HISTORY OF RSS

 

 RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH (RSS)

 

(by Ved Pal, IRSE; FIE; FIPWE; MBA; Former Principal Chief Engineer and Former Chief Administrative Officer, Ministry of Rlys, Govt of India)

 

In 1907, the Congress Party's annual session was held at Surat, where conflict arose between the "moderate" faction and the "extremist" faction, led by Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipinchandra Pal, over the selection of a new president. Due to Balakrishna Shivram Moonje's (An eye specialist turned Indian freedom fighter born on 12 December 1872 at Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh; educated at Nagpur and Bombay; served in the Boer War in South Africa, and lived with M.K. Gandhi at Durban, 1900; organised the C.P. and Berar Provincial Conference, 1904; took part in Home Rule movement, 1917; imprisoned during the Forest Satyagrahaa; Tilakite Congressman and Hindu Mahasabha politician; introduced Ganesh and Shivaji Festivals in Central India; was The General Secretary of Central Indian Provincial Congress for many years; established Bhonsala Military School in Nasik to provide military training to Hindus; also started a Marathi Newspaper known as Daily Maharashtra in Nagpur) support of Tilak during the session, Tilak's trust in Moonje led to a strong relationship between the two. As a result, Moonje toured the entire Central India and collected funds for Tilak on many occasions. Moonje also accompanied Tilak to Calcutta for this purpose. Following the death of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1920, Moonje dissociated from Congress as he disagreed with the two main policies of Gandhi, namely his non-violence and secularism, thus Moonje’s association with Hindu Mahasabha increased. He sent his protegee Dr. Keshav B Hedgewar to Calcutta to pursue his medical studies and to learn combat techniques from the secret revolutionary societies of Bengal. Hedgewar became a member of the “Anushilan Samiti” (a detailed account of Anushilan Samiti is given in para 12.1.19). Trailokya Nath Chakraborty’s (the revolutionary who spent 30 years in notorious jails including Kalapani Cellular Jail and Mandlay Jail) authoritative and widely read memoir “Jele Trish Bocchor” (Thirty Years in Prison) mentions that “Doctorji (as Dr Hegdewar was popularly known), the head of the RSS was a member of our Anushilan Samiti getting into its inner circle. Hegdewar was training youth as a member of Anushilan Samiti (book “In Search of Freedom” by Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, who himself was a revolutionary of Anushilan Samiti and instrumental in founding HRA headed by Chandra Shekhar Azad, page 592)

The secretive methods of Anushilan Samiti were eventually used by Dr Hegdewar in organising the RSS which was necessitated by actions of Muslims around that time. In 1921, Hedgewar was arrested on charges of sedition over his speeches at Katol and Bharatwada. Ultimately, he was sentenced to a year in prison. He was released in July 1922.

 In 1919 a pan-Islamic political campaign, called Khilafat Movement, was launched by Indian Muslims to support the Ottoman Caliphate, which was facing threats after Turkey's defeat in World War I. The movement led to mass raping of Hindu women, genocide of Hindu men, women and children, conversion of Hindus and destruction of property [detailed account is given in para 12.1.22 MALABAR REBELLION (1921–1922)].  A cycle of inter-communal violence throughout India followed for several years. In 1923, there were riots in Nagpur, termed "Muslim riots" by Hedgewar, where Hindus were "totally disorganised and panicky". These incidents made a major impression on Hedgewar and convinced him of the need to "organise" Hindu society. Gandhi's stance on the Khilafat Movement was a cause for concern to Hedgewar. After reading Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's ideological pamphlet, Essentials of Hindutva, published in Nagpur in 1923, and meeting Savarkar in the Ratnagiri prison, Hedgewar was extremely influenced by him, and founded the RSS in 1925 on Vijay Dashmi day, with the objective of "strengthening" Hindu society. Following is timeline of developments in RSS:

1928: Meeting between Dr Hegdewar and Subhash Bose took place at the Calcutta session of the Congress in 1928. Dr Hedgewar told Subhas Bose of “kind of national volunteer force he was raising in and around Nagpur.” Bose expressed interest in the movement and said, “Such work alone can lead to national regeneration.”

