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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Flag of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Type Voluntary,[1]paramilitary[dubious – discuss][2]Extremist[dubious – discuss][3]
Founded 1925
Founder(s) Keshav Baliram Hedgewar
Headquarters Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Coordinates 21.04°N 79.16°E
Key people Mohan Bhagwat
Area served India
Focus(es) Supporting Hindu nationalismand upholding Hindu Traditions
Mission "Selfless Service to Motherland"
Method(s) Physical and mental training through group discussions, meetings
and exercises
Website www.rssonnet.org
Part of a series on
Hindu politics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The lead section of this article may need to berewritten. Please discuss this issue on the talkpage and read the layout guide to make sure thesection will be inclusive of all essential details. (May2014)
The neutrality of this articleis disputed.Relevant discussion may be found onthe talk page. Please do not remove this messageuntil thedispute is resolved. (May 2014)
Rashtriya
Swayamsevak
Sangh(RSS)
(pronunciation: [rɑːʂ
ˈʈriːj(ə) swəjəmˈseːvək
ˈsəŋɡʱ], lit. 'National
Volunteer
Organization'[4] or National Patriotic Organization[5]) is a
charitiable, educational, right-wing,[2]volunteer[1] Hindu
nationalist group. RSS states that its ideology is based on the
principle of selfless service to the nation.
The RSS was founded in 1925 as an educational group to train
Hindu men by character-building to unite the Hindu
community,[6] counter British colonialism in India, and suppress
Muslim separatism.[7] Since its foundation it has espoused
Concepts [show ]
Early advocates [show ]
Political leaders [show ]
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Hinduism
VTE
a Hindu nationalist agenda.[3] The group drew inspiration from
European right-wing groups during WWII.[7] RSS volunteers
participated in various political and social movements including
the Indian independence movement[1] and the group became an
extremely prominent Hindu nationalist group in India.[7] By the
1990s, the group had established numerous schools, charities
and clubs to spread its ideological beliefs.[7]
It has been criticised as an extremist and a paramilitary group.[8][9] It has also been criticised when its
members have participated in anti-Muslim violence.[10]The RSS was founded in 1925. It was set up as
an alternative to the politics of mass anti-colonial struggles[11] and has since formed militant
wing Bajrang Dal.[7][12] Along with other extremist organizations the RSS has participated in a wide range
of riots, often participating in organizing and inciting violence against Christians[13] and Muslims.[3]
It has mentioned its ideals to be as upholding Indian culture and its civilization values more than anything
else.[14]
It was banned by the British Raj,[7] and then thrice by the post-independence Indian government — first
in 1948 when Nathuram Godse, a former RSS member,[15] assassinated Mahatma Gandhi;[7][16][17] then
during the emergency(1975–78); and after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. The bans were
subsequently lifted.
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Indian independence movement
1.2 Activities during partition
1.3 First ban and the acquittal
1.4 Decolonisation of Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Goa
1.5 Role during the 1962 Sino-Indian War and 1965 Indo-pak War
1.6 Movement against the Emergency
1.7 Participation in land reforms
2 Structure
2.1 Sarsanghchalaks
2.2 Shakha
3 Mission
4 Sangh Parivar
5 Social service and reform
6 Relief and rehabilitation
7 Court Rulings on RSS
8 Reception
9 Criticisms and accusations
9.1 Involvement with riots
9.2 Religious violence in Odisha
9.3 Involvement in Babri Masjid demolition
10 Photo gallery
11 Bibliography
11.1 Publications
Major political parties [show ]
Authors on Hindu politics [show ]
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A RSS volunteer taking
the oath in full uniform
Keshav Baliram
Hedgewar
A rare group photo of six initial
swayamsevaks taken on the
occasion of a RSS meeting held in
1939[28]
11.2 Books
12 References
13 External links
History
RSS was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram
Hedgewar, who was a doctor in the city
ofNagpur, British India.[18]Hedgewar as a
medical student in Kolkata had been a part of
the revolutionary activities of the Anushilan
Samiti andJugantar striving to free India from
British rule.[19]He had been charged with
sedition in 1921 by the British Administration
and was imprisoned for one year.[20]
Hedgewar was educated by his elder brother.
