A Century of RSS: Changing Face and Politics.

RSS in Its Centenary Year: A Shift in Hindutva Ideology and a Tool for Political Power.

Upananda Brahmachari. 

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), one of India’s largest and most influential Hindu nationalist organizations, has been at the forefront of shaping the country’s socio-political landscape for nearly a century. As the organization celebrates its centenary year, several developments and criticisms have emerged that warrant a closer examination of its ideology, actions, and relationship with political power.

RSS’s Outreach to Muslims: A Strategic Move or Ideological Shift?

The RSS’s recent efforts to engage with Muslim communities, exemplified by the association of Kalim Siddique, also known as Changoor Baba, have sparked controversy. Critics argue that this outreach is part of the RSS’s “Same DNA theory,” and “Hindu Rashtra is incomplete without Muslims,” aimed at bringing communal Muslims into its fold to secure a Muslim vote bank for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The existence of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch within the RSS framework further underscores this effort. However, this approach has drawn criticism from staunch Hindu groups, who perceive it as a dilution of the organization’s core Hindu identity.

Questioning the One Nation Idea

The RSS’s initiative to establish a separate Christian body has raised questions about its commitment to the idea of “One Nation.” This move seems to contradict the organization’s professed goal of promoting national unity and integration. Furthermore, the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, a sister concern of the RSS, has been involved in various activities. The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s closeness with Maulana Kaleem Siddiquee, a notorious Islamist conversion racket runner ^[1][2] who is now in jail for life, has also raised eyebrows. Recently, another individual, Changoor Baba, who was also arrested for running an Islamist conversion racket, was exposed as a close associate of the RSS. These developments have sparked concerns about the RSS’s commitment to its core ideology.

RSS Chief’s Lecture Series: An Emphasis on Muslim Inclusion

During the RSS’s centenary year, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat delivered a three-day lecture series in Delhi, highlighting the organization’s inclination to include Muslims in its fold. Notably, the RSS has struggled to garner even 20% support from Hindus in general, raising questions about the effectiveness of its outreach efforts. Moreover, Bhagwat’s past advocacy for beef consumption in the interest of communal harmony has sparked controversy, further fueling criticism that the RSS is compromising its Hindu roots to appease Muslim sentiments.

In an effort to extend outreach to Muslims within the Sangh Parivar, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat tried to state that the Puja Paddhati (worship practices) of Muslims would undergo a change after conversion, while also attempting to redefine Hinduism as a broad cultural identity rather than a specific Dharma. This perspective seeks to encompass all life in Hindustan under the umbrella of ‘Hindu’.

The Elusive Hindu Rashtra

The RSS’s vision of a Hindu Rashtra has been a subject of debate. Critics argue that instead of advocating for a Cultural-Constitutional-Sovereign Hindu Rashtra, the RSS is content with a watered-down ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} notion of a cultural Hindu Rashtra. This approach allegedly allows for issues like Love Jihad, Land Jihad, Conversion, Cow Slaughter, and Corruption to persist, while prioritizing amity with the increasing Muslim population in the country.

Despite misinterpreting the core concept of ‘Vijigeeshu Hindu Rashtra‘ (a victorious Hindu state), Dr. Mohan Bhagwat stated that ‘Hindu Rashtra’ has no relation to power. Does the RSS want powerless and compromising Hindus within its own ecosystem?

Distorting Core Ideals: Rashtra Bodh and Shatru Bodh

The RSS’s centenary celebrations have also seen a departure from its core ideals of ‘Rashtra Bodh’ (Thought about the Nation) and ‘Shatru Bodh’ (Identifying the Enemies of the Nation). By diluting these concepts, the RSS is arguably diminishing the glory of Hindutva propounded by its founder, Dr. K.B. Hedgewar, and Hindutva proponent V.D. Savarkar.

From Protector to Bystander: RSS’s Shift in Focus

In its centenary year, the RSS appears to be prioritizing social parameters through its Panch Parivartan^[1][2] initiative, effectively functioning as an NGO. Critics argue that this shift in focus comes at the expense of its responsibility to protect Hindus from Jihadi and Evangelist forces. This perceived abandonment of its protective role raises concerns about the RSS’s commitment to the safety and well-being of the Hindu community.

Lack of Transparency and Accountability

Despite claiming to be a nationalist organization that believes in the Indian Constitution, the RSS has reportedly not registered itself as an organization and does not submit annual returns or pay income tax. This lack of transparency and accountability is particularly striking given the RSS’s collection of billions of rupees through Guru Dakshina, exploiting the Hindutva and Hindu mindset.

RSS: A Tool for Political Power

The RSS claims to be a non-political organization, yet it sends organization secretaries to every state to work with the BJP and set the party’s agenda. This close relationship has led to criticism that the RSS has become a tool for the BJP to maintain its political power in the Center and various states. In the centenary year of RSS, its actions and policies seem to be driven more by a desire to appease Muslims and serve the BJP’s interests rather than prioritizing Hindu concerns.

The RSS’s centenary year has been marked by controversy and criticism. As the organization navigates its relationship with Muslims, its ideology, and its role in Indian politics, it remains to be seen whether it will recommit to its core ideals or continue down a path that prioritizes political power and appeasement over the interests of the Hindu community.

Courtesy: The links used above.
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