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| The organisation further contends that "caste-based untouchability" and "feelings of high caste and low caste" were the main evils haunting the Hindu society and aims to eradicate Casteism from Indian society. To that end, the R.S.S have tried to reach out to prominent ] (traditionally the "]" Caste) leaders in India, such as poet and leader of the Dalit activist group "Dalit Panthers" Namdeo Dhasal<ref name="RSS+Dalits~happyhappy">,''Times of India''</ref>. The Dalit Panthers have been traditional adversaries of the R.S.S and peceived them as an "upper-caste" dominated party.However, negotiations with RSS chief K.Sudarshan on ] ] led to reconciliations, when Sudarshan declared that the R.S.S categorically rejects all forms of ] discrimination in the organization. He further said: | |||
| The organisation further contends that "caste-based untouchability" and "feelings of high caste and low caste" were the main evils haunting the Hindu society. | |||
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| The ]s are our own flesh and blood, but because of some ill practices and social evils the practice of ] has brought havoc on those who were an integral part and defenders of ]. This has to be corrected through our deeds and actions<ref name="RSS=Dalits~happyhappy"/>." | |||
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| Appealing for social harmony and Hindu brotherhood, the organisation warned the community against the political parties, which it said had been drawing "political benefits" out of casteism and "Inventing caste based new conflicts in the Hindu society for the sake of political benefits has become a trend of many politicians these days.<ref name="toi"/>" | Appealing for social harmony and Hindu brotherhood, the organisation warned the community against the political parties, which it said had been drawing "political benefits" out of casteism and "Inventing caste based new conflicts in the Hindu society for the sake of political benefits has become a trend of many politicians these days.<ref name="toi"/>" | ||
Revision as of 00:41, 31 October 2006
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (Template:Lang-hi, Template:Lang-en), also known as the Sangh or the RSS, is a right wing Hindu nationalist organization in India. It was started in 1925 by K.B. Hedgewar. The RSS is active throughout India and also abroad as the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, "Hindu Volunteers' Union". The RSS is the largest volunteer organization in India. It has found itself at odds with many Muslim and Christian religious organizations due its commitment to stop conversions of Hindus and to "organise" the Hindu society. Its growing numbers has seen the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party, "Indian Peoples' Party", (formerly, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh). The RSS was banned in India thrice: in 1948 after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, during the 1975 Emergency in India, and after the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition. The bans were subsequently lifted after the Supreme Court of India declined to uphold the bans.
History
In 1925, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a Nagpur doctor influenced by recent Hindu-Muslim riots in his town, formed the Rashtriya Swayemsevak Sangh with a vow to transform India into a Hindu nation and so that Hindus could, in effect, protect themselves by organizing together. Hedgewar proposed the Hindu masses must be united to combat "cultural invasions" and protect the freedom and diversity of Indian civilization.
Partition activities
The Partition of India was a very traumatic event in the young nation's history. Millions of people, both Hindu and Muslim, were ethnically cleansed from India and Pakistan/East-Pakistan and the death toll was considerable . A poorly executed plan of dividing the two countries, basically amounting to ethnic cleansing of Hindus from Pakistan , created the situation that still haunts the two nations. Partition was agreed to by Gandhi himself, including Nehru and Jinnah, on the urging of the British, without any practical provision to protect the millions of Hindus that were living in Pakistan and had no option but to leave (unlike many muslims who had an option and felt safe enough to stay in India in large numbers).
The organization gained considerable strength and support participating in the Hindu-Muslim riots during the time of the partition, and it was able to successfully protect Hindus in addition to maintaining offensives. At the time, it took a vehement anti-Muslim stance. This was due to the alienation the Congress Party (seen as a "Hindu" party at the time) received from the Muslim League.
Banning and revival
After Mahatma Gandhi's death in 1948, the RSS was accused by the Government of India for allegedly taking part in the plot to assassinate the Mahatma. In response, the government banned the RSS on February 4, 1948. The government wished to place several restrictions on the organization, which its current leader, Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, would not accede to. Troubles with the government, including arrests of many of the RSS' members continued until January 1949, when Golwalkar, the then sarsanghchalak (leader), halted the organization's activities.
Golwalkar began drafting a constitution for the RSS which he sent to the national government in March of 1949. In July of the same year, after many negotiations over the consititution and its acceptance, the ban on RSS was lifted.