1928: Vitthalbhai Patel, elder brother of Sardar Patel visited the Mohitewada Shakha in Nagpur.

1930 Poorna Swaraj Day: Dr Hegdewar instructed all Shakhas to celebrate 26 January as Independence day.  All RSS shakhas observed 26 January 1930 as Independence Day, hoisting the saffron flag instead of the Congress tricolour.

Doctorji with several Swayamsevaks participated in Jungle Satyagraha and was jailed. He designated Dr. L.V. Paranjape as Sarasnahgachalak beofore participating in the Satyagraha. Hedgewar personally participated in the Salt March launched by Gandhi in April 1930, but he did not get the RSS involved in the movement however, those wishing to participate individually were free to join.

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930): Hedgewar and several swayamsevaks joined the Jungle Satyagraha against British forest laws in Central Provinces, though RSS officially stayed away.

1934: On December 25, Gandhi visited the Wardha district camp of RSS and was so impressed by discipline and absence of any feeling of cast or creed that he desired to meet the Sarsanghchalak and met Dr Hegdewar next day.

1939: Subhas Bose was expelled from the Congress and a large chunk of the Anushilan Samiti revolutionaries, led by Trailokya Nath Chakraborty (Chakraborty struck a deep bond with Subhas in Mandalay Jail) threw in their lot with him and Chakraborty urged Subhas to visit Hedgewar at Nagpur. Subhas, knowing of Chakraborty’s old Anushilan link asked him to re-establish contact with Hedgewar as volunteers would form the vanguard of an Indian revolutionary force.

1940: Veer Savarkar visited RSS prantik Baithak in pune. Doctor Shyama Prasada Mukherjee met Doctorji to express his concern over the plight of Hindus in Bengal. British Government banned the Sangh uniform -ganavesh - and route march. Subhas Bose visited Dr Hegdewar on his deathbed on June 20. Doctorji passed away next day on June 21.

1942: Several Sangh workers took active part in "Quit India" agitation demanding Britishers to leave the country. (RSS aim was character building, imparting training and making good informed and disciplined volunteers who could chose their path as per will). In Ashti - Chimur region of Maharashtra, some Swayamsevaks sacrified their lives in the agitation. Ramtek "Nagar Karyavah" of RSS Shri. Balashaeb Deshpande was sentenced to death. Later, this sentence was revoked by British Government.

1947: In month of March when mobs instigated by the Muslim League headed toward the Golden Temple, RSS volunteers armed with swords and lathis confronted them, forcing a retreat. Three days later, when another assault threatened the sacred Sikh shrine, RSS swayamsevaks formed a human ring of defence and fought for hours, successfully repelling the attackers.

3rd June 1947: Congress accepted Partition on which was a stunning blow to the Hindu people, and more so to the Sangh Swayamsevaks. Hindus were killed massively in Punjab and Bengal. RSS organised organized 3000 relief camps refugee in Punjab, Delhi, and Bengal to shelter and rehabilitate displaced Hindus. The swayamsevaks kept twenty-four hour vigils especially in Hindus and Sikhs localities. Self-defense training was imparted. RSS volunteers were the first ones to reach the affected areas and helped even the Muslims, if they asked for it. There were instances where the Swayamsevaks of the Sangh had taken out Muslim women and children from Hindu majority areas and safely delivered them to the refugee camps run by the Muslim League in Lahore.’ (source: Farooq M, Javaid U. Suspension of Article 370: Assessment of Modi's Kashmir Masterstroke under Hindutva Ideology. Global Political Review.2020;5(I):1-8). When the entire Punjab was burning, RSS workers risked their lives and saved the people. Jagat S. Bright has written in his book ‘Golwalkar and RSS’ that, “In those days Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had carried out the duty which is generally carried out by the Red Cross Society. The Sangh has made great contribution to the cause of saving innocent people when riots broke out at various places before independence and after independence.” Punjab Relief Committee, which was formed by RSS even before the announcement of the partition, provided relief to 7,000 people in Pathankot, to 10,000 people in Manvad, to 3,500 people in Sujan, to 4,000 people in Guru Dani temple and to 50,000 people in Dera Nanak city. In the relief camp established at Jalandhar, arrangements were made to provide food to 60,000 people. Mridula Sarabhai committee formed by Central Government visited the relief camps run by Punjab Relief Committee and praised the work being carried out by RSS swayamsevaks.