He then decided to study medicine
in Calcutta, West Bengal. He was sent there by
Dr. B. S. Moonje in 1910 to pursue his medical
studies. There he lived with Shyam Sundar Chakravarthy[21] and learned
the techniques of fighting from secret revolutionary organisations like the
Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar in Bengal. He is said to have joined
Anushilan Samiti and he had contacts with revolutionaries likeRam Prasad
Bismil.[22]
Previously he was involved in such type of revolutionary activities, this fact
has been disclosed by so many writers viz. C.P.Bhishikar,[23] M.S.
Golwalkar,[24]K.S.Sudarshan[25] and Rakesh Sinha.[26]
After completing his studies and graduating, he returned to Nagpur, inspired by the armed movement. In
his memoirs, the third chief of RSS, Balasahab Deorasnarrates an incident when Hedgewar saved him
and others from following the path of Bhagat Singh and his comrades.[27] Later he left the revolutionary
organisations in the year 1925 and formed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Since Hedgewar was primarily associated with the Hindustan
Republican Association, he adopted the full constitution of erstwhile
HRA and implemented it forcibly in his newly established
organisation RSS later on. The RSS first met in 1925 just after two
months ofKakori train robbery in a small ground ofNagpur with 5-6
persons on Vijaya Dashami. After the formation of the RSS,
Hedgewar kept the organisation away from having any direct
affiliation to any of the political organisations then fighting British
rule.[29] But Hedgewar and his team of volunteers, took part in
the Indian National Congress, led movements against the British
rule. Hedgewar was arrested in the JungleSatyagraha agitation in
1931 and served a second term in prison[20][30][31]
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M. S.
Golwalkar
Atal Bihari Vajpayee first swayamsevak to
become Prime Minister of India.
During WWII leaders of the RSS were open admirers of Adolf Hitler.[32] Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, who
became the supreme leader of the RSS after Hedgewar, drew inspiration from Adolf Hitler's ideology of
race purity.[33] RSS leaders were supportive of the Jewish State of Israel, including Savarkar himself,
who supported Israel during its formation.[34] While Golwalkar admired Jews for maintaining their
"religion, culture and language".[35]
Indian independence
movement
The RSS portrayed itself as a social
movement and refused to consider
itself a political party, and did not play
any role in many of the efforts
in Indian independence
movement.[36] When the Congress
passed the Purna Swaraj resolution in
1930, Dr. Hedgewar asked all the RSS branches to hoist
the Indian flag and organize lectures on the need for
independence.[37] However, the RSS emphatically
rejected Gandhiji's willingness to cooperate with Muslims
in the Anti-British struggle.[36] In 1934, Congress passed
a resolution prohibiting its members from joining RSS,
Hindu Mahasabha or Muslim League.[37]
Golwalkar did not want to give the British any excuse to
ban the RSS.[38] When the British Government banned
military drills and use of uniforms in non-official
organizations, Golwalkar terminated the RSS military department.[38]
Activities during partition
The Partition of India affected millions of Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims attempting to escape the violence
and carnage that followed.[39] Noted Gandhian and recipient of the highest civilian award in India, Bharat
Ratna, Bhagwan Das commended the role of the "high-spirited and self-sacrificing boys" of the RSS in
protecting the newly formed Republic of India, from a planned coup to topple the Jawaharlal
Nehru Administration in Delhi.[40][41]
First ban and the acquittal
Following Mahatma Gandhi's assassination in 1948 by a former member[17] of the RSS, Nathuram
Godse, many prominent leaders of the RSS were arrested and RSS as an organisation was banned on
4 February 1948. A Commission of Inquiry into Conspiracy to murder of Gandhi was set and its report
was published by India's Ministry of Home Affairs in the year 1970. Accordingly Justice Kapur
Commission[42] noted the following:
...RSS as such were not responsible for the murder of Mahatma Gandhi, meaning thereby
that one could not name the organisation as such as being responsible for that most
diabolical crime, the murder of the apostle of peace. It has not been proved that they (the
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accused) were members of the RSS...
