenttsunami. [133]SevaBharatialsoadopted
57children(38Muslimsand19Hindus)frommilitancyaffectedareasofJammuandKashmirtoprovidethemeducationatleast
uptoHigherSecondarylevel. [134][135]TheyalsotookcareofvictimsoftheKargilWarof1999. [136]
In2006,RSSparticipatedinreliefeffortstoprovidebasicnecessitiessuchasfood,milk,andpotablewatertothepeopleof
Surat,Gujaratwhowereaffectedbyfloodsintheregion. [137]TheRSSvolunteerscarriedoutreliefandrehabilitationworkafter
thefloodsaffectedNorthKarnatakaandsomedistrictsofthestateofAndhraPradesh. [138]In2013,followingtheUttarakhand
floods,RSSvolunteerswereinvolvedinfloodreliefworksthroughitsofficessetupataffectedareas. [139][140]
CourtrulingsonRSS
'TheHindu'andothersvs.RSS
ThecaserevolvedaroundtheRSSsuitfordefamationbypublicationofstatementsinTheHinduattributedtoveterancongress
leaderArjunSingh[141]that"..theRSS,isanorganizationbeingresponsibleforthekillingofFatheroftheNationMahatma
Gandhi...OurfirstdutyisthatthefascistforcesoftheRSSshouldbedetected.Today,Governmentadministrationisingripof
theRSS,wehavetocleanseit."Initsjudgmentdated7May2012,thePunjabandHaryanaHighCourtclearedthepublishersand
heldthat,undertheprotectionavailableintheArticle19(1)(a)oftheConstitutionofIndia,thenewspaperhasaccurately
publishedthematerialandtheRSScomplaintwasfiledwith"malafideintention"to"wreakvengeance". [142]
TheStateofMadhyaPradeshVsRamshankerRaghuvanshi
ManycaseshavebeenreportedinpostindependenceIndiawhereRSSvolunteershavebeendiscriminatedagainstbythe
governmentduetotheirallegiancetotheRSS. [143]Inacourtcaseofateacherwhowasdismissedfromserviceduetohispast
linkswiththeRSS,theSupremeCourtofIndiacalledthegovernment'saction"McCarthyism"anda"violationoffundamental
rights". [144][145][146]
Amunicipalschoolteacher,RamshankerRaghuvanshi,wasdismissedbytheCongressgovernmentofMadhyaPradeshin1974,
whichstatedthathehadtaken"partintheRSS"activitiesandthusmayhavebeen"notafitpersontobeentertainedin
Governmentservice".TheSupremeCourtdismissedtheargumentsofthegovernmentandstatedthatthegovernmenthadnot
adheredtotheprovisionsoftheIndianConstitution.TheSupremeCourtbenchconsistingofJusticeSyedMurtuzaFazalaliand
JusticeO.ChinnappaReddyobservedthat"Indiaisnotapolicestate"andpleadedthatthe"promiseoffundamentalrights
enshrinedintheIndianConstitutionnotbecomeaforgottenchapterofhistory".Deliveringthejudgment,theCourtclaimedthat
itbelieves"seekingapolicereportonperson'spoliticalfaith",inthefirstplace,"amountedtotheviolationoffundamental
rights".TheSupremeCourtruledinfavorofthemunicipalteacherandorderedhisreinstatement. [144][145][146]
StateofKarnatakav.RanganathacharyaAgnihotri
SimilardecisionsweremadebytheHighcourtsofdifferentstatesofIndiaindifferentcasesofpoliticalpersecutionofRSS
volunteers. [143]OnecaseinvolvedRanganathacharyaAgnihotri,whowasselectedforthepostofMunsiffbutwasnotabsorbed
intoserviceatleastpartiallybecausehehadbeenavolunteeroftheRSSinhispast.WhenAgnihotriapproachedtothethenHigh
CourtofMysore(nowKarnatakaHighCourt),hewasreinstated.TheCourtsaid:
PrimafacietheRSSisanonpoliticalculturalorganisationwithoutanyhatredorillwilltowardsnonHindusand
thatmanyeminentandrespectedpersonsinthecountryhavenothesitatedtopresideoverthefunctionsor
appreciatetheworkofitsvolunteers.Inacountrylikeourswhichhasacceptedthedemocraticwayoflife(as
ensuredbytheConstitution),itwouldnotbewithinreasontoacceptthepropositionthatmeremembershipofsuch
peacefulornonviolentassociationandparticipationinactivitiesthereof,willrenderaperson(inwhosecharacter
andantecedentstherearenootherdefects)unsuitabletobeappointedtothepostofaMunsiff.