RSS established Hindu Sahayata Committee camp near the Delhi railway station. More such camps were established in Kisanganj, Chandani Chowk and near the Delhi Airport. 25,000 people lived in those camps. Businessman Birla provided substantial financial support to the vegetables were by the Sindhi market and food grains from Nava Bazar market free of cost. The Committee was arranging jobs for the displaced people. Many people were given jobs in Birla Mills and Delhi Cloth Mill.

14 Sept 1947: Gandhi addressed a gathering of 500 swayamsevaks in Bhangi colony of Delhi.

16 Sept 1947: Gandhi met RSS workers in a refugee camp organised by RSS in Delhi and praised RSS discipline, simplicity, and service spirit while cautioning against its exclusivist Hindu-only nationalism.

October 1947 (Kashmir Issue): Initial   attack by Pakistani raiders was made on October 11, 1947 when they were on a killing spree in areas like Mirpur and Kotli which later fell into Pakistani hands. RSS volunteers protected hapless refugees at Jammu who were coming from Pakistan and POK. Besides, volunteers helped in broadening Jammu aerodrome and assisted Army garrison. While defending Srinagar, one Kashmiri Sangh worker, Pandit Manmath lost his life. The newspaper reports of yesteryears, quoting “RSS Vision in Action” further say that Sheikh Abdullah’s Government had allowed RSS to work in the militia until Kashmir valley was cleared of raiders.

[Source: Kashmir Rechords, an initiative of the Kashmir Rechords Foundation, a non-profit organization (Registered with the Government of India) dedicated to promoting the art and culture of the historically rich region of Jammu and Kashmir].

Many sources suggest that when nothing worked in convincing Maharaja Hari Singh to accede J&K to India, Sardar Patel used backdoor diplomacy and took help of RSS chief Golwalkar making even government plane available to him. The most relevant source to quote would be an author considered right hand man of Sonia Gandhi during 2004-09. In the book, titled ‘India: Shedding the Past, Embracing the Future, 1906-2017’ Arun Bhatnagar [former Secretary, National Advisory Council (2004 – 08, chaired by Sonia Gandhi officially to advise PM Manmohan Singh); former Chairman, Prasar Bharati (2008 – 09; author] explains how Golwalkar played an important role in the J&K accession saga. When Maharaja Hari Singh, under the influence of his Rajguru Swami Sant Deo who floated the idea of Dogristan, chased away Congress President Acharya J B Kripalani, sent Viceroy Lord Mountbatten trout fishing and even made Gandhiji wait before seeing him, then Sardar Patel reportedly convinced RSS sarsangchalak Guru Golwalkar through M C Mahajan to visit Srinagar to convince Hari Singh to accede to India.

According to late Madhavrao Muley (then Prant Pracharak of Punjab and J&K who accompanied Gowalkar) “Union Home Minister Sardar Patel, had told Mehar Chand Mahajan, Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, to prepare Maharaja Hari Singh for the accession of the state to India. Mehar Chand Mahajan conveyed the message to Guruji requesting him to meet the Maharaja and prepare him for the accession. Mahajan had arranged the meeting between Guruji and the Maharaja. .. Guruji reached Srinagar by air from Delhi on October 17, 1947. The meeting took place on the morning of October 18. During the meeting prince Karan Singh, with his plastered fractured leg, was present while lying on the bed. Maharaja’s contention was that ‘my state is fully dependent on Pakistan. All routes pass through Sialkot and Rawalpindi. Lahore is my airport. How can I have relations with India?’ .. Guruji made him understand by saying ‘you are a Hindu king’. By acceding to Pakistan your Hindu subjects will have to struggle against grave difficulties. It is correct that there is no road, rail or air link with India but it can be set right quickly. In your interest and in the interest of Jammu & Kashmir State it is better for you to accede to India.”

