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| RSS @100 & its Centenary celebrations | | | Omkar Dattatray
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh popularly called RSS or Sangh is a largest socio-cultural organisation whose aim is to unify the Hindu society and spread patriotism and nationalism in the country. It is not a political organisation. RSS was founded 99 years ago on Vijaya Dashmi in Nagpur Maharashtra on 27th September 1925.RSS was founded by Dr K.B.Hedgewar. After reading V.D.Savarkar’s Hindutva, published in Nagpur in 1923, and meeting Savarkar in the Ratanagiri prison in 1925, Hedgewar was extremely influenced by him and he founded the RSS with the objective of strengthening India. Hedgewar believed that a handful of British were able to rule India because Hindu’s were disunited and disorganised and unity of Hindus is the panacea for all ills of the Bharat and thus RSS is from the day one of its establishment on the job of uniting the Hindu society and RSS is helping the country at the times of need and any emergency. RSS believes in Hindutva and its ideology is furthering Hindutva philosophy and it is serving the nation with dedication and utmost discipline. Discipline is the characteristic feature and hallmark of RSS.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 in the course of time by patient work at grassroots. RSS leaders were interested in Hindu cultural homogeneity as opposed to racial sameness. RSS is a right -wing Hindutva volunteer paramilitary organisation. Its sister organisations are VHP, Bajrang Dal, Durgavahani, etc and its political offshoot is the BJP. Mohan Bhagwat is the Sarsangchalak -chief of RSS and is serving the RSS since 2009.He often advises the BJP but still does not interfere with the working of the government. RSS has created thousands of units called Shakas in the length and breadth of India where Hindu youth meet daily at the stipulated time and further patriotism and instil discipline, punctuality and service to the nation among its volunteer force. RSS also gives some martial training to its Swayamsaveks at its shakas. The main motives of RSS are to promote Hindutva and Hindu nationalism. As of 2024, RSS is organising and running 73,117 branches called Shakhas throughout the country. RSS is also working to uphold Indian culture and civilizational ethos. After, independence RSS grew into an influential Hindu nationalistic umbrella organisation, spawning several affiliated organisations that established numerous schools, charities, and clubs to spread its ideological beliefs. RSS was banned for four days in 1947, and then thrice by post- independence government, first in 1948 when it was accused that its activist Nathuram Godse has assassinated Mahatma Gandhi and then in 1975 during emergency and for a third time after the demolition of disputed structure called Babri Masjid in December 1992.In 21st century, it has been described as the world’s largest far-right organisation by membership. RSS activists helped Indian military in 1948 ,1962,1971 and 1999 Kargil incursion by manning its activists to perform civil activities of managing traffic and other civil works. RSS has planned several outreach programmes as it completes 100 years of its formation this year .RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale informed this at the conclusion of a three -day national meet of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidi Sabha of the Sangh in Bangaluru. RSS will complete 100 years of its foundation in October 2025 and the celebrations of its centenary had begun on August 26. For, its centenary year the RSS has set a goal to reach every block in very state across the country. The RSS has announced the plans to organise Hindu conferences and public outreach programs across the country as part of its centenary year celebrations. However, its general secretary said there will be no formal celebrations but various outreach programmes will be launched on its foundation day on Vijayadashmi this year. These, programmes will seek social participation in various activities for the betterment of the society. There will be mass contact programmes at the mandal level and basti levels at the grassroots level to promote social harmony and national unity. Hosabale said Aurangzeb does not represent Indian ethos and cultural values. He said society should decide whether an invader can be their icon. He said religion- based reservation is not constitutional and many courts have rejected such an action. To mark the milestone of RSS completing its 100 years of its establishment, celebrations began on August 26 with lecture series by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat,which will take place in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. For its centenary year,the RSS has set a goal to reach every block in every state across the country. The RSS considers its local branches—Shakhas its greatest strength and aims to increase the number of Shakhas to over one lakh this year. Centenary year celebration programme has been inaugurated by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on 26th August2025 with a three -day lecture series in four major metros. Alongside this nationwide outreach campaigns will also be conducted. Towards the end of the year, the RSS plans to organise 1,500 to 1,600 Hindu conferences across India. The RSS was founded on Vijayadashmni, which falls on October 2 this year, marking its 100th anniversary. Meanwhile, RSS chief Bhagwat said the core principle of the RSS is ‘’belongingness ‘’. He added, ’’if RSS were to be described in one word, it would be ‘belongingness’ adding this feeling must grow stronger in the society. He further said that RSS organises Hindus. Bhagwat further said that the feeling of belongingness should be strengthened because the entire world is sustained by it. Bhagwat said that real unity comes from recognising the common thread that connects everyone. Humans unlike animals, have the ability to rise above selfishness. The one who understands this belongingness is truly human. He said that if RSS chose BJP President, would it take so long. RSS chief Bhagwat said the Sangh will bat for reservations till beneficiaries do not feel the need for it, he said while caste system once existed, it has no relevance in today’s world. ’’caste- based reservation must be approached with sensitivity. Deendayalji had a vision –those at the bottom should strive to rise, and those at the top should extend a hand to pull them up. Sangh, has always backed constitutionally backed reservation. He said do not give jobs to illegal migrants. and termed conversion and illegal migration as the cause of demographic change in India. These two are the key reasons of demographic imbalance. Akhand Bharat is fact of life, we should realise our culture and ancestors are same. Bhagwat said Indian families should adopt three child norms in the interest of the country. The RSS chief said that ‘’I or someone else should retire’’ at 75 years. To sum up we can say that RSS has during all its years worked voluntarily at the times of natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes, droughts and at national contingencies and emergencies and in wars. It has all along been distributing relief materials to the calamity affected people without any religious distinctions. We should be proud that in Bharat such a socio-cultural organisation as RSS is flourishing and thriving and promoting patriotism and nationalism. Let us celebrate the centenary year of the RSS’s celebration with enthuism and with the resolve to dedicate ourselves to the service of the nation and this will be the true tribute to RSS on its completion of one hundred year.
The author is a columnist, social, KP activist & Freelancer |
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