THE conversation -- to which this scribe was privy -- may confuse most. Yet, every word the RSS senior uttered was true. Though the nation -- and even the world -- knows that the RSS and the BJP are described to be on the same side of the ideological divide that is now dominating India’s public discourse, the truth of the matter is that the RSS is not a political organisation. True, from time to time, it has expressed its opinion on political issues of the moment. Despite that, it has maintained its original stance that it has little to do with actual political activity. Those who have studied the RSS as a national movement know the truth in this traditional assertion that the RSS has little to do with actual political activity of any type. They know that the core activity of the RSS is Rashtra-Nirman through Manushya-Nirman. Over time, though, as the RSS grew in size, the spread of its activity, too, expanded. In order to serve different purposes of larger interests, the RSS then created a web of organisations. That process led to formation of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ... to name a few. These frontal organisations are run by the RSS swayamsevaks, but do not necessarily run the RSS agenda. Close RSS watchers know that on many occasions, these frontal organisations have taken stands that seem to run counter to stated interests of another outfit in the larger portfolio.

 

 

Despite this, the complex organisational matrix of the RSS and its frontal organisations runs smoothly -- much to the surprise of those who do not belong to the fold, or are even opposed to the RSS. They just fail to understand what force actually keeps such a diverse range or organisations together. And that is natural -- particularly when the society is overly dominated by political thought and activity. In such an atmosphere, countless people just feel eternally intrigued about the organisational process of the RSS. Meanwhile, since its founding a hundred years ago by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS continued to expand its operational footprint and social influence - - for first two-plus decades during the British occupation of India, and later in Independent India for the past 78 years. Its swayamsevaks are invariably present where there is a natural calamity and common people are suffering. They are also there to promote the society’s cultural integration in every possible manner.

 

The swayamsevaks are also there to run innumerable schools and colleges. They also run their business activities and take part in political activities as well. But in most of these activities, the swayamsevaks appear in their personal capacities and not as RSS. But wherever they are, the swayamsevaks leave their imprint on the activity, thanks to their sense of dedication and discipline. These two attributes often separate the RSS activists from the rest of the society. The story is fondly told about Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi during the terrible floods in Gujarat around 1980s. She saw some volunteers extending every possible help to the victims of the floods, and felt that those people were Congress volunteers. However, the Government officials present at the spot promptly correct the Prime Minister stating that those were RSS swayamsevaks.

 

Mrs. Gandhi felt both at once, surprised and dismayed. But then, supporters of the RSS also tell with an understandable sense of pride that Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had invited RSS participation in the Republic Day Parade post-1962 warT B ETWEEN these two metaphors expands the story of what the RSS actually is. In fact, it is so many things at the same time -- a voluntary organisation, a promoter of the concept of cultural nationalism, a nationalistic think-tank (of sorts), an eco-system to shape lives of countless lakhs of young men and women to add to the nation’s population people with certain virtues that are so distinct from others in the larger society...! The nation will not forget the spectacle of RSS chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat sitting next to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi at the historic Ram Mandir consecration ceremony at Ayodhya -- in his own right as a leader of Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Movement. The nation also knows that the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas, too, was formed through a joint initiative of so many entities including the RSS, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and the BJP. But even as a clamour is rising for other temple sites in the country, the nation heard Dr. Bhagwat say in no uncertain terms that it would be improper to start looking for Shivling under every mosque.

 

The nation also saw him visit a mosque in Delhi as part of the RSS’ Muslim outreach. And the nation also knows that the RSS and its leaders and thinkers are on the forefront of what has come to be known as Indic thought -- promoting more intensive and extensive study of India’s ancient history and bringing it to the public domain -- as an attempt to re-establish India’s position of traditional eminence globally -- Vishwaguru. In the 78 years since Independence, the RSS has never shied from playing its part in shaping a comprehensive national discourse encompassing every possible sphere of public life in the country. When Mrs. Indira Gandhi slapped the Emergency on the nation in June 1975, the RSS was banned for whatever reason. The leadership then, headed by Sarsanghchalak Mr. Balasaheb Deoras directed the swayamsevaks to take part in pro-democracy demonstrations all over the country. Lakhs of RSS swayamsevaks and their family-members were arrested during the Emergency. A shockingly high number among those people could never get back their jobs that they lost when they were jailed. Yet, researchers of that period give an unabashed credit to the RSS for being the most potent force in the fight against the atrocity called “Emergency” -- during which most members of the RSS top leadership band were behind the bars for complete 19 months of the dark period.

 

That participation did give the Jan Sangh (the former self of the BJP) an edge in national politics and it became part of the Janata Party Government in the summer of 1977. Subsequently, the Jan Sangh dissolved itself and gave birth to the BJP in 1980 -- eventually becoming possibly the world’s largest political organisation (winning three consecutive parliamentary elections). In this process, the RSS never concealed its symbiotic relationship with the BJP, but also did not engage itself in any political activity. Of course, the people and the parties on the other side of the ideological divide keep braiding the RSS for its political machinations etc etc. No matter that, the RSS remains unaffected and continues to conduct itself as a completely apolitical organisation that would never stray from its core purpose of nation-building through man-moulding. Five years ago, the RSS organised a three-day event at New Delhi Vigyan Bhavan where it invited innumerable social and political leaders and thinkers for a marathon think-session. In those three days, Dr. Mohan Bhagwat made a profound statement about what the RSS stood for and how it functioned. He also answered every possible question from the elite audience about the RSS and its role and method and manner. Some questions were truly barbed, but Dr. Bhagwat remained unfazed and satisfied every query in the most efficient manner.

 

However, during that event, Dr. Bhagwat made one assertion loud and clear -- that each word he was saying there had been vetted by the RSS think-tank and authorised (in a way). Thus, he communicated to the nation how the RSS functioned and thought. There, of course, persists in public domain many a stories and anecdotes -- and even fabrications -- about the RSS and its ways. Most of those stories are loose talk, so to say. But some that has the weight of the truth, however, does not disturb the RSS as such. For, when “you have a clear head and heart, you do not have to be bothered about what others have to say about you”, Mr. K. Sudarshan, then the Sarsanghchalak, had advised his men. This philosophy and policy continues even today -- with the larger goal of man-moulding -- Manushya-Nirman. The ideal of the RSS is welldefined in its Sanskrit prayer -- Namaste Sadaa Vatsaley Matrubhoomey ...! (Salutes to you always my loving Motherland ...). Each of the words in that prayer encapsulates nationalistic emotion with a sense of pride that is totally shorn of egotism From that standpoint, the RSS has always lent itself to national need from time to time -- may it be then in the time of natural calamity or a social or seemingly political emergency.

 

The participation of the RSS rank and file in pro-democracy movement of the mid-1970s has to be viewed in this light. For, the Emergency slapped on the nation may have had to purpose of saving Mrs. Indira Gandhi from a political elimination. But more than that was the need for the Indian society to fight for the restoration of democracy. The RSS took that plunge from that standpoint -- and earned plaudits from the nation beyond politics. Much space would be needed to give details of the participation of the RSS in different spheres of national life of India. But suffice it is to say at this point that the nature and extent of the RSS participation in national discourse is simply unparalleled.