What is RSS? History, Vision & Role Explained

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is a socio-cultural organisation, spread all over Bharat. The Sangh has been engaged in carrying out its noble work through over 57 thousand Shakhas (daily gathering centres), functioning in every state and every district of our nation. Every society needs people with patriotism, discipline and character, who can selflessly work. The Sangh is engaged in the task of creating such people and organising them. The Sangh, rather than an organisation within the society, is the organised state of the entire society. That is, the Sangh and the society are coterminous.

What is the aim of the Sangh?

The Sangh's aim is to make our country, Bharat, the greatest among the comity of nations. Our nation should be the pioneer in science and knowledge. It should be economically self-reliant and prosperous. Bharat has never waged war against anyone. At the same time, if someone forces a war on us, we should always be invincible and victorious. Also, Bharat is not just a country. She has a very ancient and a unique view of life, which is integral and holistic. This view of life is the identity of Bharat. The Sangh seeks to create a social order that would ensure the imprint of this view of life in every sphere of her national life. “Spirituality is the soul of India,” said Swami Vivekananda. Our motive is to mould our society in such a lofty way so that this spirituality is reflected in every walk of life.

The Sangh's aim is to make our country, Bharat, the greatest among the comity of nations. Our nation should be the pioneer in science and knowledge. It should be economically self-reliant and prosperous.

How do you propose to achieve this goal?

The greatness of a nation depends on the state of its society. If the society is divided, selfish, corrupt and lazy, the nation cannot progress. The nation can move forward only if the people have character, mutual love, discipline, initiative and are ready for selfless work. The Sangh has taken upon itself the responsibility of creating such a society. We are engaged in creating and organising such people who are responsive to the society, active and alert about the nation.

Is RSS associated with politics?

From the very beginning the Sangh is convinced that its twin-objectives of man-making and organising the society could not be achieved through political power. So, our revered founder Dr. Hedgewar, who was very active in the political sphere formerly, withdrew himself from political activities altogether before he started the RSS. Our endeavour is to create patriotic people with social consciousness and to keep a tab on the political power through them. The alert organised strength of people can certainly keep a watch on the political establishment and also ensure a clean and morally sound political atmosphere.

What is the relationship between the RSS and the BJP?

In any country, the society creates a system that suits its convenience and politics and the State are part of such system. The Sangh works for the whole society. The Sangh Swayamsevaks are active in different spheres of national life through some 35 or so organisations, with a nationalistic perspective. Politics being part of the social life, the Sangh Swayamsevaks are active in that field as well. All these organisations are totally independent and autonomous. Every organisation has its own programme, financial arrangement, membership and in all such matters they enjoy absolute freedom. One need not be a Sangh Swayamsevak to join these organisations, as is evident from the fact that late Shyamaprasad Mukherjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Janasangh, the precursor of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was not a Sangh Swayamsevak. The Swayamsevaks who are active in such organisations occasionally come together, exchange notes, consult each other, understand the view point of each other and if necessary, extend cooperation also.

The RSS has its own vision and concept about our national development. And our Swayamsevaks naturally will have an inclination for such political parties who share this Sangh view and will be supportive of them. As the BJP shares this vision of the RSS, naturally it receives the cooperation and backing of the Swayamsevaks. The Swayamsevaks would extend their support to whichever organisation or party that shares the Sangh vision. Hence we see BJP getting good support wherever the Sangh has a strong presence. However, the Sangh is not working for any political party, but it works for the whole nation.

Why the Sangh always talks about organising Hindus?

Is the Sangh a religious organisation? The Sangh not being a religious organisation, we do not mean any form of worship, religion or religious sect by the word Hindu. Hindus have a unique “view of life” and a “way of life,” and it is in this context we use the word 'Hindu' in the Sangh. In a historic judgement, our Supreme Court also said that Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. For example, Truth is one, but it is called in various names. There may be number of ways to realise the Truth and according to Bharatiya thought, these are all similar and equally valid. The multiplicity we see around is only different manifestations of the same Truth. In other words, it is the same Truth that manifests in all and we call it unity in diversitythis is Bharatiya view of life. Whoever accepts this viewpoint, whoever accept the history of Bharat as their own, whoever promote the life values of Bharat through practicing in their lives and thinks him or her as an ideal who make every sacrifice - even lay down their lives - for the preservation and protection of these values, is a Hindu, irrespective of their religious beliefs and mode of worship.

Will Christians and Muslims get entry into RSS?

Christians and Muslims living in Bharat have not come from outside. They belong to this land. Our ancestors are the same. Change of religion for whatever reason, do not result in change in life-view. So the view of life of all of us is Bharatiya, i.e., Hindu. So they can very well join the Sangh as Hindus. Even now they are joining the Sangh and are active in its work. They neither face any discrimination because of their religious belief nor get any special treatment in the Sangh. They, as Hindus, join us and work along with us.