—Kapur Commission Report, [43]
RSS Leaders were acquitted of the conspiracy charge by the Supreme Court of India and following an
intervention by the Court, the Indian Government agreed to lift the ban with condition that the RSS adopt
a formal constitution. The secondSarsanghachalak, Golwalkar drafted the constitution for the RSS which
he sent to the government in March 1949. In July of the same year, after many negotiations over the
constitution and its acceptance, the ban on RSS was lifted.[18]
On 15 January 2000, a daily, The Statesman, carried a story about the RSS by A G Noorani, which
depicted the RSS as the killer of Gandhi.[44] Subsequently the Delhi unit of the RSS filed a criminal case
of defamation against author of the article A G Noorani along with the cartoonist and the Managing
Director of the publishing house. When two of the accused did not respond to the Court summons, non-
bailable warrants were issued in their name by the Court.[45] On 25 February 2002, Noorani wrote an
unconditional apology to the court in which he regretted writing the defamatory article against the RSS.
On 3 March 2002, 'The Statesman' also published an apology regretting the publication of the said
article.[46]
Decolonisation of Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Goa
After the independence of India, RSS was one of the socio-political organisations who supported and
participated in movements to decolonise Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which was at the time ruled by
Portuguese colonists. In early 1954, volunteers Raja Wakankar and Nana Kajrekar of the RSS visited
the area round about Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman several times to study the topography and
also to get acquainted with locals who wanted to switch from being a Portuguese colony to being
an Indian union territory. In April 1954, the RSS formed a coalition with the National Movement Liberation
Organization (NMLO), and the Azad Gomantak Dal (AGD) for the liberation of Dadra and Nagar
Haveli.[47] On the night of 21 July, United front of Goans, a group, working independently of the coalition,
captured the Portuguese police station at Dadra and declared Dadra as free. Subsequently on 28 July,
volunteer teams of the RSS and AGD captured the territories of Naroli and Phiparia and ultimately the
capital of Silvassa. The Portuguese forces which escaped and moved towards Nagar Haveli, were
assaulted at Khandvel and were forced to retreat till they surrendered to the Indian border police at
Udava on 11 August 1954. A native administration was set up with Appasaheb Karmalkar of NMLO as
the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli on 11 August 1954.[47]
The liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli gave a boost to the movement against the Portuguese
colonialism in the Republic of India.[47] In 1955, RSS leaders demanded the end of Portuguese rule in
Goa and its integration into India. When Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru refused to provide an armed
intervention, RSS leader Jagannath Rao Joshi led the Satyagraha agitation straight into Goa itself. He
was imprisoned with his followers by the Portuguese police. The peaceful protests continued but met
with severe repressions. On 15 August 1955, the Portuguese police opened fire on the satyagrahis,
killing thirty or so civilians.[48]
Role during the 1962 Sino-Indian War and 1965 Indo-pak War
The RSS was invited by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to take part in theRepublic Day parade of 1963
in recognition of its volunteer work during the Sino-Indian War in 1962.[49] This event helped the RSS
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improve its popularity and strengthen its nationalist image.[50]
During 1965 India-Pakistan war Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastrirequested RSS cadres to help
control traffic in Delhi, so policemen could be freed for defence duties.[49] On the close of the war
General Kushwant Singh of Indian Army thanked the RSS for their relief and support work for the army
and nation.[citation needed]
Later in 1971 Indo-Pak war also, the RSS volunteers offered their services to maintain law and order of
the country and were apparently the first to donate blood.[51]
Movement against the Emergency
In 1975, the Indira Gandhi government proclaimed emergency rule in India, thereby suspending
the fundamental rights and curtailing the freedom of the press.[52] This extreme step was taken after the
Supreme Court of India, cancelled her election to the Indian Parliament on charges of malpractices in
the election.[52]Democratic institutions were suspended and prominent opposition leaders including
Gandhian Jayaprakash Narayan, were arrested whilst thousands of people were detained without any
proper charges taken up against them.[53] RSS, which was seen close to opposition leaders, and with its
large organizational base was seen to have potential of organizing protests against the Government,
was also banned.[54] Police clamped down on the organization and thousands of its workers were
imprisoned.[30]
The RSS defied the ban and thousands participated in Satyagraha against the ban and against the
violation of human rights regulations. Later, when there was no letup, the volunteers of the RSS formed
underground movements for the restoration of democracy. Literature that was censored in the media
was clandestinely published and distributed on a large scale and funds were collected for the movement.