KarnatakaHighCourt
DarshanLalJainVsCRIraniandOthers
On15January2000,TheStatesmancarriedastoryabouttheRSSthatdepictedtheRSSasthekillerofGandhi. [147]
Subsequently,theDelhiunitoftheRSSfiledacriminalcaseofdefamationagainstauthorofthearticleA.G.Nooranialongwith
thecartoonistandtheManagingDirectorofthepublishinghouse.WhentwooftheaccuseddidnotrespondtotheCourt
summons,nonbailablewarrantswereissuedintheirnamebytheCourt. [148]On25February2002,Nooraniwrotean
unconditionalapologytothecourtinwhichheregrettedwritingthedefamatoryarticleagainsttheRSS.On3March2002,The
Statesmanalsopublishedanapologyregrettingthepublicationofthearticle. [149][150]
Others
TheRSShasbeenbannedinIndiathrice,duringperiodsinwhichthegovernmentofthetimeposedthattheywereathreattothe
state:in1948afterMahatmaGandhi'sassassination,duringtheEmergency(197577),andafterthe1992BabriMasjid
demolition.Thebansweresubsequentlylifted,in1949aftertheRSSwasabsolvedofchargesintheGandhimurdercase,in1977
asaresultoftheEmergencybeingrevoked,andin1993whennoevidenceofanyunlawfulactivitieswasfoundagainstitbythe
tribunalconstitutedundertheUnlawfulActivities(Prevention)Act. [151]
Reception
FieldMarshalCariappainhisspeechtoRSSvolunteerssaid"RSSismyheart'swork.Mydearyoungmen,don'tbedisturbedby
uncharitablecommentsofinterestedpersons.Lookahead!Goahead!Thecountryisstandinginneedofyourservices"[152]
ZakirHussain,formerPresidentofIndiatoldMiladMehfilinMonghyaron20November1949,"TheallegationsagainstRSSof
violenceandhatredagainstMuslimsarewhollyfalse.Muslimsshouldlearnthelessonofmutuallove,cooperationand
organisationfromRSS."[153][154]
GandhianleaderandtheleaderofSarvodaymovement,JayaprakashNarayan,whoearlierwasavocalopponentofRSShadthe
followingtosayaboutitin1977"RSSisarevolutionaryorganisation.Nootherorganisationinthecountrycomesanywherenear
it.Italonehasthecapacitytotransformsociety,endcasteismandwipethetearsfromtheeyesofthepoor."Hefurtheradded"I
havegreatexpectationsfromthisrevolutionaryorganisationwhichhastakenupthechallengeofcreatinganewIndia."[87]
Criticismsandaccusations
ChristopheJaffrelot,DirectoroftheCenterforStudiesandResearch(CERI),observesthatalthoughtheRSSwithitsparamilitary
styleoffunctioninganditsemphasisondisciplinehassometimesbeenseenbysomeas"anIndianversionoffascism", [155]he
arguesthat"RSS'sideologytreatssocietyasanorganismwithasecularspirit,whichisimplantednotsomuchintheraceasina
socioculturalsystemandwhichwillberegeneratedoverthecourseoftimebypatientworkatthegrassroots.Hewritesthat
ideologyoftheRSSdidnotdevelopatheoryofthestateandtherace,acrucialelementsinEuropeannationalismsNazismand
Fascism"[155]andthattheRSSleaderswereinterestedinculturalasopposedtoracialsameness. [156]
ThelikeningoftheSanghParivartofascismbyWesterncriticshasalsobeencounteredbyJyotirmayaSharmawholabelleditas
anattemptbythemto"makesenseofthegrowthofextremistpoliticsandintolerancewithintheirsociety,"andthatsuch
"simplistictransference"hasdonegreatinjusticetoourknowledgeofHindunationalistpolitics. [157]
RSShasbeencriticisedasanextremistorganisationandasaparamilitarygroup. [2][3][6]Ithasalsobeencriticisedwhenits
membersparticipatedinantiMuslimviolence[158]andhassinceformedmilitantwingBajrangDal. [18][159]Alongwithother
extremistorganisationstheRSSwasinvolvedinawiderangeofriots,oftenincitingandorganisingviolenceagainst
Christians[160]andMuslims. [5]
Involvementwithriots
TheRSShasbeencensuredforitsinvolvementincommunalriots.
