Editorial: RSS at 100, a call for candid introspection

While its unique work culture — selfless and volunteer-driven — evokes a sense of awe, its equation with minorities, particularly the Muslim community, has been particularly problematic

As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological fountainhead, celebrates the centenary of its birth, its phenomenal growth story evokes a sense of awe and intrigue in equal measure. Looking back at its journey since the pre-independence days, the Hindutva lodestar may justifiably feel a sense of pride for being one of the world’s largest voluntary socio-cultural organisations but the occasion also calls for candid introspection over its ideology to align itself with the modern and diverse India that is increasingly interlinked with the global trends. 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 73,000 shakhas encompassing a wide range of ideological fellow-travellers collectively called Sangh Parivar, and nearly 1.20 lakh service projects under its belt. Despised by critics and deified by its countless followers, the RSS has now become an integral part of the country’s political system. With the BJP serving as its political arm and both playing to each other’s strengths, the RSS straddles the entire political, social and cultural space in the country. Barring the Chinese Communist Party, there is perhaps no other organisation in the world that enjoys a similar advantage. It has gained a wide footprint across the social and cultural spheres through a number of organisations under the broad umbrella of Sangh Parivar including the VHP, ABVP, BMS and BKS.

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 minorities, particularly the Muslim community, has been particularly problematic. In recent times, especially under the leadership of its incumbent Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan 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 Hindu Rashtra without Muslims as that would defeat the very idea of Hindutva, Bhagwat has tried to reset the Hindutva worldview in order to expand its social base and gain wider acceptance. The present leadership appears to demonstrate the organisation’s readiness to reform. It is important that Bhagwat’s message of moderation percolates down to the militant elements within the Sangh Parivar. Establishing a Hindu state has been the goal of the RSS ever since its formation. However, world history bears testimony to the fact that theocratic states are a disaster. Secularism alone is compatible with modernity and any attempt to tinker with it could push the country into the hands of regressive elements. Despite several flaws and inadequacies, the Indian model of secular democracy is still the best bet.

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