New book on RSS reveals its growing role in politics

NEW DELHI: RAPID GROWTH OF ITS AFFILIATED GROUPS, HAS PROMPTED THE RSS TO INFLUENCE POLITICS AND TAKE PART IN GOVT DECISIONMAKING

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) constitution, the existence and full details of which are not well known, even to many volunteers, states that it is “aloof from politics and devoted to social and cultural fields only”. But the rapid growth of affiliated groups, penetrating almost all areas of society, has prompted the RSS to take an interest in influencing politics and government decision-making, says a new book.

In their soon-to-be released ‘RSS: A View to the Inside’, authors Walter K Andersen and Shridhar D Damle have concentrated on the evolution of the Sangh’s world view and organisation; how it made a conscious effort to boost the BJP ‘s electoral fortunes ahead of the crucial 2014 Lok Sabha elections; and the convergence and divergence with the government since then.

The fact that the RSS has a constitution is known to its leaders and close observers, and parts of it have appeared in a few books about the Sangh. But the organisation has largely remained ambivalent about it, and its full text is often hard to find. A senior functionary told HT that despite being drafted in 1949, “not many within the organisation know the contents of the constitution” because it is “not publicised much”.

The body was compelled to write its constitution after it was first banned following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. According to the authors, RSS conducted protracted negotiations with then home minister Vallabhbhai Patel to lift the ban in 1949. Among other things, it pledged to prepare a written constitution, which would explicitly state that RSS would not involve itself in political activities and the organisation’s activities would be devoted entirely to cultural work.