“The great mysterious powers in him rose to the highest pitch to declare and assert: ‘Here we stand for the Hindu Nation; here we organise the entire Hindu people in their land of birth with a view and vision that we shall not allow the Hindu Nation to go out of sight and mind. Not only this, but we shall once again reassert and re-establish the prestige and glory of this grand, eternal ancient Hindu Nation’. …People who are looking to the Sangh today seem to wonder how this idea struck Dr Hedgewar. When we cannot find the reason logically, we say, mysterious are the ways of providence and people who are given to such ways are mysterious too. Here is our great mysterious soul, Dr Hedgewar”. – Former RSS Sarkaryavah Dada Rao Parmarth, Mysterious Dr Hedgewar, March 20, 1950, Organiser Weekly
Rashtriya Swayasemsevak Sangh (RSS or just Sangh) is difficult to understand and easy to misunderstand, which is a common cliché used by many. The largest voluntary organisation, whose main activity is called daily Shakha, a one-hour gathering of Swayamsevaks who play, sing, march and resolve to work for the national cause, takes place in open ground and is open to all. Still, Sangh is a mysterious organisation for many that has miraculously survived all odds and masterfully and magnificently evolved a mechanism which is an enigma for social and political observers. When everyone expected an extravagant celebration, the Sangh reiterated its resolve ‘to present a role model before the world of a harmonious and organised Bharat, taking entire society together under the leadership of righteous people’ in the National Council held at Bengaluru in March 2025. The interaction with Sarsanghchalak helped us decode the mystery and master plan of this miraculous and still magnificent organisation.
Sangh is mysterious, simply because when organising the entire society as a Hindu was a matter of ridicule, the founder of RSS, Dr Hedgewar, declared Hindustan as a Hindu Rashtra and decided the objective of organising the entire society on the Hindu edifice. The self-oblivion and sense of slavery were so deep-rooted due to the colonial aggression that anything that had to do with Hindu society, Dharma and culture looked inferior. Sangh was established with much contemplation and deliberation during the freedom struggle. Instead of just limiting to the objective of attaining freedom, the Sangh work started with the resolve to correct the inherent ills of society. For the elite, educated under the British Raj, this was nothing but a mystery as they took pride in seeing themselves through the colonial prism. Due to the revolutionary idea of decolonisation with a process for complete renationalisation, Sangh looks mysterious to many.
Since its inception, RSS has faced hostility and antagonism from the ruling class before and after the Independence of Bharat. From secret police under the British Raj to direct ban under Nehru’s regime, the Sangh was not supposed to survive as an organisation and a thought. The intellectual movement not only thrived but attained greater acceptability and credibility after each onslaught. Everyone witnessed the manifestation of the power generated through the simple and difficult Shakha mechanism during the Emergency. Ordinary-looking Sangh Swayamsevaks and their families showed unprecedented courage and conviction in the restoration of democracy by constitutionally fighting against the dictatorial regime. The movements and multifold expansion in the last three decades make the Sangh nothing short of a miracle.
No other organisation would face such pressure to devise a solution for every problem this nation faces as the Sangh does. From admirers to critics, Sangh is questioned for not doing certain things without understanding what Sangh intends to do. As a progressive unfoldment of an idea, Sangh never claimed to be the solution provider for everything. In fact, the original idea behind Sangh was not to do anything else except run Shakhas and training Swayamsevaks. When the entire society imbibes the Sangh virtue of collective consciousness based on our cultural ethos, an independent status of the organisation would not be required, which has been the stated position of the leadership. Sangh facilitates, and society undertakes difficult tasks such as liberating the Ram Janmabhoomi. When taking credit for everything and achieving all objectives through political power, Sangh seeks to galvanise the societal power for the desired change. Naturally, it becomes a masterful and magnificent journey for all.
The Sangh is difficult to understand because it is unparalleled and incomparable; it is the only organisation that seeks to dissolve itself in society. It may not be easy to understand from the outside, but very easy to internalise if you become part of it. That is what RSS Sarsanghachalak has decoded about the secret behind the success of this mysterious and miraculous journey, which turns out to be magnificent and masterful. As Dada Rao Parmath had articulated mysteriously, “RSS is an evolution of life mission of the Hindu Nation”. When the life mission of the nation and organisation is coterminous, comparing the thought with any other ideology would create a mystery. So, better internalise the life mission of this great nation and be part of the movement striving to realise it without any expectation.
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