The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sees its 100th anniversary as a moment for introspection and rededication, rather than a celebration. It is also an opportunity to recognize the efforts of visionary leaders and Swayamsevaks who have selflessly joined this path. At 100, the Sangh is far more essential and important to Bharat than ever before.
Initially, the Sangh possessed nothing. There was no acknowledgment for its ideas or means of promotion. There was nothing except neglect and antagonism in the society, not even too many Karyakartas. If this data had been placed into a computer, it would have anticipated the organisations early death. However, the Sangh persevered and emerged as a resilient force despite the hardships of preserving Hindu society and nation during the Nation’s division and the RSS ban. By 1950, it was clear that the Sangh’s work would continue and increase, and that the Hindu society could be organized using cohesion and adhesion.
Later, the Sangh work was stretched even more than before. During the 1975 Emergency, the Sangh’s beneficial role in restoring democracy made society recognize the value of its commitment for the nation. Later, through participatory movements such as the Ekatmata Rath Yatra, Kashmir-related awakening, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Andolan, and Vivekananda’s 150th Anniversary, as well as the massive expansion of Seva activities, the sense of credibility towards Sangh ideology and the Sangh spread exponentially throughout society.
The founder, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar known as Doctor Ji was convinced that political activism alone would not alleviate the core problems. As a result, he resolved to develop a strategy of persistent attempts to train individuals to live for the nation. This imaginative thinking led to the development of the Shakha technique. Dr. Hedgewar devised a training system for organizing the entire society rather than forming an organization within it. After 100 years, thousands of young people continue to follow in Dr. Hedgewarji’s footsteps, eager to devote themselves to the national cause. The Sangh’s acceptability and aspirations of society are expanding. These are simply indicators of support for Doctorji’s vision.
Dr. Hedgewar, the RSS’s founder, left his abode in 1940, and M.S. Golwalkar known as Guruji succeeded him as the RSS’s second Sarsanghchalak. He spent the following 33 years leading from the front, transforming a modest organization into a pan-Bharat operation. During his leadership, the RSS established the majority of its affiliated organizations, broadening its reach to all walks of life. Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, ABVP, Bharatiya Janasangh and many more.
The RSS has been banned three times over the last century: in 1948, 1975, and 1992. The organisation was outlawed in 1948 following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, in 1975 during the Emergency, and in 1992 following the demolition of the disputed Babri Masjid at Prabhu Shri Ram’s birthplace in Ayodhya. All three times, the ban was lifted in a short period of time, the RSS was cleared of the fraudulent charges leveled against it by the government, and it emerged more stronger. RSS is the sole organization that has survived and grown in the face of hostile government and media. No government, despite its best efforts, could convict the RSS in any court of justice. The Sangh faced restrictions and hatred, yet it survived and thrived because it is based on truth and service, not ambition. This must be a rare case around the world. The RSS Constitution was written after the prohibition was lifted in 1949. During 1975-77, the RSS spearheaded an underground struggle to restore democracy from the front, and its contribution was appreciated around the world.
Former RAW chief A K Verma stated, “I do not look at the RSS in the same manner that the Congress does. What exactly is wrong with the RSS? Its sole purpose is to restore the Hindu community’s esteem. Those who do not grasp it abuse the Sangh. It is establishing ancient cultural principles. It is doing good work.”
RSS volunteers’ sacrifices and contributions to defending India during partition deserve special recognition in Bharatiya history. Whether it was charging the entire atmosphere by leading processions during the independence struggle, gathering information about Pakistan’s military activities and the possibility of a Kashmir invasion, or even the famous ‘Martyrs of Kotli’ incident, where swayamsevaks demonstrated their patriotic acts and gallantry by laying down their lives to protect the honour of their motherland.
Noted journalist Kushwant Singh, who had previously been openly critical of the RSS, said that the RSS was instrumental in assisting Sikhs in huge numbers when killers went on a spree to kill them in Delhi during the heinous 1984 anti-Sikh riots, in which even government apparatus failed.
During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the RSS made significant contributions. Swayamsevaks from all across the nation gathered in the northeast of Bharat to assist both the army and the villagers during those difficult times. Their dedicated commitment was honored by the entire nation when then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited the RSS to participate in the Bharatiya Republic Day parade in 1963.
International recognition of Goa, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli as Portuguese territory persisted even after independence. The RSS opposed the colonists’ reluctance to leave Bharatiya Territory and took part in campaigns to decolonize these areas. To liberate Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the RSS teamed up with the Azad Gomantak Dal (AGD) and the National Movement Liberation Organization (NMLO) in April 1954. Leaders of the RSS called for Goa’s independence from Portugal and incorporation into Bharat in 1955. The Satyagraha agitation was conducted directly into Goa by RSS leader Jagannath Rao Joshi after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru declined to allow an armed intervention. The Portuguese police put him and his supporters in jail. The nonviolent demonstrations persisted, but they were violently suppressed. The areas of Naroli and Phiparia, as well as the capital of Silvassa, were taken by volunteer teams from the RSS and AGD.
