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Thousand of men in uniform, wielding bamboo sticks and chanting patriotic songs, march through central India in a powerful display of strength by the nation’s large Hindu ultranationalist organization. This month, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) celebrated its 100th anniversary with an elaborate event at its Nagpur headquarters.
Only a select few international journalists, including AFP, were granted rare access to the group—an organization that serves as the ideological and organizational core of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power since 2014. Critics argue that the RSS, led by Modi who is 75 years old, is undermining the rights of India’s Muslim minority and challenging the secular fabric of the constitution.
During the parade, RSS members dressed in white shirts, brown trousers, and black hats performed coordinated marches, whistles blaring and commands shouted. Their singing echoed patriotic fervor: “Forever I bow to thee, loving Motherland! Motherland of us Hindus!” evoking images reminiscent of paramilitary exercises from the past. They also proclaimed, “May my life […] be laid down in thy cause!”
Approximately 80% of India’s 1.4 billion population are Hindus. The RSS, established in 1925, claims to be “the world’s largest organization,” though it does not release official membership numbers. Central to its ideology is “Hindutva,” the belief that Hindus constitute India’s true national identity, not just a religious community.
RSS volunteers in Nagpur, scored in white shirts with brown trousers and black hats, salute their organizational flag before morning drills during a shakha, or training session. These units are dedicated to fostering unity among Hindus. “They’re ready to stand against anyone who opposes them—minority groups, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and even Hindus who don’t subscribe to their ideology,” explained historian Mridula Mukherjee.
Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS chief, advocates for acceptance of minorities but emphasizes that they must not cause division. Anant Pophali, 53, has three generations of his family involved with the organization. “The RSS makes me proud to be Indian,” he said.
The origins of the RSS date back to colonial times when India was under British rule. It diverged sharply from the independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Party—Gandhi himself described the organization as “fascist by nature.” Mukherjee’s research links the RSS to European fascist movements, citing statements made by its founders expressing admiration for Nazi policies towards Jews.
The group does not openly acknowledge these historical parallels, though Bhagwat claims that today the RSS is more accepted within Indian society. During the partition in 1947, the RSS functioned as an armed militia, with Hindu extremists blaming Gandhi for dividing India and, in some cases, held responsible for his assassination in 1948. The organization was banned for nearly two years but gradually rebuilt, establishing thousands of shakhas, along with over 50,000 schools and 120,000 social initiatives nationwide.
At a Nagpur shakha, Alhad Sadachar, 49, described the group as “focused on building brotherhood.” “Participating helps us gain positive energy and good values—like helping those in need,” he said. During a recent session AFP attended, members of varying ages gathered for calisthenics and singing beneath a saffron flag—a color symbolizing Hinduism—rather than the national tricolor.
The RSS remains a significant political force. It re-emerged in the late 1980s, catalyzing movements like the demolition of the centuries-old Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, which was replaced by a Hindu temple. Mukherjee notes that this event marked a turning point, enabling the organization to mobilize large-scale religiously charged campaigns that often targeted Muslims.
The RSS contributed to the advance of Modi’s BJP in national elections. Since taking office, Modi—the organization’s former “pracharak,” or organizer—has promoted policies that critics argue marginalize India’s estimated 220 million Muslims, accounting for about 15% of the population. Reports indicate an increase in violence, lynchings, and hate speech linked to these developments.
Although the RSS leadership denies involvement in atrocities, the group’s influence on a more nationalist, less liberal society is widely acknowledged. Volunteer Vyankatesh Somalwar, 44, emphasizes their focus on “upholding good values” and “contributing to a united country.”
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