By Prabha Gupta, August 28,2025
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, known as RSS, RSS at 100: Legacy, Power, and Polarisation was founded in 1925 in Nagpur by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. At the time, India was under British rule. Hedgewar believed that a disciplined, united Hindu society was essential to resist colonial dominance. He created the RSS to build moral and physical strength among young men. Its early activities focused on daily drills, patriotic lectures, and community work. The goal was to inspire national pride rooted in Hindu culture.
He launched the RSS to instill discipline, patriotism, and cultural pride among young men. Through daily drills, community service, and ideological training, the Sangh quickly built a grassroots presence. Although it remained non-political, its influence quietly spread across regions.
The RSS positioned itself as a cultural organization rather than a political movement. However, its growing popularity gave it indirect sway over public thought. It aimed to shape a disciplined Hindu identity rather than confront the British directly. While Congress led protests and negotiations, the RSS focused on long-term nation-building. Still, its silent rise didn’t go unnoticed by authorities or rivals. It set the stage for deeper involvement in India’s future.
Post-Independence Rise and the Gandhi Assassination Fallout
After India gained independence in 1947, the RSS expanded across cities and villages. But in 1948, its path took a dark turn when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a former RSS member. Though the organization denied responsibility, the government banned it temporarily. The ban was lifted later, but the incident stained its public image permanently. Even today, that link continues to fuel public mistrust and sharp criticism.
Despite the controversy, the RSS bounced back and resumed its grassroots work. It restructured internally and maintained its claim as a cultural force. Meanwhile, it quietly supported like-minded individuals entering politics. The organization’s ideological influence deepened, though it remained officially apolitical. Over the next few decades, it built an expansive network. Its role in shaping national thought became increasingly evident.
Cultural Influence or Political Muscle?
In 1951, RSS-backed leader Shyama Prasad Mukherjee formed the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, planting the seeds of today’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Since then, the RSS and BJP have shared deep ideological ties. Many BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, began as RSS pracharaks. This tight-knit relationship has often blurred the line between culture and politics. While the RSS insists it doesn’t control the BJP, coordination between the two is frequent.
Supporters say the Sangh keeps politics grounded in values and tradition. Critics argue it exercises shadow control without accountability. As the BJP grew, so did suspicion of the RSS’s hidden hand. Yet, the Sangh avoids direct electoral participation, reinforcing its cultural label. That ambiguity has made it both resilient and controversial.
Bans, Babri, and Global Expansion
The RSS faced another ban during the Emergency in 1975 under Indira Gandhi’s regime. Once again, it emerged stronger, using adversity to expand its underground networks. In 1992, the demolition of the Babri Masjid brought the RSS into global headlines.
Many accused Sangh-linked groups of fueling the violence, though the RSS distanced itself. Despite backlash, its influence only intensified across the political and social spectrum.The organization steadily expanded its global presence, especially among the Indian diaspora. It now operates in the US, UK, and dozens of other countries. These international branches promote.Indian culture, yoga, Sanskrit, and service. Meanwhile, in India, over 50,000 shakhas operate daily. These gatherings focus on drills, ideological sessions, and character-building.
Legacy Still in Question
To its supporters, the RSS represents discipline, cultural pride, and national service. To its critics, it threatens secularism and pushes Hindu majoritarianism. Its legacy remains deeply polarizing, shaping every major political debate in India. Despite opposition, the RSS has endured, evolved, and expanded. Whether seen as savior or threat, its impact on India’s story is undeniable.
As India continues to define its identity in a changing world, the RSS stays at the heart of that dialogue. It grows without fanfare, yet shapes headlines. It avoids politics officially, yet steers political thought. Its future, like its past, is bound to controversy—and power.
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