Ram Rattan Sharma
The Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) a nationalist and the world’s largest voluntary organization, is entering its 100th year on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashmi, founded on 27th of Sep this very day in 1925 by Kehsav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur Maharashtra. The RSS is dedicated to promoting Indian culture, preserving Hindu traditions and fostering national unity. The RSS has grown exponentially over the past decades, expanding its rich across India and abroad. Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925 in response to British colonial rule and Hindu Muslim tensions it is influenced by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s writings on Hindu Nationalism.
The congress leader’s policy of appeasement of the Muslims was but one symptoms of the malaise. It is an irony of history that even after paying the ultimate price of vivisection of their cherished motherland, the Hindus have been treated as second order citizens by successive Governments of post independence Bharat.
Dr. Hadgewar indeed foresaw this, years of thinking had convinced him that a strong and united Hindu Society alone is the sine quan on for not only the all-round prosperity but for the very survival of Bharat as an independent sovereign nation, social cohesion alone could ensure integrity.
Dr. Hadgewar’s response to this challenge was founding the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh in 1925.The sweep and amplitude of one great mind can be fully grasped only by minds with a like vision and imagination.Thus, even in early days of the Sangh, it drew praise and approval from eminent stalwarts including Mahatma Gandhi, Sarvarkar, Subash Chandra Bose, Madan Mohan Malviya and others.
A handful of youths in Nagpur started the first Shakha of the Sangh.Gradually, Shakhas sprouted in other provinces. Soon, a vast number of Pracharakas were seen working to fulfill the Sangh mission. Dr. Hadgewar toiled night and day to lay a secure foundation for the strengthening and growth of the Sangh. That tremendous work spanning fifteen years did take its toll, and Dr.Hedgewar succumbed to illness on June 21, 1940 at a comparatively young age of 51.
However, decisively swimming against the tide, one particular organization that stood firm and advocated patriotism and its reflection in popular behavior in an unapologetic manner was the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS)
This Dusshera was special for the RSS as the organization entered its centennial year. For a movement like the RSS, it is truly remarkable to have been relentlessly working to awaken the masses on issues concerning national integration and social harmony for a country, while reminding them about India’s foundational culture.
The success of the RSS is unique.Firstly, thanks to the RSS, patriotism has evolved as a basic value, motivating several hundred thousand citizens to come together, work together and stay together.RSS must be credited for educating people to make them realize patriotism has to reflect in their day to day conduct and is not just confined to flag hoisting, playing patriotic songs or taking a pledge of National Unity. The RSS has evolved what could be described as multidimensional patriotism, including social, cultural, behavioural and economic patriotism.
A subject of cultural patriotism is taking legitimate pride in one’s identity. Sociologists no more consider identity as something primordial. They now recognize its importance as a unifying force. Obviously then, with the spectre of cultural flattening of the world as a waves of Americanization engulf many parts of the globe,RSS’s cultural patriotism teaches the value of protecting our core cultural identity to safeguard the beauty of diversity. From languages to culminary traditions and from fashion to architecture, if the global community indulges aping the west, the world will certainly be less attractive then what actually is.
The third variant of patriotism promoted by the RSS is citizen’s patriotism. There are two aspects of this.Firstly, RSS teaches what can be described as citizens’ social responsibility by imbibing a sense of societal indebtedness in their mind. Secondly, it also tries to cultivate law-abiding and value conscious citizens who try to adhere to ethics and mortality. Hundreds of Sangh-inspired Organizations work all over India, but one rarely hears about corruption, nepotism or lack of transparency and accountability afflicting them. In its own way, RSS tries to instill a strong sense of purpose in common people, making their lives more meaningful.
There comes the importance of the fourth variant, the functional or organizational patriotism. Over the decades, the Sangh has evolved its own science of organization, where all are considered equally important and nobody is believed to be indispensable. A strong belief in the science of transforming individuals has made RSS accept all as they are and cultivate them as they need to be.
The Karyapaddhati or style of functioning historically evolved in the Sangh, has made it ‘RSS’.It has the resilience to adopt new techonologies, befriended new generations and evolve new systems without any compromise to its core philosophy. Like mother India, RSS is ever ageing but never old.
Samajik Samarasata or Social Harmony, which takes one mile ahead of mere equality, is the social patriotism of RSS.The third Sarsanghchalak BalaSaheb Deoras, said that discrimination on the basis of caste has to go lock, stock and barrel.
The last but perhaps most important patriotism RSS promotes could rightly be described as service patriotism or humanitarian patriotism. India would not have witnessed a single natural calamity, especially during the post independence era without RSS cadres rushing to extend relief and rehabilitation assistanc.From Himachal to Gujarat and Assam to Kerala,RSS ‘Nickerwalas’ were present everywhere when floods, famines or earth quakes visited there.
Many a time, people raise the question about Hindutva.But here too, the RSS is very clear.Hindutva is Hinduness and every Hindu has democracy in his/her blood. In my opinion, Hindutva is synonymous with large -heartedness. Take the example of how RSS dealt with those who founded Sangh.Balasaheb Deoras, having been freed from jail, was clear that eye for an eye wouldn’t take them anywhere despite being at the receiving end of injustice by the Indira-Government.We need to bring change in the hearts of those who did not treat us well,”Balasaheb had said in Nagpur in March 1977.
All this makes the RSS centenary a festival of national reconstruction. Thanks to hundreds and thousands of volunteers worshipping the value of patriotism, through its multifaceted contributions, the RSS has successfully mainstreamed patriotism.
The RSS has played a significant role in shaping India’s Socio-Cultural landscape through its various contribution, the RSS has promoted national unity, preserved Indian Culture, and provided social services to under privileged communities. As the RSS continued to evolve its commitment to promoting Indian Values and fostering National Unity remains unwavering
(The author is Former Dy. Librarian, University of Jammu)
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