By
Siddhartha Rastogi
“When I visited the RSS Camp, I was very much surprised by your discipline and absence of untouchablity”
These words were spoken by Mahatma Gandhi on his visit to the RSS Camp at Wardha, Maharashtra, in 1934. He was astonished by the discipline and absence of untouchability in the RSS camp, where Swayamsevaks (volunteers of RSS) walked and ate together irrespective of the caste or creed they belong to. (Ref: Dr.Hedgewar – The Epoch Maker)
“This is the first time that I am visiting the camp of Sangh volunteers. I am happy to find absolute equality between Savarniyas and Harijans without any one being aware of such difference existing.”
Words of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar during his visit to the RSS camp at Pune in 1939. (Ref: Dr.Hedgewar – Seer Patriot and Nation Builder)
Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar– The founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) always believed that there are neither “touchables” nor “untouchables”, but only Hindus. He formed RSS on four basic principles.
“Shakha” – Enabling Self-Organization of Society: He mandated a dedicated one hour every day from people, who wish to contribute towards nation building and society.
Creating a Hindu Identity over Caste Identity: Hinduism is not a religion, it’s not a cult, and it’s a way of life. The Hindu way of life is not an organized belief system with dos and don’ts, but a science of salvation. To be a Hindu, you don’t need a certificate or to recite any verse. You need not believe in any particular God or book. You simply have to be honest to yourself. Hinduism firmly believes that each of us are born different and each one of us have the right to connect with our deity or universe or god, the way we choose and hence we have over 22 million gods and goddesses. Hinduism believes the way Bhakt (Worshipper) is, the same way his/ her Deity (Worshipped) is. For Radha, it’s Krishna, for Meera its Mohan.
Organization for Women on National Ideals: Dr.Hedgewar had very high respect for women. He believed that women can not only solve their problems but the issues of the society and country at large. Hence, they need to be empowered, educated and given tools to organize themselves in a group to achieve end result.
Shuddha Satvik Prem: The foundation of RSS was laid on a single unquestionable virtue of selfless love towards fellow volunteers. In RSS, he created a culture of no seniors and juniors only respect and care. Each member of RSS is only a sewak of Mother India.
In his book, Bunch of Thoughts, Madhav Sadashiv Gowalkar, second Sangh Sanchalak (Chief) of RSS mentioned seven kinds of communalism, one of them based on caste and creed. He articulated that the reason for degeneration of social structure is due to Varna Vyavastha (Caste system) which should be replaced by one’s Dharma, which includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and ‘right way of living’.
The reason why RSS allied themselves to the word Hindu is just because it represented the great vast of India spreading from Himalayas to Indian Ocean in the South.
As per Brihaspati Agama the word ‘Hindu’ is formed with the letter ‘Hi’ from the Himalayas and ‘Indu’ from Indu Sarovar (the Southern Ocean), conveying the entire stretch of India. Everyone residing in this part of land was called Hindu irrespective of the religion, caste or creed or color.
RSS thus has always advocated for One India, bringing national interest first above the state or regional interests, thereby giving freedom to think and act but joining hands whenever the country needs them.
India is a secular Nation and will remain Secular. Caste system is found across regions and across religions. The idea of this note is to show the very basis on which RSS was formed. To help each other and to have INDIA as the main focus and INDIANS well being as the main Dharma. Religious harmony is a must and religion is a personal matter between an individual and his or her GOD. THERE IS AND THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY SPACE FOR INTOLRENCE OR CONFLICT WITH IN RELGIONS.
Hello The above is an interesting exposition of the underlying philosophy of the RSS. This philosophy purports to uphold equality of all and harmony between all people. However, I would like to suggest that the history of the RSS, and its associated political parties like the BJP, do not practice what they preach. Unfortunately the RSS has promoted divisions along sectarian-religious lines within India, and does not represent the kind of society that Gandhi envisioned. A person is entitled to follow whatever religion they deem to be appropriate. You want to be Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Sikh - whatever you want, go for it. However, this is not a licence to discriminate against practitioners of other faith groups. The RSS has a long history of discriminating against the Muslim communities of India, promoting a sectarian political program that seeks to exclude Indians of Muslim background from the social and cultural life of the country. Gandhi himself sought one India, and was assassinated by a person who sought to sabotage talks between the Hindu Indian state and the Muslim Pakistani state. Indeed, the assassin of Gandhi was motivated largely by the philosophy of the RSS. Narendra Modi, current Prime Minister, is not only a lifelong RSS member, but is leader of the BJP. The latter has instigated anti-Muslim riots, sectarian pogroms and killings against the Indian Muslim community. When Modi was chief minister of Gujarat state in 2002, Modi helped incite a pogrom against Muslims that killed hundreds and displaced more than 200,000 in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. In Uttar Pradesh, the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots are another instance of ethno-religions separatism instigated by the exclusivist philosophy of the BJP and its political ally, the RSS. These riots and disturbances do not just appear out of nowhere. BJP state governments create a climate of hostility towards the Muslim communities, allowing the rightwing partisans of the RSS to do as they please. The BJP promotes a Hindu communalist version of India in its political outlook, buttressed by the Hindu supremacist vision of the RSS. Hope I was able to clarify my way of thinking. Thanks!