When we look at the century-long journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), it transcends the story of a single organization — it becomes a saga of India’s soul, culture, and social renaissance. What began as a small shakha (branch) on a modest ground in Nagpur has today grown into a vast ideological organization active in 60 countries across the world.
The Beginning and the Seed of Ideas
On 27 September 1925, on the day of Vijayadashami, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar started a branch in Nagpur with just five children. No one at the time imagined that this modest beginning would evolve into the world’s largest volunteer organization. Dr. Hedgewar had said: “The Hindu society must be organized, imbued with self-strength and unity; this is a task for generations, but we must begin today.” Gradually, more shakhas were established, the saffron flag became the symbol of the Sangh, and the shakha system instilled organizational discipline.
Leaders and Expansion
After Dr. Hedgewar, Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar (‘Guruji’) provided the ideological foundation for the Sangh. His books We or Our Nationhood Defined and Bunch of Thoughts became guiding texts. Leaders such as Bhausaheb Deoras, Rajendra Singh ‘Rajju Bhaiya’, K.S. Sudarshan, and the current Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat further advanced this journey. Today, the organization reaches the masses through nearly 70,000 shakhas.
From Independence to Nation-Building
While the Sangh did not actively participate in the freedom struggle as an organization, its volunteers played key roles in the Quit India Movement of 1942 and in relief work during Partition. Following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, the ban imposed on the RSS was lifted quickly due to its discipline and self-strength. Subsequently, Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee founded the Jan Sangh, which later evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). During the Emergency, RSS pracharaks demonstrated remarkable resistance and protection of democracy.
Service, Education, and Organizational Reach
The Sangh’s activities extend beyond shakhas. Organizations such as Vidya Bharati, Seva Bharati, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad exemplify its social and cultural expansion. Vidya Bharati, today, reaches over 30 million students through more than 21,000 schools and 9,000 sanskar centers across 668 districts. Seva Bharati and Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram are pioneers in health, education, and public service.
Structure and Working Method
The Sangh operates on a shakha system, training classes, and pracharak system, following a pyramid-like hierarchy from city to national level, with decision-making based on collective consensus. Discipline, selfless service, and patriotism form its soul.
The RSS Today: Towards a Self-Reliant and Harmonious India
In its century-long journey, the RSS has incorporated social harmony, environmental protection, family values, and self-reliance into its campaigns. From the COVID-19 pandemic to natural disasters, its volunteers have been at the forefront of service. The centenary year 2025 marks campaigns focusing on social cohesion, environmental conservation, self-reliance, and family values, acting as a milestone toward India’s development.
The journey of the RSS demonstrates that an organization grounded in ideology and service can shape an era. The flame that began in a small Nagpur shakha today illuminates the entire nation.
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