Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (abbreviated as RSS) is a Hindu volunteer organization active in India.^{[1] [2]}The RSS was formed due to violence against Hindus before the independence of India. The RSS allows non-Hindus including Christians to join.^[3]

Ideology[edit]

The Ideology of the RSS is heavily influenced by the teachings of Indian freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.^[4]The RSS admired the Jews for maintaining their, "religion, culture, and language".^[5] The RSS was also strongly supportive of the creation of Israel.^[6] The RSS believes that India is a homeland for all Indians including Christians. The main aim of the RSS is to promote patriotism and social unity in India. ^[7]

Natural disasters and calamities[edit]

The RSS has been present in relief efforts and reconstruction of villages in major natural disasters such as the 1971 Odisha Cyclone, the 1977 Andhra Pradesh Cyclone, the 1984 Bhopal disaster and the 2001 Gujrat earthquake.^[8][9] In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, Sewa Bharati conducted relief operations in which they built shelters for the displaced and offered clothes, food, and medical aid. Aside from this they also took care of victims from the Kargil War in 1999. In 2006, RSS volunteers assisted those in need after the Surat Floods and provided basic necessities such as milk, food, and water. After the Uttarakhand floods in 2013, volunteers from the RSS, engaged in flood relief work through its offices set up in affected areas.^[10]

Education[edit]

The RSS provides education for economically underprivileged children across India especially in the tribal and poor regions.^[11] There are over 10,000 educational projects that have been set up by the RSS, including boarding schools for both boys and girls, primary education centers in rural areas and slums, adult and informational centers for street children and single teacher schools in remote areas of India.

Orphanages[edit]

The RSS runs rehabilitation centers for destitute children named "Matri Chhaya". One of the volunteers explained the project as, "The aim of this project is to facilitate a good, healthy, life for those children who are generally termed 'unwanted'."^[12] The RSS connected with local hospitals and police to get information about children who are abandoned by their parents after birth. The children are sent to schools and then to vocational centers run by the organization. This includes coaching for higher studies after they clear their secondary level education. Many of the children adopted by the RSS also come from the state of Jammu and Kashmir where their parents were killed in terrorist attacks.

Views by prominent Indian figures on the RSS[edit]

Field Marshal Cariappa: "RSS is my heart's work. My dear young men, don't be disturbed by uncharitable comments of interested persons. Look ahead! Go Ahead! The country is standing in need of your services."

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar: "This is the first time that I am visiting the camp of Sangh volunteers. I am happy to find absolute equality between Savarniyas(Upper Varna) and Harijans(Lower Varna) without any one being aware of such difference existing."

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: "When I visited the RSS camp, I was very much surprised by your discipline and the absence of untouchability." He further stated that, "Congress should learn a few ethics from RSS, the way they give mutual respect to all its members. They should also take note of how to spread knowledge of peace while adhering to principles of brotherhood taught in Hinduism."

References[edit]