Even now, in the event of man-made disasters like the Bhopal gas tragedy, the Assam riots, the train accidents in different parts, or natural disasters like the Tamil Nadu tsunami, Gujarat earthquake, Andhra Pradesh floods, or Uttarakhand floods, RSS swayamsevaks are the first to reach those in need.
According to Supreme Court Justice K. T Tomas, “If an organisation has to be given credit for freeing the nation from the Emergency, I would give that to the RSS.” Also stated that the RSS instills discipline in its Swayamsevaks in order to “protect the nation.” I admire the RSS’s teaching and belief that physical strength is intended to protect oneself from threats. I understand that RSS’s physical training is intended to defend the nation and society during times of attack.
Middle Path not Extremism
The current RSS Sarsanghchalak doctor Mohanji Bhagwat, speaking to over 1200 influential members of society, including ambassadors from numerous nations, clarified the RSS’s perspective. He made it clear that the RSS seeks to restore societal balance and prevent all sorts of radicalism. According to Bhagwat ji, RSS is a supporter of the middle way in accordance with Bharatiya traditions. This intermediate route is based on the concept of Dharma (righteousness), which should not be confused with religion. In today’s society, the RSS envisions the embodiment of this ‘Dharma’ in everyday life through the Panch Parivartan (Five-fold Transformations) principles, which includes social harmony, family awakening, environmental awareness, Civic sense and self reliance or Swa Bodh. It is apparent that this will be the foundational philosophical underpinning for the future roadmap. The primary building block of this ideology is ‘Dharma’. While there is a propensity to view everything via a political lens, the Sangh remains focused on cultural awakening and building a strong network of like-minded individuals and organizations. The Sangh has focused on women’s participation in social development and the restoration of the sanctity of the family institution. Celebrations such as the tri-centenary of Lokmata Ahilyabhai Holkar, which involved millions of people, demonstrate the Sangh’s emphasis on honouring national icons.
RSS supports modernization but opposes all forms of westernization. According to RSS, we should modernize our own values and culture rather than import culture from another civilization. We are importing terrible Westernization methods in the name of modernization. RSS believes that, despite its magnificent heritage of knowledge and prosperity, Bharat was enslaved as we lost awareness about “Shatru Bodh”. To uplift and strengthen the nation, you must unify the people, which may be accomplished by demonstrating their shared lineage and making them aware of their magnificent past. Otherwise In the long term, we will lose our identity and become subject to being taken over by other religious fundamentalists. Our way of life would be distorted, and hence RSS as organization is strongly determined to protect it. The ultimate goal is to restore past splendor and liberate today’s generation from Western-oriented slavery mentality.
The Sangh is inspired not by the ambition to govern, but by the desire to serve and elevate society and nation. Its intellectual foundation is dharma-samajik sewa (ethical social service), which maintains it consistent with both civilizational values and constitutional grounds. Thus, the centenary is more than just an anniversary; it is also a philosophical milestone. It maintains that ethical universality, inclusiveness, and cultural rootedness are the foundations of long-term relevance in Bharatiya society. Inclusivity is more than just a political slogan; it is a basic moral and philosophical position rooted in Bharat’s civilizational aspirations and historical heritage. Inclusiveness believes in “Bharatiyatva” and hence crosses caste, creed, religion, and political affiliation. Sangh’s goal is not to exclude anyone, but to organize the entire society, rejecting exclusivity in favor of togetherness. “The term ‘Hindu’ signified inclusiveness.”
The concept of Hindu Dharma is not a rigorous religious designation, but rather a vast civilizational ethos based on culture, spirituality, and shared ancestry. Bhagwat ji highlighted that Hindu Dharma extends beyond religion to represent a civilizational identity based on shared geography, history, and spiritual traditions.
For many practising and non-practising Hindus, the RSS has long been an enigma—both easily understood and misunderstood. Its distinct work culture and altruistic, Swayamsevak – driven organization derive strength from Bharat’s civilizational tradition, which has weathered numerous upheavals and tribulations.
The aspirations of millions of Bharatiyas to make “Viksit Bharat” mean developed nation and “Vishwaguru” by 2047 require the support of society as a whole, celebrities and respected people from various sectors, and various governments to come forward and work with RSS and many other organizations to build a great nation. The time is short and the task is large, thus collaborating while maintaining “Nation first” is critical and essential.
–Pankaj Jagannath Jayswal