Over the 1950s and 1960s, under Golwalkar (usually called "Guruji" or "Guru Golwalkar" by members), the RSS regained its power slowly and steadily, and amongst its social work embraced the Cow Slaughter Ban Movement and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya movement. In 1967, the RSS formed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad ("World Hindu Council") to explicitly work on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the religious upliftment of Hindus.
Organization
The RSS has been described by The Economist as the largest non-communist organisation in the world. It has an estimated 1.3 million members. The RSS organises itself hierarchically, with a single individual, the sarsanghachalak (English: Supreme Organisational Director), directing it. The position is decided by appointment, with nominal elections being held, with each sarsanghachalak appointing his successor. The current sarsanghachalak of RSS is K.S. Sudarshan.
Most of the organisational work of the Sangh is done through the coordination of shakhas, or branches. These shakhas are run every morning (prabhat shakha), evening (sayam shakha) or night (atisayam shakha) for 1 hour in public places and are open to people of any creed. Currently about 50,000 shakhas are run throughout India. Apart from 42,000 daily gatherings, there are about 5,000 weekly and 2,000 monthly gatherings conducted throughout the length and breadth of the country.
These shakhas are the core building blocks of RSS structure. During a Shakha, the activities consist of yoga, games (including sometimes training in Silambam), discussions on broad range of social topics, prayer to Bharat Mata and an educational session (bouddhik) given by a notable figure selected by the shakha coordinator. Usually the educational session relates to the history of India, Indian philosophy and culture, or ethics. RSS leaders wear the common uniform of a black cap, white shirt and brown khaki shorts.
Sarsanghchalaks
The Sarsanghchalak is the paramount leader of the RSS organization. The individuals who held the post are
- Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (founder), also known as Doctorji (1925-1940)
- Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar, also known as, Guruji (1940-1973)
- Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras, also known as, Balasaheb (1973-1993)
- Rajendra Singh, also known as, Rajjubhaiya (1993-2000)
- Kuppamahalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan (2000-present)
Shakha
"Shakhas" means "branch" in Sanskrit. These shakhas are usually operated in playing grounds without any offices, wherein local youth join together in evening or morning to play games, exercise and engage in debate on various issues. At the end of the shakha the prayer is recited without fail "Namaste Sadaa Vatsale Matrubhoome" which means "My salutation to you, ever loving motherland."
An RSS volunteer who attends shakha is referred to as a "Swayamsevak". The purpose of shakhas, as stated by Hedgewar, is to mold individuals and inculcate in them the values of the RSS, and thereby create a body of individuals committed to doing the work necessary to revitalize the nation.
Ideology
The general philosophical outlook is cultural nationalism aimed at preserving the spiritual and moral traditions of India. According to RSS a Hindu can be anyone living in Indian subcontinent. This includes Muslims and Christians. Nevertheless, this organization and its branches have been accused by controversial organisation "Human Rights Watch" of violence against Muslims and Christians. The RSS believes that Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. The proclaimed purpose of the organization is "serving the nation and its people in the form of God - Bharata Mata and protecting the interests of the Hindus in India".RSS believes that provided better circumstances the entire population of India will convert to Hinduism which its political arm BJP puts as :
The RSS entirely agrees with Gandhiji's formulations that "There is in Hinduism room enough for Jesus, as there is for Mohammed, Zoroster and Moses" and that "majority of the Muslims of India are converts to that faith from Hinduism through force of circumstances. They are still Hindu in many essential ways and, in a free, prosperous, progressive India, they would find it the most natural thing in the world to revert to their ancient faith and ways of life."
Regarding non-Hindus in India, Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, an RSS leader in the past, had also stated (in the 1940s) that:
"The non-Hindu peoples in Hindustan must either adopt the Hindu culture and language, must learn to respect and hold in reverence the Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but those of glorification of Hindu race and culture, i.e., they must not only give up their attitude intolerance and ungratefulness towards this land and its age-old traditions but must also cultivate the positive attitude of love and devotion instead-in a word they must cease to be foreigners, or may stay in this country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation, claiming nothing, deserving no privilege, far less any preferential treatment-not even citizens' rights."
Regarding the Indian Caste System, the RSS has recently expressed concern over caste-based political and social conflicts, they have urged Hindus to "get rid of this evil at the earliest".Their resolution adopted at a national executive meeting said:
"Hindu society should take all necessary measures to ensure entry and access to every Hindu, irrespective of his caste, to their homes, temples, religious places, public wells, ponds, and other public places..Hindu society will have to get rid of this evil at the earliest."
