The idea of founding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was conceived at a time when society had slipped into self-oblivion. The struggle for political independence naturally occupied the minds of the people. However, there was an unspoken assumption that freedom alone would automatically revive the genuine nationalist values that had diminished under foreign rule. Many began looking to the West as the pinnacle of civilisation, irrationally accepting the British-imposed notion of the “White Man’s burden.” The British promoted theories that Hindus were “a nation-in-the-making,” that Hindus had achieved little of significance in the past, and that Westernisation was the only hope for what they portrayed as a “dying race.” These myths were accepted unquestioningly, even in the name of history. For instance, many believed in the theory that the Aryans came from outside India or that Bharat’s society had always been in a near-primitive state. Acceptance of such baseless myths had become almost mandatory for anyone claiming to be educated or intellectual.
It is telling that this mentality persists even seven decades after Independence, revealing the depth of the colonial legacy. All the prominent figures of the national renaissance, from Swami Vivekananda and Lokmanya Tilak to Mahatma Gandhi, emphasised that freeing the society from this mental slavery was as essential as removing the imperialist rulers. While efforts to hasten political independence were widespread, few or no sustained efforts were made to restore the Hindu psyche to its original form. Indeed, the core of true freedom is not merely political but lies in this mental and cultural revival.
This was the backdrop in which a nationwide movement like the RSS was envisioned. A lack of social cohesion had allowed a small group of traders and shopkeepers, who were no match for the people of Bharat either in intellectual brilliance or physical prowess, to establish an empire here. Native rulers themselves had facilitated the repeated destruction of the sacred Somnath shrine. It was Raja Mansingh, by becoming a key figure in Akbar’s regime, who betrayed the interests of Hindus.
As the saying goes, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Even today, large sections of academia and the elite display a lack of national consciousness, despite having witnessed the painful division of the country during partition. The continued existence of this mentality, despite the weight of both historical and recent experience, underscores the need for intense and ongoing propagation of nationalism and the recognition of Hindu national identity. This fundamental fact transcends any need for corroboration or debate. Any compromise in this regard jeopardises the hard-earned freedom of the nation; without freedom, there is no prospect of progress for anyone. History has shown that national consciousness cannot remain an abstract idea—it must be reflected in every aspect of life.
This was indeed foreseen by Dr Hedgewar. Years of thinking had convinced him that a strong and united Hindu society alone is the sine qua non for not only the all-round prosperity but for the very survival of Bharat as an independent sovereign nation. Social cohesion alone could ensure national integrity.
Dr Hedgewar’s response to this challenge was the founding of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1925.The sweep and amplitude of one great mind can be fully grasped only by minds with a like vision and imagination. Thus, even in the early days of the Sangh, it drew praise and approval from eminent stalwarts including Mahatma Gandhi, Savarkar, Subhash Chandra Bose, Madan Mohan Malaviya and others.
A burning devotion to the Motherland, a feeling of fraternity among all citizens, and an intense awareness of a common national life derived from a shared culture, history, and heritage are the essential lifeblood of a nation. These sentiments must be instilled in every child, and this task is beyond the capabilities of political institutions—it is fundamentally a social task.
The mechanism that Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar devised to achieve this essential goal was the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Dr Hedgewar not only foresaw this need but also had the organisational acumen to give shape to this vision.