Networks were established between leaders of different political parties in the jail and outside for the
coordination of the movement.[55] It said that the movement was "dominated by tens of thousands of
RSS cadres, though more and more young recruits are coming". Talking about its objectives it said "its
platform at the moment has only one plank: to bring democracy back to India".[56]The Emergency was
lifted in 1977 and as a consequence the ban on the RSS too was lifted.
Participation in land reforms
It has been noted that the RSS volunteers participated in the Bhoodan movementorganised by
Gandhian leader Vinobha Bhave. Bhave had met the RSS leader Golwalkar in Meerut in November
1951. Golwalkar had been inspired by the movement that encouraged land reforms through voluntary
means. He pledged the support of the RSS for this movement.[57] Consequently, many RSS volunteers
led by Nanaji Deshmukh participated in the movement.[1] But Golwalkar has also been critical of the
Bhoodan movement, on other occasions for being reactionary and for working "merely with a view to
counteracting Communism". He believed that the movement should inculcate a right and positive faith in
the masses that can make them rise above the base appeal of Communism.[58]
Structure
RSS does not have any formal membership. According to the official website, anyone can become
member by joining the nearest "Shakha", which is the basic unit.[59] Although the RSS claims not to keep
membership records, they claim to have between 5–6 million members.[60] David Halloran Lumsdaine
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Sangh shakha at Nagpur
headquarter
estimated in 2009 that there were one million volunteers, who are modeled on the Hitler youth.[61]
Sarsanghchalaks
The Sarsanghchalak is the head of the RSS organisation; the position is decided through nomination by
predecessor. The individuals who have held the post of sarsanghchalak in this organisation are:
K. B. Hedgewar (1925–1930. 1931–1940)
Laxman Vaman Paranjpe (1930–1931)
M. S. Golwalkar (1940–1973)
Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras (1973–1993)
Rajendra Singh (1993–2000)
K. S. Sudarshan (2000–2009)
Mohan Bhagwat (incumbent since 21 March 2009)
Shakha
"Shakha" is Hindi for "branch". Most of the organisational work of
the RSS is done through the coordination of shakhas or branches.
These shakhas are run for 1 hour in public places. In 2004, more
than 60,000shakhas were run throughout India.[62]However the
number of Shakas has fallen by over 10,000 since the fall of
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government in 2004.[63]
The shakhas conduct various activities for its volunteers which
include physical fitness activities through yoga, exercises and
games. It has other activities which emphasize on qualities like civic
sense, social service, community living and patriotism.[64] The
volunteers are trained in first aid and in rescue and rehabilitation operations. The volunteers are also
encouraged to get involved in the developmental activities of the village or locality.[64][65]
Mission
The mission of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been described as the revitalisation of Indian value
system based on universalism and peace and prosperity to all.[58] Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the
worldview that the whole world is one family, propounded by the ancient thinkers of India, is considered
as the ultimate mission of the organisation.[66]
But the immediate focus, the leaders believe, is on the Hindu renaissance, which would build an
egalitarian society and a strong India that could propound this philosophy. Hence, the focus is on social
reform, economic upliftment of the downtrodden and the protection of cultural diversity of the natives in
India.[66] The organisation says, it aspires to unite all Hindus and build a strong India, which could
contribute to the welfare of the world. In the words of RSS ideologue and the second head of the RSS,
Golwalkar, "in order to be able to contribute our unique knowledge to mankind, in order to be able to live
and strive for the unity and welfare of the world, we stand before the world as a self-confident, resurgent
and mighty nation".[58]
In Vichardhara (en.Bunch of Thoughts) [Golwalkar affirms the RSS mission of integration as:[58]
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RSS has been making determined efforts to inculcate in our people the burning devotion for
Bharat and its national ethos; kindle in them the spirit of dedication and sterling qualities and
character; rouse social consciousness, mutual good-will, love and cooperation among them
all; to make them realise that casts, creeds and languages are secondary and that service to
the nation is the supreme end and to mold their behaviour accordingly; instill in them a sense
of true humility and discipline and train their bodies to be strong and robust so as to shoulder
any social responsibility; and thus to create all-round Anushasana in all walks of life and build
together all our people into a unified harmonious national whole, extending from Himalayas to
Kanyakumari.
