Editorial: RSS — A long journey of an ideology

Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat’s words of reconciliation and assimilation should be heeded by those who thrive on divide-and-rule politics

Deified and denounced in equal measure, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), celebrating the centenary of its birth, needs to reinvent itself to become a more inclusive organisation reflecting the spirit of India’s social diversity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others who spoke at the annual Vijayadashmi event in Nagpur, coinciding with the centenary, emphasised how the world’s largest voluntary socio-cultural organisation weathered many a storm in its long journey, including bans and a hostile political environment, and stood as an embodiment of selfless sacrifice and patriotism. No doubt, the Hindutva lodestar may justifiably feel a sense of pride for its phenomenal growth and influence. Driven by the core idea of unifying the Hindus through jagruti (awakening) and shakti (strength), the organisation, founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925 in Nagpur with a small bunch of volunteers, now has over 50 lakh active volunteers, more than 1.27 lakh shakhas spread over 51,570 places, and nearly 1.20 lakh service projects under its belt. It has gained a wide footprint across social and cultural spheres through several organisations under the broad umbrella of Sangh Parivar. The RSS has now become an integral part of the country’s political system, with the BJP, its political arm, being in power at the Centre for the last 11 years and in over a dozen States, while a former RSS pracharak is the country’s third-longest-serving Prime Minister.

The imprint of RSS on the BJP’s governance agenda is evident in key policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act, abrogation of Article 370, and the push for a Uniform Civil Code. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s call, while addressing the swayamsevaks at the annual Vijayadashmi event, for embracing all forms of diversity, must guide the organisation. It is heartening that he has been stressing this theme of social harmony for some time now. His affirmation that the Hindu society must remain free of the “us and them” mindset is particularly relevant in the present times, as India aspires to play a larger role in global affairs. Bhagwat’s words of reconciliation and assimilation should be heeded by those who thrive on divide-and-rule politics. For many practising and non-practising Hindus, the RSS has remained an enigma for decades — seen through the prism of either altruism or communalism. While its unique work culture — selfless and volunteer-driven — evokes a sense of awe, its equation with the minorities, particularly the Muslim community, has been problematic. In recent times, especially under the leadership of its incumbent Bhagwat, the Hindutva organisation has made efforts to reach out to Muslims in a bid to promote social harmony and strengthen national unity. By asserting on several occasions that the RSS does not seek to establish a Hindu Rashtra without Muslims, as that would defeat the very idea of Hindutva, Bhagwat has tried to reset the Hindutva worldview to expand its social base and gain wide acceptance.

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