RSS assembly in Bengaluru plans centenary year expansion and future activities.
NEW DELHI: Every program of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) begins with the mantra:
“Sangachhadhwam Samvadadhwam Sam Vo Manansi Janatam. Deva Bhagam Yatha Purve Sanjanana Upasate.”
Its meaning is: “Let us all walk together, speak together, and let our minds be one, as the ancient gods used to live together and worship together. May the Lord give us such strength that no one in the world can ever challenge us, and may He give us such pure character that the entire world bows before us. May He give us such wisdom that this thorny path we have chosen becomes easy to walk on.”
Similarly, the main prayer of the RSS begins with these lines:
“Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhume, Tvaya Hindubhume Sukham Vardhito’ham. Mahamangale Punyabhume Tvadarthe, Patatvesha Kayo Namaste Namaste.”
(“O loving motherland, I bow to you always. You have nourished me with happiness. O most auspicious sacred land, may this body of mine fall in your service. I bow to you repeatedly.”)
This prayer has now become not just an essential part of the RSS’s functioning but also its identity. Recently, the RSS’s representative assembly discussed expansion and the activities of its affiliated organizations for its centenary year during a meeting in Bengaluru, setting future directions.
In this context, an important issue in the country is that as the organization grows, public discussions on religious disputes and its sometimes sweet, sometimes sharp relations with political power are natural.
The RSS is known as a Hindu nationalist volunteer organization. It was founded by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar on September 27, 1925, on the occasion of Vijayadashami. There is no doubt that it is now considered the largest volunteer organization in the world. The RSS itself claims to have over 10 million members. Additionally, the RSS is seen as the parent organization of the current largest political party in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
This means that not just Indian society but also the global community is paying attention to the functioning and future of these organizations. That is why I have mentioned the mantra and the prayer. Some people may see religion, mantras, and prayers as mere formalities, but it is expected that declared members of such an organization will sincerely try to follow the core principles in their lives to meet the set standards and goals.
Despite the influence and autonomy of the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the statements and comments made by authorized or unauthorized party leaders have an impact on the entire society and system, with serious consequences. For instance, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has publicly stated for the past two years that “claims should not be made everywhere over Shiv Ling or other deities’ idols. Our focus has been on Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura.”
However, it has been observed that many leaders in responsible positions or self-declared protectors of the Hindu religion continue to make irresponsible and inflammatory communal statements. This creates an ethical crisis for the central and state governments led by the BJP, as well as for the top leadership—i.e., Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s team and administration.
The latest controversy revolves around a film and the atrocities committed by Aurangzeb. The debate has extended to his grave, even though the official spokesperson of the RSS has clearly stated that “discussion about Aurangzeb is irrelevant.” This is true because millions of people are unaware of the location of Aurangzeb’s grave or the graves of any Mughal or British rulers. Furthermore, most of these ancient sites are under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). If people start digging graves everywhere, unnecessary excavations could begin at countless locations across the country.
Such actions would tarnish India’s reputation as the world’s most successful democracy and a rapidly developing nation, affecting foreign investments and international relations.
Similarly, the relationship between the RSS and BJP was not widely discussed twenty years ago. Back then, the RSS operated quietly and with discipline, issuing only a few statements annually. However, during the Atal-Advani era, differences emerged between the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or other leaders over issues like Ayodhya. Even so, both Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani, and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have always publicly acknowledged their association with the RSS with pride. Modi frequently discusses this in detail on international platforms and in interviews.
The truth is that at this time, there is no power struggle or hierarchy between the two organizations. Differences of opinion among top leaders, like within a family, are natural. However, confusion arises when a third or fourth-tier leader or someone who has drifted away from the organization makes controversial statements on social media. This type of problem is not easy to resolve, but the leadership must find ways to control second-tier leaders.
The RSS and BJP consider Hinduism and every Indian as their own. In recent years, religious leaders such as Shankaracharyas and saints have been receiving increasing respect from those in power. The wealth and comforts of ashrams and religious centers have also increased. Rising religious sentiments in society have resulted in millions of people visiting Ayodhya, Kashi, Prayag, Mathura, Tirupati, Puri, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Dwarka, and Vaishno Devi, and participating in the Kumbh Mela.
However, many self-proclaimed and half-educated religious figures have also started spreading misleading information and delivering provocative speeches. This is having a negative impact on the younger generation, who are struggling to distinguish between true and false religious teachings.
In some states and in Parliament, a few people from religious organizations or ashrams have been elected and are now in power. While they must operate within the framework of the Constitution and organizational guidelines, numerous religious figures dressed in saffron or other religious symbols are causing unnecessary disputes and crises across the country.
These individuals are not only accumulating wealth and building empires but also damaging India’s global image. Therefore, the RSS, BJP, government, and genuine religious leaders must work together to control those who are creating trouble in the name of religion, whether they are in power or in opposition.