At the end of their meeting, the Maharaja presented a ‘Tosa’ (best quality Pashmina Shawl) to Guruji and conveyed his readiness to accede to India. After a period of eight days, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession with the Indian Union.

Developments & Activities After Independence: RSS associated itself in various activities including relief during natural calamities. Following are some of the important activities other than related with calamities/disasters etc:

1948: Gandhi was assassinated on January 30. Sangh expressed its deep condolences, but Interim Government blamed Sangh for Gandhiji’s murder. On the very day of Gandhi’s assassination, Savarkar’s two bodyguards were removed, stripping him of protection. A mob, under the influence of the ruling Congress party ransacked Veer Savarkar’s residence, torched his library, and destroyed valuable documents. Yet, due to his loyal followers, Savarkar narrowly escaped. Mobs of rioters attacked houses and shops and even educational institutions of Chitpavan Brahmins and torched them. Estimates places the death toll of Brahmins in Maharashtra at 8000. RSS Sarsanghchalak Golwalkar was arrested on February 1 in Nagpur. Government banned Sangh and arrested 17000 swayamsevaks on February 4. Golwalkar announced the closure of Sangh shakhas on February 5.  After the failure of talks with government, Swayamsevaks launched satyagraha demanding the removal of ban on Sangh on December 9.

1949: Government lifted the ban unconditionally on July 12 and on July 13 Golwalkar was released from jail.  Akhil Bharatiya Vidyardhi Parishad (ABVP) was launched for nation building through student power.

1950: Vastuhara Sahayata Samiti was formed on 8 February by RSS. The Committee established relief camps at different places like Sealdah, Jaunpur and in Assam. In response to the appeal by Golwalkar, the committee could collect Rs. 8, 56,687 and 1,500 truckloads of clothes for thousands of displaced people living in those camps.          

 Earth quake and floods occurred in Assam. Swayamsevaks swung into action.

1952: Bharatiya Jansangh was formed by Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukharjee and many Swayamsevaks joined it.

1953: Mukherjee observed hunger strike to protest the law that prohibited Indian citizens from settling within the J&K and mandating that they carry ID cards. Mukherjee tried to enter Jammu and Kashmir but, he was not given permission and arrested on 11 May. He died under mysterious circumstances on 23 June 1953 while under detention.

1954: RSS Swayamsevaks along with National Liberation Movement Organization (NLMO) and Azad Gomantak Dal (AGD) liberated Dadra and Nagar Haveli from Portuguese control on August 2. RSS's Nana Kajrekar was placed in charge of the administration, while the AGD's Lavande was put in charge of the treasury.

1955: RSS Swayamsevaks took leading part in the all-party struggle for the liberation of Goa from the control of Portuguese. On June 13, 1955, Jagannath Rao Joshi, a Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader along with the RSS volunteer of Karnataka, launched the Goa Satyagraha. Joshi was accompanied by a team of about 3,000 workers, including women. On reaching the Goa border, the Portuguese resorted to lathi charge and firing on the Satyagrahis. On August 15, 1955, more than 5,000 Satyagrahis were fired upon by the Portuguese army deployed in Goa, 51 satyagrahis martyred on the spot and more than 300 injured. Raja Bhai Mahakal, a leading RSS swayansevak from Ujjain and another leading swayansevak Amir Chand also died of bullet injuries. A 40-year-old woman satyagrahi Subhadra Bai took the flag from a fallen male Satyagrahi and herself took a bullet on her chest. and people appealed to the Union Government to help the agitators, but contrary to taking a positive approach towards them, the Government banned the activists of United Front of Goans (UFG), which major constituent of which was RSS. Nehru was of the opinion that since Portugal was a member of NATO at that time, and Kashmir issue is also at loggerheads, in such a situation, military action on the Part of India was not appropriate. Many such movements continued till 1961. Many political parties like Bhartiya Jan Sangh (predecessor of BJP), CPI, Azad Gomantak Dal etc mounted pressure on Nehru government for military action. INC also called for military action. On 10th December, 1961 i.e. just before general election, Operation Vijay was launched by Nehru government and military action commenced on 17^th December. Within 48 hours i.e. on 19 December Portuguese Governor General of Goa Manuel António Vassalo e Silva signed the instrument of surrender.