The organisation further contends that "caste-based untouchability" and "feelings of high caste and low caste" were the main evils haunting the Hindu society and aims to eradicate Casteism from Indian society. To that end, the R.S.S have tried to reach out to prominent Dalit (traditionally the "Untouchable" Caste) leaders in India, such as poet and leader of the Dalit activist group "Dalit Panthers" Namdeo Dhasal. The Dalit Panthers have been traditional adversaries of the R.S.S and peceived them as an "upper-caste" dominated party.However, negotiations with RSS chief K.Sudarshan on August 2006 led to reconciliations, when Sudarshan declared that the R.S.S categorically rejects all forms of caste discrimination in the organization. He further said:
The Dalits are our own flesh and blood, but because of some ill practices and social evils the practice of untouchability has brought havoc on those who were an integral part and defenders of Dharma. This has to be corrected through our deeds and actions."
Appealing for social harmony and Hindu brotherhood, the organisation warned the community against the political parties, which it said had been drawing "political benefits" out of casteism and "Inventing caste based new conflicts in the Hindu society for the sake of political benefits has become a trend of many politicians these days."
They have spoken out against votebank politics of politicians who encourage caste based rivalries and have urged political parties to keep away from caste based politics and give an Indian culture to democracy.
"No religion or sect is inferior to others. The whole society should be aware that every sect and caste of Bharat has a glorious history..The entire society should fully realize the essence of 'Na Hinduh Patito Bhavet' (No Hindu shall ever come to grief)"
Political influence
Template:Hindu politics In 1973, Golwalkar passed away and Balasaheb Deoras took over the leadership, and continued until 1993, when Dr. Rajendra Singh took over from him. During this period, came the rise of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the political front of the RSS. Between 1975 and 1977, the RSS, along with socialists like Jayprakash Narayan launched a civil disobedience movement, to reject the national emergency and postponement of elections by Prime Minister and Congress President Indira Gandhi. The Jana Sangh was an integral part of the Janata Party coalition that defeated Indira Gandhi's Congress in a landslide in 1977. Later, upon the collapse of that coalition, it emerged as the BJP in 1980.
The RSS saw its stock rise as the BJP thrived upon the disenchantment of the masses with the Congress-led governments. By 1988, the BJP had 88 seats in the Lok Sabha, lower house of Parliament, and by 1996 it was the single-largest party. In 1998 it went on to head a coalition government that survived six years and another election in 1999.
During recent time, people who share RSS's ideology have gone on to achieve the highest political positions in the Indian Politics. These leaders include Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (Vice-President), Atal Behari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, Narendra Modi and Ram Prakash Gupta.
Sangh Parivar
Main article: Sangh ParivarOrganizations which are inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's ideology refer themselves as the members of the Sangh Parivar. In most of the cases Pracharaks were deputed to start and manage these organizations.
Position on Zionist movements
A recent issue of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-backed weekly Organiser has gone out of its way to support the Zionist cause, arguing that the recent violence was the result of Palestinian intransigence.. This follows the rise in support for Israel in India in recent years.. This has invited scathing attacks on the party from anti-Zionist elements.
Activities
The largest voluntary organisation in the world. It operates through several organisations, independent in administration, in the field of social, culture and politics.
Religious
Yoga classes and boudhik shibirs
Social field
- Rashtriya Swayam Sevika Sangha - women's counterpart
- Seva Bharti for tribal welfare
- Swadeshi Jagran Manch
- Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad Students'Organisation
- Bharatiya Janata Party - political field
- Durga Vahini - women's youth wing
- Bajarang Dal - men's youth wing
Cultural field
- Vidya Bharati in Education
Relief activities
The RSS is highly active at the times of natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, drought and train-accidents etc. RSS helped Tsunami victims by building shelters.
Khushwant Singh credits members of the RSS with helping and protecting Sikhs who were being targeted be members of the Congress(I) political party during the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots. He said:
"It was the Congress(I) leaders who instigated mobs in 1984 and got more than 3000 people killed. I must give due credit to RSS and the BJP for showing courage and protecting helpless Sikhs during those difficult days”
The RSS has also participated in relief efforts in the Indian State of Kashmir, which has been beseiged by Islamic terrorism (see Terrorism in Kashmir). An RSS affiliated NGO (Non Governmental Organization), Sewa Bharti, has adopted 100 children, most of them Muslims, from militancy affected areas of the region to provide them education at least upto Higher Secondary level.
