Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Hindu nationalist organisation in India / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (abbr. RSS; Rāṣṭrīya Svayaṃsevak Saṅgh, Hindi pronunciation: [raːʂˈʈriːj(ə) swəjəmˈseːʋək səŋɡʱ], lit. 'National Volunteer Organisation')[7] is an Indian right-wing,[8][9] Hindu nationalist[10][11] volunteer[12] paramilitary organisation.[13] It is the progenitor and leader of a large body of organisations called the Sangh Parivar (Hindi for "Sangh family"), which has developed a presence in all facets of Indian society and includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruling political party under Narendra Modi, the 14th prime minister of India.[8] Mohan Bhagwat has served as the Sarsanghchalak of the RSS since March 2009[update].[14]
Abbreviation | RSS |
---|---|
Formation | 27 September 1925 (98 years ago) (1925-09-27) |
Founder | K. B. Hedgewar |
Type | Non-profit political organisation |
Legal status | Active |
Purpose | Promotion of Hindu nationalism and Hindutva[1][2] |
Headquarters | Dr. Hedgewar Bhawan, Sangh Building Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra – 440 032, India |
Coordinates | 21.146°N 79.111°E / 21.146; 79.111 |
Area served | India |
Membership | |
Sarsanghchalak (Chief) | Mohan Bhagwat |
Sarkaryawah (General Secretary) | Dattatreya Hosabale |
Affiliations | Sangh Parivar |
Website | www |
Founded on 27 September 1925,[15] the initial impetus of the organisation was to provide character training and instil "Hindu discipline" in order to unite the Hindu community and establish a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu nation).[16][17] The organisation aims to spread the ideology of Hindutva to "strengthen" the Hindu community and promotes an ideal of upholding an Indian culture and its civilizational values.[2][18] On the other hand, the RSS has been described as "founded on the premise of Hindu supremacy",[19] and has been accused of an intolerance of minorities, in particular anti-Muslim activities.[20]
During the colonial period, the RSS collaborated with the British Raj and played no role in the Indian independence movement.[21][22] After independence, it grew into an influential Hindu nationalist umbrella organisation, spawning several affiliated organisations that established numerous schools, charities, and clubs to spread its ideological beliefs.[17] It was banned in 1947 for four days,[17] and then thrice by the post-independence Indian government, first in 1948 when Nathuram Godse,[23] an erstwhile member of RSS,[24] assassinated Mahatma Gandhi;[17][25][26] then during The Emergency (1975–1977); and for a third time after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. In the 21st century, it is the world's largest far-right organisation by membership.[9]