RSS

RSS

What is the RSS? It is an organisation founded by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in the year 1925 to defend the interests of Hindus. It eventually got an ideology for itself, which envisions a healthy and vibrant Hindu society linked to the idea of a Hindu Nation. It came to see that the Hindus can be united, motivated and energised only on the concept of Bharat Mata. There is nothing like a single scripture, religious icon or way of worship around which all Hindus can be united. The concept of Bharat Mata alone, as upholder of the vision of Hindutva, contained in the clarion calls of ‘Vasudeva Kudumbakam’ ‘Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuta Vadanti’ and ‘Krinvanto Vishvam Aryam’.

By and by, it evolved its organisational genius to concentrate upon creating the ideal individual for furthering the cause of the Sangh – the swayamsevak. Its instrument for creating of the swayamsevak is the Shakha. The swayamsevak was to have the qualities of detachment and commitment – detachment from the material pulls of society and commitment to the cause of Hindu nationalism. The swayamsevak met the challenge of Hindu nationalism by forming ever increasing numbers of organisations to influence each and every level and parameter of national polity. Thus came to be formed the Akhil Bharateeya Vidyarthi Parishad, Jan Sangh, VHP etc.

Today the whole conglomerate, called Sangha Parivar, is a huge network of organisations and charismatic individuals. Its power to influence and even change the course of national polity is not doubted by anyone. Its biggest problem might be, having grown so big and thus inevitably attracting all manner of folks all the while, how to maintained its famed discipline. Discipline might have taken a knock because it was the Shakha routine which imbibed discipline in the foot soilder of Sangha Parivar. But with Shakha not being de-regiur in the scheme of things in all the co-travelling organisations of RSS, discipline faded.