RSS: A CENTURY OF SERVICE, SACRIFICE, AND NATION-BUILDING

When Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur on September 27, 1925, few could have imagined the remarkable journey it would embark on over the years. The RSS today stands as a living epitome of selfless service that has shaped India’s social fabric, defended its sovereignty, empowered its vulnerable communities, and also nurtured timeless civilizational values. Today, as the RSS celebrates its centenary, it is worthwhile to revisit its journey.

At a recent event in Delhi, RSS Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat reminded the nation of the organization’s inclusive ethos. He asserted, “Religion is by individual choice; there should be no allurement or force in this”. This view echoes the Sangh’s founding philosophy: to build a society rooted in harmony rather than conflict, collective strength rather than division, and character building, not just material wellbeing.

Through daily shakhas and volunteer-driven initiatives, the RSS has sought to foster discipline, resilience, and pride in India’s cultural heritage, shaping individuals who view service to society and the nation as their highest calling.

It was therefore not a surprise when PM Shri Narendra Modi, in his speech on this Independence Day, lauded the RSS for its century-long role in nationbuilding. Calling it the “biggest NGO in the world”, he reminded Indians how the RSS stands out as one of the most influential socio-cultural movements in independent India.

Independence came shrouded in the tragedy of Partition, which caused immense loss of life and forced millions from their homes. Amid this tragedy, RSS swayamsevaks stood out as a disciplined and selfless force, rescuing, rehabilitating, and protecting countless victims of the carnage. Under the leadership of the second Sarsanghchalak, Shri Guruji (M.S. Golwalkar) and other senior leaders, the RSS mobilized communities, set up refugee camps, provided food and medical aid, escorted vulnerable families to safety, and organized defences for besieged homes.

Such was the contribution of the RSS that even Congress leaders, overwhelmed by the situation, reportedly sought the Sangh’s assistance to protect their families and communities in Punjab. No wonder The Tribune, in one of its reports, called the RSS “the sword arm of Punjab”.

This spirit endured beyond Partition. During the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, the RSS again stepped in as a saviour. It provided shelter, protection, and relief to the Sikh community.

Noted author Khushwant Singh acknowledged this publicly when he said that the RSS played an honourable role in maintaining Hindu-Sikh unity before and after the assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi.”

Considering this legacy, it is unfounded and erroneous when some people accuse RSS of being a majoritarian organization. During Independence, it helped protect India’s minorities and their places of worship. In March 1947, when mobs instigated by the Muslim League headed toward the Golden Temple, RSS volunteers, armed with swords and lathis, confronted them, forcing a retreat. Three days later, when another coordinated assault threatened the sacred Sikh shrine, RSS swayamsevaks formed a human ring of defence and fought for hours, successfully repelling the attackers and safeguarding the gurdwara again.

The RSS’s role in the country’s integration is even less known. From Kashmir to Goa to Dadra and Nagar Haveli, it has played a decisive role in preserving India’s territorial integrity. When Pakistanbacked tribal invaders attacked Jammu & Kashmir, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel sought Shri Guruji’s help to persuade Maharaja Hari Singh to join India. Shri Guruji travelled to Srinagar and impressed upon him the strategic necessity of immediate accession. RSS volunteers also aided the Army during the 1947-48 war by managing supplies, logistics, and relief for refugees fleeing areas like Mirpur and Muzaffarabad.

In 1954, swayamsevaks spearheaded the liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli from Portuguese control. According to K.R. Malkani’s book The RSS Story, “On 2 August 1954, some 200 RSS swayamsevaks, led by Nana Kajrekar and Sudhir Phadke, liberated Dadra and Nagar Haveli, putting to flight 175 Portuguese soldiers armed with rifles, Bren guns, and Sten guns.” Similarly, the RSS joined underground freedom movements to fight for Goa’s liberation.

Thus, RSS has always fought for strengthening India and its spirit. During the 1975 Emergency, the Sangh became the resistance’s backbone, mobilizing millions to defend India’s constitution. According to The Economist, published in January 1976, “The shock troops of the movement come largely from the Jana Sangh and its affiliate RSS, which claim a combined membership of 10 million, of whom 80,000, including 6,000 full-time workers, are in prison.” At a time when people and institutions were willing to crawl when told to bend merely, the RSS fought against authoritarianism and worked towards strengthening Indian democracy.

Furthering its commitment to the constitutional values, the RSS has also devoted itself to uplifting tribals and marginalized communities. The Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, founded in 1952, is the country’s largest tribal welfare organization. Today, it operates more than 20,000 projects across 52,000 villages in 323 districts of the country, covering education, healthcare, skill development, and cultural revival. The RSS’s approach has been to bring tribals into the national mainstream without compromising their original identities, bolstering their tribal pride while integrating them with the larger Indian identity. The RSS is also often unfairly criticized regarding its relationship with Mahatma Gandhi. While it is true that there were some differences of opinion between Mahatma Gandhi and the RSS on certain issues—just as there were within the Congress fold itself—it would be misleading to portray their relationship in terms of hostility or rivalry.

Their differences never stood in the way of the mutual regard they shared. This was evident in 1934, when Gandhi Ji visited an RSS camp in Wardha. He was struck by the organization’s “discipline, complete absence of untouchability, and rigorous simplicity”. On September 16, 1947, amid the Partition mayhem, Gandhi Ji addressed an RSS meeting in Delhi, praising its spirit of service and sacrifice. The RSS too, soon after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on January 30, 1948, suspended all shakhas for 13 days as a mark of respect—the only time in the Sangh’s history.

This spirit of engagement— where differences do not preclude respect or constructive work—is also reflected in the way the RSS approaches regions and communities beyond its traditional base. The Northeast, for instance, was a region marked by alienation and insurgency due to colonial duplicity and policy shortcomings after Independence. The RSS, since establishing its first shakha in Guwahati in 1946, has played a transformative role in bringing the region to the national mainstream. Through schools, healthcare camps, disaster relief, and community-building initiatives, it has built trust and bridged divides among different communities.

As the RSS completes a century of service, its contribution to nation-building remains steadfast and ever-growing. A recent testament to this spirit was seen during the COVID-19 outbreak, when in May 2021, nearly 300 swayamsevaks revived the long-defunct BGML hospital in Kolar within two weeks, offering much-needed relief to hundreds of patients. Such examples reflect how, even after a hundred years, the RSS continues to quietly perform its role as it was envisioned a century ago.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Rajnath Singh, The writer is Defence Minister of India