Why I joined and left it in 1960sRSS ( Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), a socio-cultural wing of BJP is back in news. It was founded by Keshav Baliram Hegdewar in 1920s. The pronounced objective was to reunite India. It has worked for that goal for a century now. But Hindus are no more better united. They are in the same state of mind as they were at that time.
Hegdewar's successor M.S.Golwarkar ( Guruji has spelt out RSS philosophy in his book Bunch of Thoughts). The need to creat such an organisation must have arisen because of the Hindu-Muslim rift that was apparent in Indian polity and the society. RSS was never in the forefront of Indian politics. It has always called itself as a socio-cultural organisation. Its apparent activity is through its shakhas ( branches). One of such branch used to organize its one-hour daily drill every evening in a part next to my house in Kamla Nagar.
I was a student of a government school and got introduced to it by a RSS ideologue Shiv Kumar who later taught mathematics in the US and India. He virtually forced maths on me when I took admission in B.Sc. It was in vogue to study in science stream. It cost me three years of my growing period as I failed thrice while doing graduation. Though I compensated it by winning debates and took it as hands on training in polishing my written and spoken Hindi. I built my whole career on that.
In that one hour, we were asked to play kabaddi, kho, do exercises , followed by a discurse on Indian heroes like Pratap and Shivaji who fought against Muslims in medieval history. There was address code as well. White half-sleeved shirt and khaki short. We were called swayamsevaks ( volunteers. The hidden message was that nothing was being forced. I didn't find anything offensive against. Muslims were never mentioned in any physical or mental activity. Though it was a socio-cultural wing of the then Jan Sangh but was politics was never discussed. Yes, we were expected to work during the election campaigning for Jan Sangh. But no compulsion. There used to be an annual function on Dussehra called Guru Dakshina where every volunteer was expected to donate an amount of his choice for the organization.
It was a subtle organization. It didn't flaunt its muscles publically. I remember in one of the election meeting, someone abused Congress candidate. He was refrained from saying any offensive comment in public. It was supplemented by a tounge-incheek remark that , we agree with your feelings but keep them up to you. Jan Sangh was not a political force to be reckoned with. Though its founder was inducted as a cabinet minister by Nehru soon after independence but he walked out and founded Jan Sangh.
I never found RSS as a nuisance. In fact its members took to social service during natural calamities like famine, floods, earthquakes etc. It never caused any communal riot in my memory. Though, its some members might have contributed in an ongoing riot. But they were never charged in a court of law.
After Gandhi's premeditated murder by Nathuram Godse, the blame was put on the RSS. It was even banned by Sardar Patel for a while. Its leader Savarkar was named as a sympathizer. But he came out clean. As far as Hindutva philosophy is concerned even the four-time Congress president Madan Mohan Malaviya, was a great votary of Hindu Sanatan Dharam concept. He founded the BHU and worked for Hindu unity and even advocated to fight, if attacked ( Madan Mohan Malviya's autobiography by Prof Vishwa Nath Pandey). But no one doubted his intentions.
RSS is being put in a dock after Modi government came to power. It is being mentioned that the real force behind Modi is RSS. He won around 300 Lok Sabha seats because of RSS support. No one can doubt Modi's credentials as an administrator and a clean politician but RSS finds itself in the driver's seat. Some of the RSS workers feel emboldened and trying to shoot from the hips. Modi has advised them to be careful.
Muslims are feeling uncomfortable in the present situation. Leftists are enjoying this situation. They find themselves as a natural ally of the Muslims and dalits. It is their political stance. A section of the RSS, perhaps feel that it is golden opportunity to build their support base among Hindus. they are trying to mobilize Hindu unity syndrome. But the question arises, Do Hindus need to be united. Are they feeling any threat from the Muslim, Yes, Pakistan is continuing its Kashmir azadi agenda but it is a political ply to keep teir anti-India stance alive. It helps their political parties relevant. But the real source of power is Pakistani army which survives on its arms trade from the west. They want to keep Kashmir on the front burner.India has to live despite Modi's flight to Nawaz's ancestral home. The solution, as suggested by by a Sufi thinker Qadri that India. and Pakistan has a common enemy and that is the is terrorism.
To sum it up, I discontinued attending the RSS evening drill after a couple of years, the way I had joined. I never felt impressed by the call to units Hindus. If Mughal rule ( 1526-1857) couldn't make Indian Islamic state, how 18% Muslims can change Indian demography. They are suffering from their own economic condition added by the lack of higher education. Their clergy are working overtime to keep the faith alive but Indian Constitution grants that right.
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