Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS Hindi, m., राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ, Rastriya svayamsevak sangh, "National Voluntary Organization") is a radical Hindu, hierarchical organization squad. It is based on the principles of Hindutva. The RSS was founded in 1925 by Keshava Baliram Hedgewar and according to the BBC is the largest volunteer force in the world. The RSS has since gained importance and political influence, which culminated in the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP ), which is considered the political wing of the Sangh movement and has great influence in the Indian government.

Organization

Nucleus of the RSS is the Shakha where members meet several times to sporting exercises and ideological training in the day or week. Currently, there are over 25,000 Shakhas throughout India. The RSS is structured hierarchically and is directed by a single person, the Sarsanghachalak. The cast will be decided by mutual agreement, if a Sarsanghachalak appoints his successor. The current Sarsanghachalak the RSS KS Sudarshan. Most of the organizational work of the Sangh is done by coordinating Shakhas. This Shakhas considered as building blocks of RSS structure. The activities of a Shakha consist of yoga, competitions ( including walking-stick fighting), in-depth discussion of social issues, prayers to Bharat Mata (Mother India) and a pedagogical instruction ( bouddhik ) by a reputable selected from Shakha coordinator personality. Usually refers to the teaching of the history of India, Indian philosophy, Indian culture or ethics.

Criticism

In 1948, the RSS was banned. This was done in connection with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu radical who attempted to block Gandhi's policy of appeasement towards the Muslims. Godse was a former member of the RSS and the Congress. The suspicions were cleared after an investigation and lifted the ban on the Sangh in the following year.

The Sangh is considered by critics frequently as too radical and the Hindutva philosophy as nationalistic. RSS supporters argue that their main demand was against the Muslims to stop the communication policy of the Indian government, as it showed the treatment of the Shah Bano case and the controversial government aid for the Hajj. Critics say so would be stoked anti-Muslim resentment, which will ignore the prohinduistische policies such as tax breaks for Hindu families, the financing of Hindu pilgrimages etc..

Ideology

The stated aim of the RSS and the Hindutva movement is primarily the years in their own home country ( India) oppressed Hindus make the fundamental rights again and to correct historical injustice. This is criticized as an attempt to change the secular foundations of the Indian state. The most serious conflict in this regard occurred in revamping the Ayodhya temple, where it was claimed that the Babri Mosque was built by the Muslim leader Babur in the 16th century, after he had the pre-existing Ram Janmabhumi Temple destroyed by Hindu faith the birthplace of the legendary mythological Rama. Critics say that the Sangh just wanted to stir up trouble, as there is in Ayodya least 50 temples which claim to be the birthplace of Rama. A controversial study by the Archaeological Survey of India in 2003 was determined that a temple-like building to have stood at the site prior to construction of the mosque.

The RSS summarizes the concept of Hindu culturally, racially and ethnically well. The former member of the RSS, Des Raj Goyal, who wrote a polemic against the RSS, defined the worldview of the RSS as follows: " Hindus living in India since time immemorial, Hindus are a nation because culture, civilization and life only through them. were contributed. non-Hindus are conquerors or as long as guests and can not be treated as the same, until they have not Hindu traditions, culture etc. accepted. the non-Hindus, especially Muslims and Christians are enemies of all that Hindu, and must therefore be treated as a threat., the freedom and progress of this country of freedom and progress of the Hindus. the history of India is the story of the struggle of the Hindus to protect and preserve their religion and culture against the attacks of these strangers. the threat stops because the power in the hands of those is, who do not believe that this nation is a Hindu nation. those who talk of national unity as the unity of all those who live in this country are, by their selfish desire to buy the votes of minorities, motivated. Therefore, they are traitors. The unity and the consolidation of the Hindus is the most urgent need of the hour because the Hindu people is surrounded on all sides by enemies. The Hindus must develop the capacity for massive retaliation, and attack is the best defense. The lack of unity is the root of all the difficulties which the Hindus and the Sangh was created with the divine mission of this unit produce " ( Goyal, Des Raj: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, New Delhi: Radha Krishna (1979). p 179 )

Development of RSS

The RSS is now well established in every area of the company since its inception in 1925. So Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was so impressed in 1962 during the brief military conflict with China, that he invited a Sangh contingent to participate in the parade for Republic Day on January 26, 1963. Two days paraded 3,000 Swayamsevaks in full Sangh uniform.

In recent years, the RSS has positioned his men in the highest political office of Indian politics. These include Atal Bihari Vajpayee ( former prime minister ), Lal Krishna Advani ( former interior minister ) and Narendra Modi ( Chief Minister of Gujarat ). Due to the change of government in 2004 the impact on the current federal policy is less great.

Influenced by RSS organizations

• Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh
• Bharti
• Vidya Bharti
• Jagran Manch
• Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad
• Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
• Hindu Parishad