Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is an Indian socio-cultural organisation. RSS, founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, is a nationalist, volunteer-based organisation dedicated to promoting India’s cultural, social, and spiritual ideals. RSS’s principal goal is to help people develop their character and personality through activities such as physical exercise, intellectual talks, and social service.
RSS is frequently associated with Hindutva ideology, which emphasises Hindu cultural and religious unity. The organisation is hierarchical, with local units known as shakhas working in different neighbourhoods and villages. RSS has millions of adherents, known as swayamsevaks, who practise self-discipline, social service, and promote a feeling of nationalism.
What is the full form of RSS?
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a Hindu nationalist volunteer organisation in India. It was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. The RSS has been described as a right-wing, Hindu nationalist organisation. It is the parent organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the current ruling party of India.
The RSS is a controversial organisation. It has been praised for its work on social welfare and for its promotion of Hindu values. However, it has also been criticised for its involvement in violence and for its promotion of Hindutva.
RSS's Origins
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a doctor in the city of Nagpur, British India. Hedgewar was a political protege of B. S. Moonje, a Tilakite Congressman, Hindu Mahasabha politician and social activist from Nagpur. Moonje had sent Hedgewar to Calcutta to pursue his medical studies and to learn combat techniques from the secret revolutionary societies of the Bengalis. Hedgewar became a member of the Anushilan Samiti, an anti-British revolutionary group, getting into its inner circle. The secretive methods of these societies were eventually used by him in organising the RSS.
The initial impetus of the organisation was to provide character training and instill “Hindu discipline” in order to unite the Hindu community and establish a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu nation). Drawing its inspiration from European fascist movements and groups such as the Italian Fascist Party, the organisation aims to spread the ideology of Hindutva to “strengthen” the Hindu community and promotes an ideal of upholding an Indian culture and its civilizational values. During the colonial period, the RSS collaborated with the British Raj and played no role in the Indian independence movement.
The RSS has been accused of being involved in violence and of promoting Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology. The RSS has denied these allegations. The RSS is a large organisation with a membership of over 6 million people. It has branches all over India and in other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The RSS is a controversial organisation. It has been praised for its work on social welfare and for its promotion of Hindu values. However, it has also been criticised for its involvement in violence and for its promotion of Hindutva.
RSS's objective
The RSS’s methods of achieving its objectives include:
- Character training: The RSS believes that character is the foundation of a strong society. The RSS’s training program, known as the shakha, is designed to instill discipline, physical fitness, and a sense of duty in its members.
- Social welfare: The RSS engages in a variety of social welfare activities, such as running schools, hospitals, and orphanages. The RSS believes that these activities help to strengthen the Hindu community and make it more self-reliant.
- Political activism: The RSS is not a political party. The RSS supports the BJP and other Hindu nationalist parties.
Frequently Asked Question
The RSS is a socio-cultural organization in India founded in 1925.
The RSS aims to preserve and promote India’s cultural heritage, develop individual character, foster national unity, engage in social service, and contribute to nation-building.
The RSS is associated with Hindutva ideology, which emphasizes the cultural and religious unity of Hindus and the preservation of Hindu culture and traditions.
The RSS has a hierarchical structure with local units called shakhas. Members, known as swayamsevaks, participate in activities like physical training, intellectual discussions, and social service.
No, the RSS itself does not participate in electoral politics, but it has played a significant role in shaping the ideology and policies of political parties with similar objectives.
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