1963: RSS was invited to participate in the Republic Day Parade on January 26 in Delhi. 3000 swayamsevaks with full uniform and band participated in this parade on a short notice.

1965: RSS volunteers utilised to control traffic in Delhi during Indo-Pak war.

1966: Drought in Bihar. Jayprakash Narayan was impressed with the selfless service of Swayamsevaks in relief opearions.

1971: RSS Swayamsevaks took active part in helping the armed forces in Indo-Pak war offered their services to maintain law and order and were first to donate blood.

1972: Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari completed by RSS and got inaugurated by the then President of India, Sri V.V. Giri.

1977: Cyclone hit coastal areas of AP in December resulting massive human loss. Swayamsevaks worked in relief operations under adverse conditions. 2,40,000 clothes and 32000 utensils were distributed.

1979: In August month, Machhu dam near Morvi, Gujarat, burst causing floods. Swayamsevaks set up relief camps and helped 12,000 families in distress.

1984: In the wake of the assassination of Indira Gandhi in October, Sikhs were attacked by mobs. Hundreds of Sikh families were given protection in relief camps set up by RSS for the needy and necessary service rendered at their homes in Delhi and other parts of the country. After Operation Blue-Star, RSS swayamsevaks participatated in the Karseva for reconstruction of Golden Temple in Amritsar.

1989: On June 25 the terrorist attack on an RSS Shakha in Moga Town, Punjab resulting in loss of lives of 18 Swayamsevaks and 6 others. 28 others were injured.

4^th November 1996: Severe Cyclone hit the Godavari Districts of Andhra Pradesh causing 900 deaths and massive property loss. RSS participated in the relief operations under the banner of Jana Sankshema Samiti.                                                                                                             Plane 12^th November, 1996: Worst aircrash of India in which 2 planes collided mid-air over Chakri Dadri, Haryana leaving all 349 occupants dead. RSS’s role in the relief operations were praised by the international press particularly the Gulf press.

1999: Four full time RSS workers (Pracharaks)  - Dinendranath Day, Shayamalkanti Sen, Shubhankar Chakravarti and Sudhayamay Datta - Pracharaksof Sangh were abducted in Tripura by NLFT militants on August 6 demanding a ransom of Rs. 2 crores and killed later.

October 28, 1999: Most devastating cyclone of the century hit the Coast of Orissa causing a human loss of 10,000 and Rs.1800 crore property loss. RSS carried out relief and rehabilitation activities under the banner of Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti.

2010: During the floods that hit the North Karnataka, RSS deployed relief material for 180 villages and 2400 Swayamsevaks. Sangh resolved to build 1680 houses in 9 villages under the auspices of “Sewa Bharati” as part of its rehabilitation activity.

2013: In the worst ever natural calamity that hit the Uttarakhand during Char Dhaam Yatra, RSS Swayamsevaks were first to engage in relief activities and actively cooperated with Indian Army in its rescue operations.

(Source: In addition to electronic & print media and sources mentioned within body of the article, information has also been sourced from research paper “Retrospect and prospect of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in nation building by Dr. Suresh Vadranam(Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science (DDE), Pondicherry University, Puducherry)”  published in International Journal of Political Science and Governance 2023; 5(2): 259-265; DOI: https://doi.org/10.33545/26646021.2023.v5.i2d.292)