From Shakha to Power: How RSS Turned 100 and Redefined Hindu Nationalism in India
Image via The Indian Express
September 20, 2025
On October 2, 2025, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will complete 100 years since its birth in Nagpur. In these hundred years, the RSS has gone from being a small brotherhood of men in khaki shorts to one of the most powerful cultural and political forces in India. Its influence is seen not only in politics but also in education, culture, and social work. The RSS has faced bans, criticism, and controversies, yet it has survived and grown. Today, it stands as a symbol of Hindu nationalism and a decisive force in Indian polity.
The Birth of RSS
The RSS was founded in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a doctor from Nagpur. Hedgewar was disturbed by the lack of unity among Hindus. He believed that without discipline and brotherhood, Hindus could not defend themselves or play a leading role in society.
His solution was the shakha. A shakha is a daily meeting where young men gather for physical training, games, drills, and discussions. The goal was to create disciplined individuals who saw themselves as part of a larger Hindu nation. Hedgewar felt that cultural strength was more important than political slogans.
The first shakha in Nagpur had only a handful of men. They wore khaki uniforms, carried sticks, and trained like soldiers. Slowly, this model spread across towns and cities. By the time India gained independence in 1947, the RSS had already created a growing network of committed volunteers called swayamsevaks.
The Independence Era and Early Struggles
During the freedom movement, the RSS did not directly fight the British. Instead, it focused on building strength within Hindu society. This often brought criticism from leaders of the Congress, who accused the RSS of staying away from the main struggle.
After independence, the RSS faced its biggest challenge. In January 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. Godse had once been linked with Hindu nationalist circles. The government banned the RSS and jailed many of its leaders. Though the ban was lifted later, suspicion remained.
The RSS was banned several times in history — after Partition in 1947–48, during the Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975, and after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. Each time, the RSS managed to come back. It used these crises to strengthen its image as a disciplined, determined organisation.
Stepping Into Politics
The RSS always claimed that it was a cultural body, not a political party. But its swayamsevaks were drawn towards politics to spread its ideas.
In 1951, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded with support from RSS members. This was the first clear political wing of the Sangh ideology. Later, in 1980, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was formed. Many BJP leaders, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, and later Narendra Modi, came from RSS backgrounds.
The RSS did not fight elections directly, but it influenced the style and strategies of these parties. It trained leaders, gave ideological guidance, and mobilised supporters at the ground level. Over decades, this close bond between RSS and BJP became one of the strongest links in Indian politics.
Social Work and Expansion
While political wings grew, the RSS also expanded into other fields. It created a family of organisations, called the Sangh Parivar. These included student groups, labour unions, farmer bodies, educational trusts, cultural forums, and service groups.
Whenever there were natural disasters like floods or earthquakes, RSS volunteers reached quickly to help. The organisation also opened schools, hostels, and training centres. By combining ideology with service, the RSS built deep roots in society.
Its daily shakhas became training grounds. Children, youth, and even senior citizens attended them. The drills, prayers, and teachings created a sense of discipline and loyalty. By the 21st century, the RSS had lakhs of swayamsevaks spread across India.
The Ideology of Hindutva
The central idea of RSS is Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism. Leaders like M.S. Golwalkar, the second chief of RSS, described India as a Hindu nation where culture, identity, and politics should be shaped by Hindu values.
Supporters see this as a way to build unity and pride. They argue that for centuries, Hindus were divided and oppressed, and now they must rise with confidence. Critics, however, say that Hindutva sidelines minorities like Muslims and Christians. They see it as a danger to India’s secular and plural identity.
This debate has followed RSS throughout its journey. Even today, it remains central to Indian politics.
The Rise with BJP
The real political rise of RSS’s ideas came in the 1990s. The Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which demanded the building of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, brought RSS and its allied organisations to the national stage. The demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 was a turning point. Though it brought another ban on RSS, it also pushed Hindu nationalism to the heart of Indian politics.
In 2014, when the BJP under Narendra Modi won a landslide victory, it marked the peak of RSS influence. Many saw Modi himself as a product of RSS training. Since then, with repeated electoral victories, the ideas of RSS have become part of governance, education, and public debate.
RSS at 100
In 2025, the RSS is celebrating its centenary with a year-long campaign. It is organising Hindu gatherings, training camps, and door-to-door contacts. Its centenary theme, called Panch Parivartan (Five Transformations), focuses on social harmony, family values, environment, self-reliance, and civic responsibility.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has been speaking about unity. At the inauguration in New Delhi, he said that people of undivided India share the same DNA for 40,000 years. He stressed that living in harmony is part of Indian culture.
This shows how RSS wants to present itself not only as a Hindu body but also as a national body that talks about unity, environment, and family values.
Criticism and Questions
Despite its success, the RSS continues to face criticism. Many accuse it of being majoritarian, of ignoring minority rights, and of pushing India away from secular ideals. Others see it as overly focused on the past, not the challenges of a modern global society.
Questions also remain:
- Can the RSS adapt to urban lifestyles where shakhas are less attractive to youth?
- How will it balance tradition with technology and modern education?
- Can it move from being a Hindu nationalist body to being a truly inclusive cultural body?
The Road Ahead
What cannot be denied is that RSS is now central to India’s story. It has created a deep network, shaped generations of leaders, and placed Hindu nationalism at the centre of political debate.
At 100 years, it stands at a powerful position. Its ideas will influence not just politics but also culture, education, and the way India sees itself. For some, this is a matter of pride. For others, it is a matter of worry.
The brotherhood that started in Nagpur with a handful of men is now a national force. Its future will decide, in many ways, the future of India itself.