Aftergivingcarefulandseriousconsiderationtoallthematerialsthatareonrecord,theCommissionisoftheview
thattheRSSwithitsextensiveorganisationinjamshedpurandwhichhadcloselinkswiththeBharatiyaJanataParty
andtheBharatiyaMazdoorSanghhadapositivehandincreatingaclimatewhichwasmostpropitiousforthe
outbreakofcommunaldisturbances.Inthefirstinstance,thespeechofShriDeoras(deliveredjustfivedaysbefore
theRamNavamifestival)tendedtoencouragetheHinduextremiststobeunyieldingintheirdemandsregarding
RoadNo.14.Secondly,hisspeechamountedtocommunalpropaganda.Thirdly,theshakhasandthecampsthat
wereheldduringthedivisionalconferencepresentedamilitantatmospheretotheHindupublic.Inthe
circumstances,thecommissioncannotbutholdtheRSSresponsibleforcreatingaclimateforthedisturbancesthat
tookplaceonthe11thofApril,1979
JitendraNarayaninareportonJamshedpurriotsof1979[161][162]
HumanRightsWatch,anongovernmentalorganisationforhumanrightsbasedinNewYork,hasclaimedthattheVishwaHindu
Parishad(WorldHinduCouncil,VHP),theBajrangDal,theRashtriyaSwayamsevakSanghandtheBJPhavebeenpartytothe
Gujaratviolencethateruptedafter56HinduswereburntaliveinacoachofSabarmatiExpresstrainatGodhrastationbya
Muslimmob. [163]LocalVHP,BJPandBDleadershavebeennamedinmanypolicereportsfiledbyeyewitnesses. [164]RSSand
VHPclaimedthattheymadeappealstoputanendtotheviolenceandtohaveaskedtheirsupportersandvolunteerstaffto
preventanyactivitythatmightdisruptpeace. [165]
ReligiousviolenceinOdisha
ChristiangroupsaccusetheRSSalongsideitscloseaffiliates,theVishwaHinduParishad(VHP),theBajrangDal(BD)andthe
HinduJagaranSammukhya(HJS)ofparticipationinthe2008religiousviolenceinOdisha. [166]
InvolvementinBabriMasjiddemolition
AccordingtothereportoftheLiberhanCommissiontheSanghParivarorganisedthedestructionoftheBabriMasjid. [158][167]
TheCommissionsaid"TheblameorthecreditfortheentiretempleconstructionmovementatAyodhyamustnecessarilybe
attributedtotheSanghParivar". [168]ItalsonotedthattheSanghParivarisan"extensiveandwidespreadorganicbody",which
encompassesorganisations,whichaddressandbringtogetherjustabouteverytypeofsocial,professionalandotherdemographic
groupingofindividuals.
Eachtime,anewdemographicgrouphasemerged,theSanghParivarhashivedoffsomeofitsRSSinnercore
leadershiptoharnessthatgroupandbringitwithinthefold,enhancingthevoterbaseoftheParivar. [169]
TheRSShasdeniedreliabilityandquestionedtheobjectivityofthereport.FormerRSSchiefK.S.Sudarshanposedallegations
thatthemosquewasdemolishedbythegovernmentmenasopposedtotheKarsevaks.TheRSSallegesthatthecommission
reportsarefabricatedandmotivatedprimarilybyantiIndiansentimentthananyobjectivedesiretoseekjustice."[170]
[checkquotationsyntax]Ontheotherhand,agovernmentofIndiawhitepaperdismissedtheideathatthedemolitionwaspre
organised. [171]
NotableSwayamsevaks
AtalBihariVajpayee
EknathRanade
NarendraModi
ManoharParrikar
NitinGadkari
RajnathSingh
MurliManoharJoshi
AtalBihariVajpayee, NarendraModi,second
firstswayamsevakto swayamsevakto
becomethePrime becomethePrime
MinisterofIndia. MinisterofIndia.
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