 Summary of this article
- Founded in 1925, the RSS grew from a cultural group into a major socio-political force in India.
- It faced bans and controversies but expanded its reach through politics and social work.
- By 2025, the RSS stands firmly mainstream, shaping India’s politics and society.
Celebrating its centenary year in 2025, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is not merely a cultural organisation, but one of the most powerful entities in India's socio-political matrix. The Sangh, founded in the mid-1920s when India was still a British colony, has evolved over the decades. It has transitioned from a tight-knit band of swayamsevaks adhering to strict discipline into an extensive nationwide network with tens of thousands of daily shakhas. Over the last century, it has been influenced by societal transformation, legal prohibition, political associations, and the reconstruction of national identity. |
