Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)

Abstract

In this, the first of a four-part historical narrative of the origins and growth of the RSS, the author deals with the disenchantment of many Congressmen with Gandhi's Non-Co-operation Move-ment and with efforts at Hindu-Muslim togetherness. One of these disaffected Congressmen, Hedgewar, whose early years are recounted in detail, goes on -inspired by Savarkar -to found the RSS in 1925. The emphasis in the early years of the RSS is on initiating unity, discipline and culture-consciousness among Hindus. By the late 1930s the RSS is an organised and trained group with its own para-military organisa-tion. This attracts the attention of the Government of India which begins to keep a close watch on it. In order to prepare for the post-War period and the expected Hindu-Muslim troubles, the RSS decides at the beginning of the Second World War not to antagonise the Government in any way. Part of the strategy is to avoid scrupulously any political activity or any help to the Hindu Mahasabha. This decision proves to be controversial within the ranks of the RSS. The general approach of Golwalkar, Hedgewar's successor, is extreme caution in order to avoid the wrath of the British. The RSS does not take part in the 'Quit India' movement in 1942. The next part of this narrative deals mainly with the relationship between the RSS and the Hindu Mahasabha. The third section covers Gandhi's assassination and the subsequent banning of the RSS. The fourth and final part discusses the genesis of the Jan Sangh and the role played by the RSS in its formation. THIS is a study of the most potent organised Hindu cultural group of the twentieth century in India -the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).1 Two themes emerge as the purpose of the RSS in its formative stages: (1) to uinite Hindus, as part of the initial pre-paration of ridding India of colonial rule; (2) to organise Hindus against ex-ternal dangers of Islam, Christianity, and other outside creeds which the organisers felt were tending to dena-tionalise Hindus. The means to accom-plish both was the reforming or rel)uilding of character to serve the cause of national and cultural libera-tion. The organisation of that move-ment was, in large part, drawn from the Maharashtrian tradition -an organisa-tion combining a gymnastic and mili-tary tradition, and a Hindu math (i e, monastery). A programme emphasising gymnastics, Indian games, glorification of military and religious heroes, and the Brahminical concept of selfless service is also linked to the Maha-rashtrian locale of the RSS. Below is a sketch of the rise and development of that movement between 1925 and 1951, when the forms and policies of the organisation were formnulated. Frequent mention will be made of the Hindu Mahasabha, a group with which many RSS members were at one time asso-ciated, and from whose ranks the leader of the political expressions of its ideology emerged.