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==Political clout==
==Political clout==


In 1973, [[Golwalkar]] expired and Shri. [[Balasaheb Deoras]] took over the leadership, and continued till 1993, when Dr. [[Rajendra Singh]] took over from him. In this time came the rise of the [[Bharatiya_Jana_Sangh|Bharatiya Jana Sangh]], the political arm of the RSS. Between [[1975]] and [[1977]], the RSS launched a [[civil disobedience]] movement, to reject the national emergency and postponement of elections by Prime Minister and Congress President [[Indira Gandhi]]. The [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh|Jana Sangh]] was an integral part of the [[Janata Party]] coalition that defeated [[Indira Gandhi]]'s Congress in a landslide in 1977, but upon the collapse of that coalition, the original Janata party and the new BJP seperated its way. Janata Party represented the common and poor indian and the newly created BJP emerged on fundementalist and violent propoganda. [[BJP]] in 1980.
In 1973, [[Golwalkar]] expired and Shri. [[Balasaheb Deoras]] took over the leadership, and continued till 1993, when Dr. [[Rajendra Singh]] took over from him. In this time came the rise of the [[Bharatiya_Jana_Sangh|Bharatiya Jana Sangh]], the political arm of the RSS. Between [[1975]] and [[1977]], the RSS launched a [[civil disobedience]] movement, to reject the national emergency and postponement of elections by Prime Minister and Congress President [[Indira Gandhi]]. The [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh|Jana Sangh]] was an integral part of the [[Janata Party]] coalition that defeated [[Indira Gandhi]]'s Congress in a landslide in 1977, but upon the collapse of that coalition, it emerged as the [[BJP]] in 1980.


The RSS in the 1980s and 1990s saw its stock rise as the [[BJP]] thrived upon the disenchantment of the masses with the Congress-led governments. By 1988, the [[BJP]] had 88 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]], lower house of Parliament, and by 1996 it was the single-largest party. In 1998 it went on to head a coalition government that survived six years and another election in 1999.
The RSS in the 1980s and 1990s saw its stock rise as the [[BJP]] thrived upon the disenchantment of the masses with the Congress-led governments. By 1988, the [[BJP]] had 88 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]], lower house of Parliament, and by 1996 it was the single-largest party. In 1998 it went on to head a coalition government that survived six years and another election in 1999.

Revision as of 00:30, 28 March 2006

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a conservative right-wing nationalist organization in India. It was started in 1925 by Dr. K.B. Hedgewar secretly funded by the British Intelligence Unit. Since 1925, it has slowly gained prominence and political influence, giving rise to the creation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, formerly the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, and considered to be the political wing of the Sangh Parivar movement) to head the central government of India.

While centered in India the RSS also functions in 34 other countries.

Organization

The RSS has been described by The Economist as the largest non-communist organisation in the world. The Sangh organises itself hierarchically, with a single individual, the sarsanghachalak, directing it. The position is decided by appointment, with each sarsanghachalak appointing his successor. The current sarsanghachalak of RSS is K.S. Sudarshan.

Most of the organisational work of the Sangh is done through the coordination of shakhas, or branches. These shakhas are run every morning (prabhAt shakha), evening (sAyam shakha) or night (atisAyam shakha) for 1 hour in public places. Currently about 50,000 shakhas are run throughout India. Apart from 42,000 daily gatherings, there are about 5,000 weekly and 2,000 monthly gatherings conducted throughout the length and breadth of the country.

These shakhas are the core building blocks of RSS structure. During a Shakha, the activities consist of yoga, games (including sometimes training in Silambam), discussions on broad range of social topics, prayer to Bharat Mata and an educational session (bouddhik) given by a notable figure selected by the shakha coordinator. Usually the educational session relates to the history of India, Indian philosophy and culture, or ethics. All wear the common uniform of a black cap, white shirt and brown khaki shorts.

File:Rss militants.jpg
Marching Swayamsevaks

RSS Sarsanghchalaks

The Sarsanghchalak is the paramount leader of the RSS organization. The individuals who held the post are

Roots and history

Beginning in the 1800s, an age of reform took hold upon Hindu society. The Arya Samaj of Swami Dayananda Saraswati called for a "Return to the Vedas," to revive Hindu society from its plight of caste hatred and violence, ignorance, poverty and desperation. The Samaj especially sought to counter the proselytization of Christian and Muslim missionaries.

Men like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo sought both modernization and spiritual revival of the Hindu masses and worked against Sati system, and child marriages, then prevalent in the Hindu Society. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sri Aurobindo and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee are, however, associated with the kind of Hindu revivalism that eventually led to the birth of the RSS and modern nationalism.

In 1925, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a Nagpur doctor formed the Rashtriya Swayemsevak Sangh with a vow to transform India into a Hindu nation. The word "Rashtriya" means "National," and the word "Sangh" means "Union". The word "Swayamsevak" means a self-reliant servant. Hedgewar proposed the Hindu masses must be united to combat "cultural invasions" and protect the freedom and diversity of Indian civilization.

Over the 1950s and 1960s, under Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, the RSS regained its power slowly and steadily, and amongst its social work embraced the Cow Slaughter Ban Movement and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya movement. In 1967, the RSS encouraged the formation of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) to explicitly work on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the religious upliftment of Hindus.

Political clout

In 1973, Golwalkar expired and Shri. Balasaheb Deoras took over the leadership, and continued till 1993, when Dr. Rajendra Singh took over from him. In this time came the rise of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the political arm of the RSS. Between 1975 and 1977, the RSS launched a civil disobedience movement, to reject the national emergency and postponement of elections by Prime Minister and Congress President Indira Gandhi. The Jana Sangh was an integral part of the Janata Party coalition that defeated Indira Gandhi's Congress in a landslide in 1977, but upon the collapse of that coalition, it emerged as the BJP in 1980.

The RSS in the 1980s and 1990s saw its stock rise as the BJP thrived upon the disenchantment of the masses with the Congress-led governments. By 1988, the BJP had 88 seats in the Lok Sabha, lower house of Parliament, and by 1996 it was the single-largest party. In 1998 it went on to head a coalition government that survived six years and another election in 1999.

During recent time, people who share RSS's ideology have gone on to achieve the highest political positions in the Indian Politics. These leaders include Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (Vice-President), Atal Behari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and Narendra Modi.

Shakha

"Shakha" in Sanskrit means branch, similarly the organization refers its branches as "Shakhas".

These shakhas are usually operated in playing grounds without any offices wherein local youth join together in evening or morning to play glames, exercrise and intellectual debate on various issues.

A volunteer who attends shakha is referred to as a "Swayamsevak".

At the end of the shakaha the prayer is recited without fail "Namaste Sadaa Vatsale Matrubhoome" which means "My eternal salutation to you, loving motherland" . Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh believes that a Shakha is the most effective and time-tested instrument for the moulding of men on patriotic lines.

File:Rss militants3.jpg
"Swayamsevaks" at a "Sharirik Varg" in a "Shakha"

Office bearers

Following is the list of current office bearers of R.S.S

Sangh Parivar

Organizations which are inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's ideology refer themselves as the members of the Sangh Parivar. In most of the cases Pracharaks [Full time volunteers of the RSS] were deputed to start and manage these organizations.

See also

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