— M. S. Golwalkar
Golwalkar also explains that RSS does not intend to compete in electioneering politics or share power.
The movement considers Hindus as inclusive of Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, tribals, untouchables,
Veerashaivism, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, etc. as a community, a view similar to inclusive
referencing of the term Hindu in the Indian Constitution.[67][68][69]
When it came to non-Hindu religions, Golwalkar's (who once supported Hitler's creation of a supreme
race by suppression of minorities)[70] view on minorities was that of extreme intolerance. In a magazine
article in 1998 some RSS, and its political offshoot BJP's members have been said to have distanced
itself from M.S Golwalkar's views though not entirely.[71]
The non-Hindu people of Hindustan must either adopt Hindu culture and languages, must learn
and respect and hold in reverence the Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but of those of
glorification of the Hindu race and culture... in a word they must cease to be foreigners; Or
may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation, claiming nothing, deserving
no privileges, far less any preferential treatment— not even citizens' rights
— M. S. Golwalkar[72]
Sangh Parivar
Organisations which are inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's ideology refer themselves as
the members of the Sangh Parivar.[60] In most of the cases,pracharaks (full-time volunteers of the RSS)
were deputed to start and manage these organisations. The organisations within the Sangh include
the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Vanbandhu Parishad, Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi
Parishad, Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Vidya Bharati,Seva Bharati and many
others spread in all parts of society.[73] Numerous other Hindu organisations take inspiration from the
RSS's philosophy.
RSS has never directly contested elections, but supports parties that are ideologically similar. Although
RSS generally endorses the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), yet at times had refused to do so due to
difference of opinion with the party. Also, RSS is open to support any political party that subscribes to its
views.[74][75]
Of late, the volunteers of the RSS have also held prominent political and administrative positions in India
including the Prime Minister of India, the Vice President of India, the Home Minister and Ministers in the
Central Government, Governors and Chief Ministers of various states and the members of elected
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bodies at the state and the national level and also the Indian ambassador to the US[76][77][78]
Social service and reform
The RSS has advocated the training of Dalits and other backward classes as temple high priests (a
position traditionally reserved for Caste Brahmins and denied to lower castes). They argue that the
social divisiveness of the Caste system is responsible for the lack of adherence to Hindu values and
traditions and reaching out to the lower castes in this manner will be a remedy to the problem.[79]The
RSS has also condemned 'upper' caste Hindus for preventing Dalits from worshipping at temples, saying
that "even God will desert the temple in which Dalits cannot enter"[80]
Christophe Jaffrelot finds that "there is insufficient data available to carry out a statistical analysis of
social origins of the early RSS leaders" but goes on to conclude, based on some known profiles that
most of the RSS founders and its leading organisers, with exceptions were Maharashtrian Brahmins from
middle or lower class[81] and argues that the pervasiveness of the Brahminical ethic in the organisation
was probably the main reason why it failed to attract support from the low castes. He argues that the
"RSS resorted to instrumentalist techniques of ethno-religious mobilisation – in which its Brahminism was
diluted – to overcome this handicap."[82] However Anderson and Damle 1987, find that members of all
castes have been welcomed into the organisation and are treated as equals.[1]
During M. K. Gandhi's visit to RSS Camp accompanied by Mahadev Desai andMirabehn at Wardha in
1934, he was surprised by the discipline and the absence of untouchability in RSS and commented
"When I visited the RSS Camp, I was very much surprised by your discipline and absence of
untouchablity." He personally inquired to Swayamsevaks and found that they were living and eating
together in the camp without bothering to know their castes.[83]
Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar while visiting the RSS camp at Pune in 1939 observed that Swayamsevaks were
moving in absolute equality and brotherhood without even caring to know the caste of others.[84] In his
