During the hundredth year of its existence, it is a relatively rare occurrence for an organisation to reach its pinnacle, writes KAMALESH KUMAR TIWARI

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is widely acknowledged as the largest non-governmental organisation in the world, began its centenary year this month. The group has built a significant presence inside the social and cultural framework of India, with daily ‘Shakha’ gatherings taking place in a wide variety of venues around the country and even further and further afield. ‘Namaste Sada Vatsale Matribhume’ is an incantation that represents the Sangh’s continual expansion, strength, and effect while it deftly navigates a variety of problems and opposition at the same time.

On three separate occasions—in 1948, 1975, and 1992—the Sangh was subject to prohibitions enforced by its rivals. On the other hand, these prohibitions were lifted without conditions each time, and on each of the three occasions, the Sangh reemerged with greater strength. This is the reason why it continues to be a matter of discussion in a variety of circles. Throughout its history, the RSS has been instrumental in preserving and advancing India’s rich cultural heritage, which is rich in diversity. For a period that is defined by rapid globalisation, the activities that the Sangh is undertaking to protect indigenous traditions carry a tremendous amount of relevance.

The basic unit of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is its branches which combine the sense of ‘self’ with the sense of larger social interest. The real strength of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is its self-motivated workers who are called volunteers. Volunteer means a self-motivated and self-driven person. Through the service, contact and publicity department of the Sangh, volunteers are engaged in the work of social awareness to reach remote people. In its 100th year, the RSS’s influence is not only widespread but is active across 40 countries, including India. In these hundred years, the RSS has transformed into a huge banyan tree with 73 thousand ‘Shakha’. Today its network is so strong that in future it will be very challenging to remove its hold on every aspect of Indian politics and life.

The Sangh has a wing for every section of the society, today there are more than 80 like-minded or affiliated organisations in the Sangh Parivar. The socio-cultural organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in the year 1925 on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami ( September 27).  The first Sarsaghchalak of the Sangh, Hedgewar, planned the formation of the Sangh in a seminar at his home. Vishwanath Kelkar, Bhauji Kavre, Anna Sahne, Balaji Huddar, Bapurao Bhedi, etc. were present in this meeting along with Hedgewar.

The Sangh got its present name Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh about six months after its foundation. On April 17, 1926, Dr Hedgewar called a meeting at his home in which about 26 volunteers participated. A detailed discussion took place to decide the name of the organisation for which everyone gave their ideas. After much discussion, the name ‘Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’ was unanimously chosen. The first daily ‘Shakha’ of the RSS started on May 28, 1926, with Dr Hedgewar carrying forward the Sangh work through gymnasiums and akharas. It was in his imagination to be a healthy and fit volunteer. Its emphasis on physical fitness, moral values? and national pride has appealed to millions of individuals, making it the largest voluntary NGO in the country and the world.

Today more than 50 lakh volunteers of the Sangh visit the shakhas regularly. Modi himself was a full-time member of the RSS before shifting to the BJP. With the inspiration and cooperation of the Sangh, various organisations are running in every sector of society, which are contributing to nation-building. Indian thought is reflected in the functioning of the Sangh. The Sangh emphasises the continuous process of making the entire personality of the volunteer useful to society.

Many research scholars around the world have studied RSS and described it as an organisation with a different and unique methodology in the world. Different types of celebrations are celebrated on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of any social organisation or political party in the world, but there is no celebration on the completion of 100 years of the world’s largest social organisation.

Even if the volunteers of an organisation hold high positions like Vice President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chief Minister, and yet when this organisation reaches its centenary, it does not celebrate any celebration, this is what makes it different from other organisations and it is also free from the arrogance of being a widespread organisation. Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat has clearly said that there is no need to boast of achievements, we just need to bring reforms that will win the society and whatever the circumstances, RSS volunteers should keep doing their work.

As the RSS prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, it has set a target of reaching every block of the country and increasing the number of shakhas to 100,000.

A full-time worker is known as an evangelist in the organisation.  He does not live with his family and spends all his time in organisational work. The RSS plans to increase the number of workers manifold by motivating them to give at least two years of their lives as pracharaks. This is expected to give a great boost to the organisation. Promoting social cohesion and nation-building is the RSS’s distinctive focus. Promoting mutual understanding and maintaining social harmony through unity efforts is of utmost importance in a nation as large and diverse as India.

(The writer is historian and founder of ‘Itihas Kumbh’, Varanasi; views are personal)