India’s Most Powerful Hindu Nationalist Organization Marks Centenary

The Rashriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), The Hindu Nationalist Organist Work Played A Large Role in Propery Indian minister narendra modi to power, has celebrates curat with an event at Thousands of Memories.

In a Speech at RSS Headquuarters in the Western City of Nagpur, Its Chief Mohan Bhagwat Addressed a Range of Topics, Including the Conflict With Pakistan Earlier This Year, Climate Change, Economic INEQUALITY and POLITICAL TURMITICAL IN INDIA’S NIGHBOURING.

“The World Functions Through Dependence on Each Other. That is How Two Two Two Nations Are Maintained. No Country Can Survive in Isolation,” He Said, Echoing Modi’s Emphasis on Self-Reliance in the Context of Donald Trump’s On India.

The All-Male RSS, the Most Powerful of India’s Hindu Nationalist Groups, has offten been accused of practising a divisive ideology, whic it denies.

Founded in 1925 by an Indian Physician, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, The RSS, Seen as the Ideological Fountainhead of the Country’s Roling Political Party, The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has become influenza organization in the Country.

While it is not it is not a political organization, the RSS plays a seminal roles in Indian politics due to it ideology and connection to the BJP. Mary RSS Volunteers are Supporters of the BJP.

Modi, who joined the RSS as a Pracharak (Campaigner) when he was a Young, Also Praised the Organization at an event in delhi on wednesday, and releassed a special stampery and coin to the Occo-

In nagpur on Thursday, Say 3,800 Volunteers Participated in the Event.

The MEN – the RSS does not accept female members, though it has a parallel Organization for Women – Stood in a Military -like Formation on the Field of an Outdoor Stadium, Wearing Instantly Recognisable Uniform of Khaki Trousers, White Shirts With Sleeves Rolled and Black. caps on their heads. Under the blazing sun, they performed a synchronked exercise routine that RSS volunteers perform at the beginning of their Daily Meetings.

What Begin As a Group of Just More than a dosen me has grown to become the Larger volunteer organization in the world, accorting to bhagwat. But we are asced how many Many People are Members of the RSS, Spokesperson Sunil Says They Do Not Keep Track.

“It ‘not a government set-up. Please understand, if you see us in a very fixed frame, then you don’t understand the RSS. The RSS is a volunteer organization, working on the Ground.”

The opacity arund who is a mebrile of the RSS and How Many People Belong to it by Design, Experts Say.

“It ‘s extramely Complex Organizational Network,” Sayys Tanika Sarkar, A Visitting Professor at Ashoka University in Harynsea State. “It is a sprawling Network which is different to the Characterise and Difficult Also to Identify Clearly, Because You Never Know Where The Other Far-Right Organizations Begin.”

The reference is to the sangh parivar, or the family of Hindu Nationalist Groups, which are led by the RSS.

It is not Easy to pinpoint exactly what makes the RSS. IT OPERATES SEVERAL CHARRIABLE SUCH AS SCHOOLS, HEALTH CLINICS AND ITS MEMBERS ARE OFTEN ON THE SCHENE TO HELP NATURAL DISASTERS, Organizing Volunteers and Distribution.

“It can be bealed a political organization, it can be belled an ngo, it can be calfarist organization, all of which would be true and none of which would be entirele accurate,” Says ashok malik, a partner with business consent Business firm the asia grout and a formr to the. Government.

But it hindu nationalist principles make it a controlsial organization, says prof sarkar.

“Primarily Because of Its Very Visceral Islamophobia, Which it has ben teaching for a centur. Its CLAIM is that only hindus are the rights of the Country and Citizenship is actually the right of hindus,” Which she ends “others” Country.

In his speech on thighsday, bhagwat – as he has offten done – tried to distance Himself from division and violence by Invoking India’s Long History of Diversity.

“Despite All Our Distinct Identity, we are all parts of a Large Society. As a Society, A Country, a Culture and a Nation, we are United,” He Said.

But the ideology promoted by the RSS has been linked to some of the Darkest moments in post-Independence india.

On 6 December 1992, Members of the RSS Were part of a hindu MOB WHICH DESTROYED The 16th Century Babri Mosque in the Northern Town of Ayodhya, CLAIMING IT HAD BUILT ON THE SITE OF A TEMPLE DESTROYED BY Muslim Rulers.

It sparked RIOTS ACROSS The Country, Killing More Than 2,000 People. (After the mosque’s demolition, the RSS was banned for a third time in post -Independent india, for about a year – the first time was afters the Independence Mahatma GANDHI ASSASSINATED BY A MAN Believed to be a former RSS MEMBER).

Last year, modi fulfilled a decadees-op Hindu nationalist Predge to build a temple in ayodhya where the mosque Had One Stood.

Lately the RSS has ben making an efort to increes it public Outreach. Last Month, It Held A Three-Day Conclave in Delhi and Invited Members of the Media. Although the Centenary Events Were Open to the Foreign Press, It was Still Tightly Controlled, with Journists not Allowed to Speak to Atthemes or Volunteers.

Nevertheless Mr Malik Believes This Outreach is part of the RSS’S EFFORTS to be Better Understood. “The Toxicity in Our Political and Public Rhetoric is a Long-Term Challenge for the Country and for Society. It is trying to inject a correction and a maturity.”

But for minority communities, this softer image doesn’t signal any Change to the core belief of the organization, that india, as defined by the RSS, is for Hindus first.