address to the Swayamsevaks, he said that " This is the first time that I am visiting the camp of Sangh
volunteers. I am happy to find absolute equality between Savarniyas (Upper cast) and Harijans (Lower
cast) without any one being aware of such difference existing." When he asked Hedgewar whether there
were any untouchables in the camp, he replied that there are neither "touchables" nor "untouchables"
but only Hindus.[85]
It is noted that RSS provides education to people of rural India and socially backward classes living
under the poverty.[86]
Relief and rehabilitation
The RSS was instrumental in relief efforts after the 1971 Orissa Cyclone, 1977 Andhra Pradesh
Cyclone[87] and in Bhopal gas tragedy, 1984.[88][89]
The RSS assisted in relief efforts during the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, and helped rebuild
villages.[87][90] Approximately 35,000 RSS members in uniform were engaged in the relief
efforts,[91] and many of their critics acknowledged their role.[92]
An RSS-affiliated NGO, Seva Bharati, conducted relief operations in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian
Ocean earthquake. Activities included building shelters for the victims, providing food, clothes and
medical necessities.[93]The RSS assisted relief efforts during the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman
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earthquakeand the subsequent tsunami.[94] Seva Bharati also adopted 57 children (38 Muslims and
19 Hindus) from militancy affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir to provide them education at least
up to Higher Secondary level.[95][96] They have also taken care of victims of the Kargil War of
1999.[97]
In 2006, RSS participated in relief efforts to provide basic necessities such as food, milk and potable
water to the people of Surat, Gujarat who were affected by massive floods in the
region.[98][non-primary source needed] The RSS volunteers carried out relief and rehabilitation work
after the floods ravaged North Karnataka and some districts of the state of Andhra Pradesh.[99]
In 2013, following the Uttarakhand floods, RSS volunteers were involved in flood-relief works through
its offices set up at various affected areas.[100][101]
Court Rulings on RSS
Many cases have been reported in post-independence India where RSS volunteers have been
discriminated against by the government due to their allegiance to the RSS.[102] In a court case of a
teacher who was dismissed from service due to his past links with the RSS, the Supreme Court called
the government's action as "McCarthyism" and a "violation of fundamental
rights".[103][104][105][106][107][108]
A municipal school teacher, Ramshanker Raghuvanshi, was dismissed by the Congress government
of Madhya Pradesh in 1974, which stated that he had taken "part in the RSS" activities and thus may
have been "not a fit person to be entertained in Government service". The Supreme Court dismissed the
arguments of the government and stated that the government had not adhered to the provisions of the
Indian Constitution. The Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice Syed Murtuza Fazalali and Justice
O. Chinnappa Reddy observed that "India is not a police state" and pleaded that the "promise of
fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution not become a forgotten chapter of history".
Delivering the landmark judgment, the Court claimed that it believes "seeking a police report on person's
political faith", in the first place, "amounted to the violation of fundamental rights". The Supreme Court
ruled in favor of the municipal teacher and ordered his reinstatement.[103][104][105][106][107][108]
Similar decisions were made by the High courts of different states of India in different cases of political
persecution of RSS volunteers.[102] One case involved Ranganathacharya Agnihotri, who was selected
for the post of Munsiff but was not absorbed into service at least partially because he had been a
volunteer of the RSS in his past. When Agnihotri approached to the then High Court of Mysore
(now Karnataka High Court), he was reinstated. The Court put forth:
Prima facie the RSS is a non-political cultural organization without any hatred or ill will
towards non-Hindus and that many eminent and respected persons in the country have not
hesitated to preside over the functions or appreciate the work of its volunteers. In a country
like ours which has accepted the democratic way of life (as ensured by the Constitution), it
would not be within reason to accept the proposition that mere membership of such
peaceful or non-violent association and participation in activities thereof, will render a
person (in whose character and antecedents there are no other defects) unsuitable to be
appointed to the post of a Munsiff.
