The Relationship Between BJP and RSS, RSS's Role in India's Freedom Struggle, and Its Contemporary Importance

 

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded in 1925, is a Hindu nationalist volunteer organization that has long been intertwined with Indian politics, particularly through its ideological links to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Below, I'll address each part of your query based on historical and contemporary analyses, drawing from reliable sources for a balanced perspective. The RSS's influence is a topic of debate, with supporters viewing it as a cultural and patriotic force, while critics see it as promoting majoritarian agendas.

 Does the BJP Give Importance to the RSS?

Yes, the BJP places significant importance on the RSS, viewing it as its ideological parent and a key source of organizational support. The RSS is often described as the "mothership" or "ideological mentor" of the BJP, providing not just philosophical guidance through its Hindutva (Hindu cultural nationalism) ideology but also practical manpower via its vast network of cadres (volunteers). For instance, many BJP leaders, including state chief ministers and ministers, have RSS backgrounds, and the organization's grassroots mobilization has been credited with BJP electoral successes, such as in the 2025 Delhi state elections.

This relationship is symbiotic: the RSS sees the BJP as its political arm for implementing Hindutva in governance, while the BJP relies on RSS for voter outreach and ideological alignment. Recent statements from RSS leaders, like Ram Madhav in August 2025, have reaffirmed "ideological unity" and dismissed rumors of friction, emphasizing that the RSS remains a cultural body uninvolved in direct politics—yet its influence is evident in policy directions under BJP rule. However, there have been occasional tensions, such as the RSS publicly distancing itself from certain BJP decisions in 2024 to maintain its non-political image. Overall, the bond is deep-rooted, with the RSS shaping BJP's agenda on issues like education, culture, and national security.

 What Was the Role of the RSS in India's Freedom Struggle?

The RSS's role in the Indian independence movement (roughly 1857–1947) is highly contested and often described as indirect or minimal at the organizational level. Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925 amid rising Hindu-Muslim tensions and British colonial rule, the RSS focused primarily on building Hindu unity, discipline, and cultural revival through daily shakhas (branches or training sessions) rather than direct anti-colonial agitation. Its early leaders, including Hedgewar and successor Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, prioritized long-term nation-building over mass protests, viewing the freedom struggle as secondary to internal Hindu consolidation.

Supporters argue that RSS members individually participated in the movement—Hedgewar himself joined the Indian National Congress and took part in the 1921 Non-Cooperation Movement and 1930 Civil Disobedience—while the organization "kept patriotism alive" by preserving cultural identity during British rule. However, critics, including fact-checks and historical analyses, contend that the RSS as an entity had "no role" in major events like the Quit India Movement of 1942, with Golwalkar instructing swayamsevaks (volunteers) to avoid anti-British activities to focus on Hindu organization. The RSS was banned by the British in 1940 for suspected subversive activities but lifted the ban after assurances of non-involvement in politics. Post-independence, it faced another ban after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination in 1948 by a former member, Nathuram Godse, though the organization distanced itself from the act.

In summary, while individual RSS affiliates contributed, the group's official stance was apolitical and cultural, leading to accusations of sidelining the broader freedom struggle in favor of communal goals. Historians note this as a key point of inflection in its early history, shaping its post-1947 trajectory.

 Should We Consider the RSS as an Important Organization?

Whether to view the RSS as "important" depends on the lens—sociopolitical, cultural, or critical—but factually, it is one of India's most influential non-governmental organizations, with a massive footprint that warrants consideration in understanding modern India. With over 6 million volunteers across 50,000+ shakhas worldwide and affiliates in education, labor, and media (collectively the Sangh Parivar), the RSS wields outsized sway in shaping Hindu nationalism and public policy. Its century-long emphasis on discipline, charity, and cultural unity has led to contributions in disaster relief, rural development, and even global outreach, earning praise as the "world's most powerful volunteer group."

Its influence is particularly evident in the rise of the BJP since the 1980s, where RSS-backed leaders like Narendra Modi (a former pracharak or full-time worker) have integrated its ideas into national policies on everything from cow protection to historical education. Supporters highlight its role in fostering national pride and social service, especially post-Partition and during emergencies like the 1975–1977 Emergency. However, detractors argue its importance stems from controversial aspects: promoting majoritarianism, which has fueled communal tensions, and a paramilitary-style structure accused of bigotry toward minorities. Bans in 1948, 1975, and 1992 (after the Babri Masjid demolition) underscore these concerns.