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5/24/2014 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtriya_Swayamsevak_Sangh 1/15 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 be rewritten. Please discuss this issue on the talk page and read the layout guide to make sure the section will be inclusive of all essential details. (May 2014) The neutrality of this article is disputed.Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until 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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Page 1: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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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-

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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