—Karnataka High Court, [109]
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The RSS also has been banned in India thrice, during periods in which the government of the time
posed that they were a threat to the state: in 1948 afterMahatma Gandhi's assassination, during
the Emergency (1975–77), and after the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition. The bans were subsequently
lifted, in 1949 after the RSS was absolved of charges in the Gandhi murder case, in 1977 as a result of
the Emergency being revoked, and in 1993 when no evidence of any unlawful activities was found
against it by the tribunal constituted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.[110]
Reception
Field Marshal Cariappa in his speech to RSS volunteers said "RSS is my heart's work. My dear young
men, don't be disturbed by uncharitable comments of interested persons. Look ahead! Go ahead! The
country is standing in need of your services"[111]
Zakir Hussain, former President of India told Milad Mehfil in Monghyar on 20 November 1949, "The
allegations against RSS of violence and hatred against Muslims are wholly false. Muslims should learn
the lesson of mutual love, cooperation and organization from RSS.[112][113]
Gandhian leader and the leader of Sarvoday movement, Jayaprakash Narayan, who earlier was a vocal
opponent of RSS had the following to say about it in 1977 "RSS is a revolutionary organisation. No other
organisation in the country comes anywhere near it. It alone has the capacity to transform society, end
casteism and wipe the tears from the eyes of the poor." He further added "I have great expectations from
this revolutionary organisation which has taken up the challenge of creating a new India"[114]
Criticisms and accusations
Christopher Jaffrelot, the director of the Center for Studies and Research (CERI) observes that although
the RSS with its paramilitary style of functioning and its emphasis on discipline has sometimes been
seen by some as "an Indian version of fascism",[115] he argues that RSS's ideology treats society as an
organism with a secular spirit, which is implanted not so much in the race as in a socio-cultural system
and which will be regenerated over the course of time by patient work at the grassroots. He writes that
ideology of the RSS did not develop a theory of the state and the race, a crucial elements in European
nationalisms; Nazism and Fascism"[115] and that the RSS leaders were interested in cultural as opposed
to racial sameness.[116]
The likening of the Sangh Parivar to "fascism" by Western critics has also been countered by Jyotirmaya
Sharma who labelled it as an "attempt by them to depress indian patriotism and unity". And that such
"simplistic transference" has done great injustice to our knowledge of Hindu nationalist politics.[117]
The RSS has been censured for its involvement in communal riots.
After giving careful and serious consideration to all the materials that are on record,the
Commission is of the view that the RSS with its extensive organisation in jamshedpur and
which had close links with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh had
a positive hand in creating a climate which was most propitious for the outbreak of communal
disturbances.
In the first instance, the speech of Shri Deoras (delivered just five days before the Ram Navami
festival) tended to encourage the Hindu extremists to be unyielding in their demands regarding
Road No. 14. Secondly, his speech amounted to communal propaganda. Thirdly, the shakhas
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and the camps that were held during the divisional conference presented a militant atmosphere
to the Hindu public. In the circumstances, the commission cannot but hold the RSS
responsible for creating a climate for the disturbances that took place on the 11th of April,
1979
— Jitendra Narayan in a report on Jamshedpur riots of 1979[118][119]
In response to a high profile gang rape in Delhi, Mohan Bhagwat, the head of RSS, stated that such
incidents only happen in cities, not villages. He further blamed "western values" for the increase in rapes
in India. Women's groups have countered that statistics show that rapes in rural India often go
unreported.[120]Bhagwat's remarks created a controversy and were criticised by activists and other
political parties.[121]
Involvement with riots
Human Rights Watch, a non-governmental organisation for human rights based in New York, has
claimed that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council, VHP), the Bajrang Dal, the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP have been party to the violence that erupted after 56 Hindus were
burnt alive in a coach of Sabarmati Express train at Godhra station by a Muslim mob.[122] Local VHP,
BJP and BD leaders have been named in many police reports filed by eyewitnesses.[123] RSS and VHP
claimed that they made appeals to put an end to the violence and to have asked their supporters and
volunteer staff to prevent any activity that might disrupt peace.[124]
Religious violence in Odisha
Christian groups accuse the RSS alongside its close affiliates, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP),
the Bajrang Dal (BD) and the Hindu Jagaran Sammukhya (HJS) of participation in the 2008 Religious
violence in Odisha.[125]
A US-based Christian charity working in Orissa claimed that Hindu extremists persuaded mobs to kill
Christians and destroy their homes.[125] RSS disputed the allegations, calling them "absolutely false"
and blamed the Indian National Congress for the violence.[125][126] The violence was triggered by the
murder of a senior VHP member Swami Lakshamananda Saraswati.[127] The police have arrested
Pradesh Kumar Das, an employee of the World Vision, a ChristianCharity, from Khadagpur while
escaping from the district at Buguda. In another drive, two other persons Vikram Digal and William Digal
have been arrested from the house of Lal Digal, a local militant Christian, from Nuasahi at Gunjibadi,
Nuagaan. They have admitted to having joined a group of 28 other assailants.[128]RSS/HJS blamed Mr.
