Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (R.S.S.)

Keshub Baliram Hedgewar is the founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He was born on 1st April 1889 to a Brahmin parents in Maharashtra. His father migrated from Andhra Pradesh to Nagpur. Unfortunately, Hedgewar became an orphan at the age of thirteen.

So he had to fight against all kinds of adverse situation. But in the midst of this life of struggle he developed a love for the motherland. While he was still a teenager, he learned the history of Hindu India, especially the history of Maratha kingdom. He was very much influenced by the life of Shivaji. Hedgewar hated Britishers from the very childhood because he saw that they are ruling India by muscle power in spite of being a handful of people.

After he passed high school he took part in Bande Mataram agitation. He joined National Medical College at Calcutta to study medicine. In 1916, he completed his medical study LM & S. (License in Medicine and surgery) and returned to Nagpur. But he did not set up his own medical practice. He decided to remain bachelor throughout his life to dedicate himself for the service of the nation. Keeping this view in mind, he started living a disciplined life and he set up the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Mandal in 1925 with the support of five friends.

Hedgewar died on 21st June 1940 and M. S. Golwalkar took over the leadership of RSS. It is noteworthy to mention that RSS grew into a large organization by the time of Hedgewar’s death, within a period of 15 years.

Philosophy and Emphasis of RSS

• RSS wants to create a spirit of service among Hindus.
• It inculcates a spirit of sacrifice and devotion to the Hindu Samaj.
• It wants to bring about an all around regeneration
• It wants organize a well-disciplined corporate life.
• It wants to be purely devoted to cultural work and not to be involved in politics.
• RSS believes in one culture, one nation (Akhand Bharat) and Hindu Rashtra.
• RSS disclaims that Christians and Muslims are the true sons of India.
• They say the non-Hindus are enemies of India, they have no love for the nation, they corrupt people, and make Indians turn their back on indigenous practices.
• RSS is against communists because they say communists do not have any pride for India’s culture. RSS accuses that the communists have loyalties to Russia and China and therefore, Muslims, Christian and communists are India’s internal threats.
• RSS believes in five H’s: Hindu Nation, Hindu Religion, Hindu Race, Hindu Culture, and Hindu Language.
• RSS aims for the unification of all Hindus.
• It wants to create a sense of pride in the cultural heritage of India.
• RSS seeks re-admission of all those Hindus who accepted Islam or Christianity or any other religion.

It has many programs such as:

• Promoting Sanskrit language.
• Introduction of religious instruction in the Universities.
• Protection of cows.
• Giving financial supports to Hindu priests and sadhus.
• Creating Religious consciousness among Hindu masses.
• Organizing big meeting and festivals to unite all Hindus.

RSS is a militant group of Hindus. It is basically a religious organization, involved mostly in religious activities. It is trying to revitalize Hinduism to bring unity and love. RSS wants to bring back those people who have been converted to other religions.

RSS is also involved in relief and rehabilitation work. RSS has programmes for student welfare, Labor welfare, Tribal and Harijan welfare. RSS gives training to the community welfare workers. RSS now function as an umbrella organization for many other Hindu organizations. All these organizations together are called Sangh Parivar (RSS family). B.J.P, VHP, Vanavasi Kalyan Kendras, Hindu Maha Sabha, Bharatiya Vichara Kendram and Bajrang Dal are all part of this Sangh Parivar. RSS was banned by congress governments in 1948, 1978 and 1992.

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