Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang
RSS
Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sang
RSS was
established on September 27, 1925 on Vijayadashmi day, at Nagpur by a few young
men.
It was
to infuse patriotism in the youth and to instill discipline through physical
training and patriotic exhortations.
Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar
He was
born on April 1, 1889. From Telangana, Brahmin family in Andhra Pradesh.
His
great grandfather was in Nagpur.
Because
of early difficulties in the family Keshav was sent to school in Nagpur.
In 1909
he passed matriculation from Poona.
In 1910
he joined national medical college at Calcutta and completed medical course in
1914. Then returned to Nagpur.
He was
always a revolutionary.
In the
1920, December Congress session in Nagpur, he and few others pressed for
complete independence and cow-protection.
In
1921, August 19 he was in imprisoned for one year on sedition charges.
He came
out from the jail on the 12th July 1922. This was the time the World
War I (1914- 1918) was over.
The
Kilafat movement[1]
failed. There were riots on Malabar, etc.
The
twin objectives of RSS
When founded were:
1
Hindus must be united to be able to stand up to Muslims
2 they
must be radicalized to hasten the day of British withdrawal from India.
To
reach this objectives:
Method:
Sunday 5 am
Uniform:
white shirt and Knee long Khaki Shorts; Kaki cap with two buttons
Now
lathi is introduced
Baudhik:
from senior member (nation)
Shakhas
Mode of
Income; Bhagwa Dhwaja, Gurudakshina (First 1928).
The
first officers training camp was organized in 1929.
Shakhas
began to grow in size and in number.
Hedgewar
emphasized the importance of games, drill and parade. Physical discipline is an
essential base for overall discipline.
Daily
Program:
Swayamsevakes in a given area coming together at the
appointed time for one hour.
Mukhya
Shikshak (chief instructor) whistle- fall in line.
The
Bhagwa Flag was hoisted and saluted .
There
used to be drill, lathi play and games.
At the
end they sit in circle- check absent- introduce new members- next day plans-
one or two songs.
At the
end –fall in line- prayer- flag salute.
It is
believed that the samskaras would mould
the Swayamsevak into a nationalist activist.
Until
1930 (satyagraha and Jail0 Hedgewar’s mud house was all the office.
RSS was
banned by the government when 2nd world war broke because of its
military looking outfits.
In
1930 during salt satyagraha he went
Jungle satyagraha[2]
(Yotmal). He was sentenced for nine months.
Hedgewar wanted Dhawa flag as the national flag.
He died
June 21, 1940 at 9.27. a.m.
The
strength of RSS ideology and efficacy of the methodology carried RSS further to
new heights.
Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar [Shri Guruji]
(Sarsanghchalak)
Was
born on february 18, 1906 in Nagpur.
Passed
matriculation in 1922, then joined college.
1924
joined for M.Sc in zoology
He
taught zoology
In 1931
he was initiated into RSS
For a
period he was initiated to Ashramlife.
He also
studied law.
He became the leader in 1940. The RSS spread
fast.
One of
the reasons was to the reaction to the demand for partition.
Another
is to try to unite the Hindus and nationalism.
The
life and sacrifice of pracharakas 9simple) was another reason.
[pracharak-
sanghachalake- sarsanghachalak.]
In 1939
he wrote “We: our nationhood defined) [within three days].
While
ailing Hedgewar was confident that Golwalkar
would leas RSS
Golwalkar
did not like India being called as sub continent because it was the aim of
partisan.
He
proved India is Rashtra [nation]
He
thought that a proper history of India bad not yet been written
He
opposed calling Hindu period, Muslim period British period. For his it should
be people.
In 1947
Like Gandhi, RSS did not celebrate Independence because of partition and blood-shed.
When
congress came to power it accused RSS of communalism, fascism, etc. at the same
time congress was silent about Muslim League, Muslim National Guard, etc.
RSS was
banned when Gandhi was assassinated.
Guruji
was also arrested
In July
1949 the ban was lifted.
January
26, 1950 on Republic day Golwalkar asked the people to rejoice.
He died
June 5, 1973.
His
important contributions were cultural nationalism and his books ‘ we our
nationhood defined and Bunch of thought.
Balasaheb
He
became Sar-Sangha –chalak after Guruji.
RSS was
banned during emergency by Indra.
After
emergency, when ban was lifted, RSS projected itself as a cultural
organization.
RSS was
never, anti-Muslim but against those who opposed the unity and integrity of
India.
He
claimed that the Hindus are the most secular.
RSS and Politics
Nehru’s
congress was in sulk. The socialists were against RSS. CPI was out of question
for the RSS. The Hindu Maha Saba was more dead than alive.
Dr.
Syama Prasad Mookerji, formerly of the Hindu Maha Saba, had quit Nehru’s
cabinet on the issue of betrayal of east Bengal Hindus.
He was
also thinking of launching a new party.
The
above two thoughts resulted in the birth of Bharatiya Jana Sangha.
Mookerji
was the president. Dr. Bhai Mahavir was General Secretary.
RSS and Janata:
May 1,
1977 Jan Sangh and other parties merged with Janata Party ( in the context of
emergency).
In the
subsequent election Janata party lost.
In
1980, Jana Sangh left Janata party and formed the BJP.
Works of RSS:
During
the partition it set up refugee camps.
Engaged
with draught and flood relief works.
For the
students it has Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.
RSS
wante dindia be renamed as Bharat
Hindi
should be the state language.
Vande
Mataram should become National anthom.
Its
union is called Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangha
RSS
claims that cast is not relevant today.
Important
book: The RSS story by K.R. Malkani, Impex India, New Delhi, 1980.
Banned:
1948 Gandhi was assassinated
1975
emergency
1992
Demolition of the Mosque
Hindu
Mahasabha:
1970s,
Hindu Zamindars opposed ‘single antion’.
Dayananda
Saraswati and Pandit Lekh Ram said Muslims be expelled from India and converted
to Aryanism.
The
single nation only to appease the Muslims.
First
they started Punjab Hindu Mahasaba. Later Hindu Maha sabha, RSS and Muslim
League.
From
1923 Savarkat guided HMS
Savarkar’s
work: “Hindutva: who is Hindu, 1923.
Vishva
Hindu Parishad:
To
consolidate and strengthen Hindu society
NRIs
and Sadhus.
NRIs
fund.
Bajrang
Dal: son of RSS. Militant .
Specializing
in anti-minority onslaught.
Who is
the present RSS head? It is Mohan
Bhagwat.
RSS leaders: List of Sarsanghchalaks of the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
K. B. Hedgewar (1925–1930 and
1931–1940)
Laxman Vasudev
Paranjpe (1930–1931)
M. S. Golwalkar (1940–1973)
Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras (1973–1994)
Rajendra Singh (1994–2000)
K. S. Sudarshan (2000–2009)
Mohan Bhagwat (2009–present)
[1]
KM (1919-1924) was an agitation by Indian Muslims allied with Indian Nationalism in the years
following world war I. Its purpose was to pressure the British government to
preserve the authority of the Ottoman Sultan as Caliph of Islam following the
breakup f the Ottoman Empire at the end of the war.
[2]
Against British Forest policies.
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