Radha Kanta Nayak, a member of Congress party of being responsible for the killing and accused a
non-governmental organisation supported by him, World Vision, of being involved in religious
conversions.[126]
Involvement in Babri Masjid demolition
According to the report of the Liberhan Commission the Sangh Parivar organised the destruction of the
Babri Masjid.[129][10] The Commission said- "The blame or the credit for the entire temple construction
movement at Ayodhya must necessarily be attributed to the Sangh Parivar".[130] It also noted that the
Sangh Parivar is an "extensive and widespread organic body", which encompasses organizations, which
address and bring together just about every type of social, professional and other demographic
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grouping of individuals.
Each time, a new demographic group has emerged, the Sangh Parivar has hived off some
of its RSS inner-core leadership to harness that group and bring it within the fold,
enhancing the voter base of the Parivar.[131]
The RSS has denied reliability and questioned the objectivity of the report. Former RSS chief K S
Sudarshan posed allegations that the mosque was demolished by the government men as opposed to
the Karsevaks. The RSS alleges that the commission reports are fabricated and motivated primarily
by anti-Indian sentimentthan any objective desire to seek justice."[132]
On the other hand, the Government of India's white paper dismissed the idea that the demolition was
pre-organised.[133]
Photo gallery
Atal Bihari Vajpayee first
swayamsevak to
becomePrime Minister of
India.
RSS karyalay - main
entrance
RSS Icons - Lions a life
size sculpture
Wealth that Guruji had in
his lifetime.
Wealth that Guruji had in
his lifetime and built a
large organisation!
Iconic exhibition
Iconic exhibition
Dr. Keshav Baliram
Hedgewar Life size
posture
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Gifts from people
Appreciation of work from
London Metropolitan
police department UK
Recognition of work -
Hindu Council of Kenya
Dr.Keshav Baliram
Hedgewar figure at the
main office in Nagpur.
Gifts from indigenous
people
Gifts from indigenous
people
A Welcome note from
City of Milpitas California,
USA to K Sudarshan
Chair that Guruji used
towards the RSS office in
Nagpur.
Icons at main gallery -
RSS office in Nagpur.
Place where Vijaya
Dashami 'shakha' is
organised.
A historic place where
first 'shakha' was
organised.
Disciplined Shakha
organised.
Bibliography
Bhishikar C.P. Keshav Sangh-Nirmata 1976 Hindi Translation by Tapasvi Moreshwar 1991 Suruchi
Prakashan New Delhi 110055 India
Golwalkar M.S. Shri Guruji Samagra Suruchi Prakashan New Delhi 110055 India
Sinha Rakesh Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar 2003 New Delhi Publication Division Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting Government of India
Bhatt Chetan Hindu nationalism: origins, ideologies and modern myths 2001 Berg Publishers.
Madan Lal Verma 'Krant' Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna (4 Volumes) Research work on Ram Prasad
Bismil 1/1079-E Mehrauli New Delhi Praveen Prakashan 1997
Dr.'Krant' M. L. Verma Swadhinta Sangram Ke Krantikari Sahitya Ka Itihas (Set of 3 Volumes), 4760-
5/24/2014 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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61, IInd Floor, 23, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002, Praveen Prakashan, 2006, ISBN 81-
7783-122-4 (Set).
Dr.Mehrotra N.C. & Dr.Tandon Manisha Swatantrata Andolan Mein Shahjahanpur Ka
Yogdan 1995 Shahjahanpur India Shaheed-E-Aazam Pt. Ram Prasad Bismil Trust.
Publications
"Panchajanya" (in Hindi). RSS weekly publication.
"Organiser" . RSS weekly publication.
Bunch of Thoughts . Banglore, India: Sahitya Sindhu Prakashan. 1966.ISBN 81-86595-19-8. (A
Collection of Speeches by Golwalkar).
Weekly Swastika (A Nationalist Bengali News Weekly)
Biographies of Dr. Hedgewar The founder of RSS (in Hindi and English).
Books
Anderson, Walter K.; Damle, Sridhar D. (1987). The Brotherhood in Saffron.Delhi, India: Vistar
Publishers.
Anand, Adeesh (2007). Shree Guruji And His R.S.S.. Delhi, India: M.D. Publication Pvt. Lt