Leadership
- Present Sarsanghachalak: ]
- Sarkaryavaha:Mohanrao Bhagwat
- Sah Sarakaryavah :Madandas, Suresh Soni, Suresh (Bhayyaji) Joshi
- Sharirik Pramukh : Laxmanrao Pardikar
- Sah Sharirik Pramukh: K.C. Kannan
- Bouddhik Pramukh: Madhubhai Kulkarni
- Sah Bouddhik Pramukh: Dattatreya Hosabale
- Seva Pramukh: Premchand Goel
- Sah Seva Pramukh: Sitaram Kedilaya, Surendrasinh Chauhan, Omprakash
- Vyavastha Pramukh: Sankalchand Bagrecha
- Sah Vyavastha Pramukh: Balkrishna Tripathi
- Sampark Pramukh: Hastimal
- Sah Sampark Pramukh: Indresh Kumar
- Prachar Pramukh: Adhish Kumar
- Pracharak Pramukh:--
- Sah Pracharak Pramukh: Shrikrishna Motlag, Sureshrao Ketkar
- Members : Raghavendra Kulkarni, Ashok Kukde, Kalidas Basu, Sadanand Sapre, Shrikant Joshi
- Special Invitees: K. Suryanarayana Rao, Shripati Shastri, Vasant Bapat, Dr. Bajranglal Gupta, Ranga Hari, M.G. (Baburao) Vaidya
Criticism
Some Indians criticize the RSS for its "Hindu supremacist philosophy" and campaigns against other religions in India. In addition, some observers have described it as a "reactionary group of Hindu fanatics with Fascist tendencies." In his book Fascism: Theory and Practice, Dave Renton mentions that in the 1990's RSS has used Communal riots as form of popular politics against the state and has adapted the fascist ideology to Indian conditions . In turn, accusations of partisanship of Christian missionaries (whom RSS opposes), Islamic fundamentalists, and anti-Hindu bigotry by Marxists have been made by RSS on the accusers.
The RSS has also been alleged by Human Rights Watch for taking a part in violence against Muslims in the 2002 Gujarat conflict. Officially, 793 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the conflicts, but Human Rights Watch claims an upwards death toll of 2500. .The hrw report has been criticized for bias against Hindus .
Vincent Kundukulam, a Christian priest at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary in Aluva, Kerala, has written a Ph.D thesis in Sorbonne University, Paris, France, that claims RSS to be neither nationalist nor fascist . He states that that RSS cannot be considered as a nationalist organisation in the sense in which the term 'nationalism' is generally interpreted in India. He points out that Indian nationalism and religion are mutually exclusive. Since RSS's primary loyalty is to the Hindus,it can't be called 'nationalist'. He also argues against branding the RSS ideology as "Fascism", "Nazism", "Fundamentalism" and "Communalism". He said the terms fascism, Nazism, and fundamentalism are much abused terms in India. They have a different connotation and meaning in the European context that don't apply to an Indian sociopolitical context. He argues that since communalism is not a part of religion, RSS can be called "communal" only in a limited way.
References
- ^ Curran, Jean A. Jr. The RSS: Militant Hinduism Far Eastern Survey, Vol. 19, No. 10. (May 17, 1950), pp. 93-98.
- BBC News, Three 'militants' killed in India. Retrieved 01-June-2006.
- Craig Baxter, The Jana Sangh: A Biography of an Indian Political Party (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1969), p. 31.
- ^ India's RSS urges war against 'evil' of casteism,Freerepublic archive from the Times of India
- Dalit leader buries the hatchet with RSS,Times of India
- Cite error: The named reference
RSS=Dalits~happyhappywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1722/17220140.htm
- Israel's War and India: Aftershocks
- http://ghadar.insaf.net/June2004/MainPages/zionism.htm
- ^ K. Singh: “Congress (I) is the Most Communal Party”, Publik Asia, 16-11-1989.
- JK: RSS adopts militancy hit Muslim children,oneindia.in
- RSS neither Nationalist nor Fascist, Indian Christian priest's research concludes
Publications
- "Panchajanya" (in Hindi). RSS weekly publication.
- "Organiser". RSS weekly publication.
- . Banglore, India: Sahitya Sindhu Prakashana. 1966. ISBN 81-86595-19-8.
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Books
- Anderson, Walter K. (1987). The Brotherhood in Saffron. Delhi, India: Vistaar Publishers.
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