How does the RSS view the problems of casteism and untouchability prevalent in the Hindu society?

The RSS believes in the dictum “Hindava Sahodara Sarve,” i.e., being the children of the same parents, all are brothers and sisters; nobody is high or low. The precept and practice of the Sangh perfectly conform to this view. In his talk given at the Vasant Vyakhyan Mala, Pune, our third Sarsanghchalak, Poojya Balasaheb Deoras, had made it unequivocally clear that “If untouchability is not wrong, nothing else is wrong in the world and it should go lock, stock and barrel.” The Sangh speaks about organising the entire society. So we expect people from all strata to join us. We have taken care of this aspect right from the beginning and people from every strata have been joining us right from the inception. During the time of our revered founder, Dr. Hedgewar, in 1934, Mahatma Gandhiji had visited our camp at Wardha and he was much happy to find the so-called untouchables dining with all others. Also, on the next day, he had expressed his happiness in so many words to Dr. Hedgewar.

Do you allow entry of women into the RSS?

In Sangh Shakha where the work of man-making is carried out, only male members of society participate. Among women. The Rashtra Sevika Samiti is working on similar lines. The Samiti is running over 2100 Shakhas all over Bharat and is active in every state. Mutual cooperation and coordination become necessary at times. So, in matters like social awakening and social education, all work together.

Don't you think the uniform (Ganavesh) is a dampener for the youth desirous of joining the RSS? Any plans to change the uniform?

The Sangh uniform has undergone change many a time. In case of need, we can still effect changes in it. As a matter of fact, the uniform has never been an attraction for those who wanted to join the RSS. The angst one experiences seeing the present pitiable state of our society, the inner call to remedy the situation and the resolve to dedicate oneself to this noble cause-only such things keep one connected to the RSS for years together. The second attraction is the genuine love, affection and the warmth of cordial relationship one experiences in Sangh. Yet another attraction is one's proximity to the role models who live the ideal and with whom one can play, talk and even are free to make an assessment of them. Further, it is not necessary to wear uniform while attending the daily Shakha. In the Shakha, the activities mostly comprise games, physical exercises, etc. and to participate in such activities, any convenient dress would do. Uniform is inevitable only during big camps and on special occasions. And all those who attend the daily Shakha are not required to attend such events. Hence, we don't think our uniform in any way discourages those who are interested to join the Sangh.

What is meant by a Shakha and what are its activities?

Shakha is a laboratory where we are engaged in building up national and social character. People congregate here every day and conduct certain programmes. Some of these programmes are intended to cultivate certain collective qualities, whereas others are aimed at inculcating certain other qualities collectively. This programme, as a whole, is what is called a Shakha. Shakha comprises of physical activities, games, songs that ignite patriotic feelings, discussions on various subjects, etc. It is such daily gathering centres what we call Shakhas.

In this age of globalisation, majority of people prefers English medium schools. Do such people join the RSS?

It is wrong to think the youths studying in English medium schools or residing in metropolitan cities lack patriotic feelings and social commitment. The present-day youths certainly have a strong sense of patriotism and the urge to do something for the society. As the atmosphere in the Sangh is favourable and promotes such thoughts, it is our experience that a large number of youths come to us. There is a facility in the Sangh website for those who are desirous of joining the Sangh. During the year 2012, every month 1000 youths used to express their desire to join the RSS. In the year 2013, there was a big leap in numbers and the monthly figure touched 2500. In 2014, the monthly figure has further risen to 9000. For new entrants in the RSS, we conduct a 7-day residential training camp. In year 2013-2014, some 1,20,000 youths, in the age group of 13-40, participated in these camps. Here it may be noted that not only one has to pay the camp-fees from one's own pocket but also stay away from their families for seven days. In spite of such conditions, the number of participants goes on spiralling year after year. From this, we can safely assume that every year a number four times more than that attend the 7-day training camp - 4,80,000 people - practically came in contact of sangh. The present-day youths are very much conscious about their cultural identity and are also desirous of doing something for the society and because of the encouraging and congenial atmosphere available in the Sangh, they are drawn to it in large numbers.

In the globalisation era, how relevant is the Sangh's insistence on Swadeshi?

Swadeshi does not mean snapping business relationship with the whole world. From ancient times Bharat has been number one in international business and we had very active business connections with the entire world. In the present times, it is common knowledge that, even while doing business with other countries, every country lays much stress on self-reliance. It is this approach what we call Swadeshi.

Is the Sangh active in other countries?

The work of the RSS is confined to Bharat. However, our Sangh Swayamsevaks, settled abroad in various countries as businessmen, industrialists, etc., are engaged in organising the Hindus there under the banner of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). The HSS is active in 35 countries, spread over all continents. Apart from organising Hindus in the respective countries, the HSS is also engaged in creating awareness among the new generation about their great cultural heritage, along with prompting them to undertake service activities for the sake of the natives of the countries they have made their home.