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Outlook Magazine - October 21, 2025

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In this issue

WHO IS AN INDIAN?

One Hundred Years Of... Sacred and the Scared

An organisation that takes pride in being rock solid in times of liquid modernity, can it catch up with the change?

10+ mins

One Hundred Years Of...Adapting

\"Hindu or Muslim does not matter. You just have to be qualified for the post,\" says Ram Madhav, when asked if a Muslim can head the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Madhav-who has served as the National General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is also associated with the RSShowever, says that the RSS believes this country to be a Hindu nation. In an interview with Outlook editor Chinki Sinha, he talks about the organisation's views on Hindus, Hindu Rashtra, ghar wapsi, love jihad, caste, reservations, political influence, Adivasis, the three children norm, women... and his new book. Edited excerpts from a video interview:

10+ mins

The Thought of the Sangh Is Synonymous with Hindutva Thought

OUR work is fundamentally man-making. Swayamsevaks have entered and started working in almost all walks of our social life. They have also built various organizations and institutions. All these organizations and institutions are independent, autonomous and self-reliant. None of these organizations or institutions is run according to the decisions taken at the meetings of the Sangh. These have been started by our swayamsevaks on their own accord, and they also run them without depending on others. They keep in touch with the Sangh and also get suggestions and cooperation. The swayamsevaks also develop the sense to extend cooperation to whoever is doing some good work with honesty for the sake of society, irrespective of whether they are our supporters or opponents. Questions concerning the relationship between the Sangh and politics are being raised time and again. Is the Sangh nurturing any political ambition? The common trend nowadays is that when a person acquires capabilities and creates their own identity in the field that helped them achieve their capabilities, they will be keen on joining politics. However, the work of the Sangh is to organize the entire society. Politics, political parties and the work of organizing the society can go together only to a limited extent. Hence, the Sangh has, from the very beginning, made a strong resolve to keep itself away from politics. The Sangh will never involve itself in competitive politics, will never fight elections and the office-bearer of the Sangh will never take up any official responsibilities or positions in any political party. The Sangh will always keep itself aloof from politics.

3 mins

One Hundred Years Of... The Deep State

Ambedkar remains, and will continue to be, the biggest roadblock to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) efforts to saffronise the Dalits, says Christophe Jaffrelot—a professor of Indian politics and sociology at King's India Institute, London—in an interview with Outlook editor Chinki Sinha.

8 mins

One Hundred Years Of... Doublethink

It is clear that the very foundation of the RSS was laid to show Muslims their place and keep them in check

9 mins

DISCOVER MAHARASHTRA'S UNTOUCHED SHORES

Skip the crowds at Alibaug and Ganpatipule. These offbeat coastal escapes offer quiet sands, local culture, and the raw beauty of Konkan

2 mins

One Hundred Years of... Ad Dharm

Has the RSS converted social feeling into the Hindu religious identity?

10+ mins

One Hundred Years Of... Borrowed Pride

The RSS thrives on OBC amnesia, offering borrowed pride in Hindu identity in exchange for complete obedience

6 mins

One Hundred Years Of... Being a Lesser Hindu

He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his teenage years and rose in the organisation’s ranks. During the Babri Masjid demolition movement, he joined the karsevaks to go to Ayodhya. His arrest became a turning point of his life, prompting him to question the RSS’ casteist realities, and eventually leave the organisation. He founded platforms such as Diamond India, Khabarkosh and Shoonyakaal to amplify marginalised voices. He has also worked with the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and played an important role in implementing laws such as RTI, NREGA and the Food Security Act. His book I Could Not Be Hindu (originally written in Hindi as Main Ek Kar Sevak Tha) has been translated into multiple languages. Meghwanshi spoke to Jagisha Arora about his eventful journey. Excerpts:

2 mins

One Hundred Years of...Growth and Success

Shared ideas and unimaginable patience in its ambitious mission, along with uncontested moral upbringing of its cadres, has ensured the success of the RSS

9 mins

One Hundred Years Of... Resistance

Who is afraid of the RSS? No one is today

5 mins

One Hundred Years Of... The 'Shri Shakti' Element

For decades, a substantial number of women have been working in all the RSS-inspired organisations, with several of them holding prominent posts and playing leadership roles. The numbers are only going up

7 mins

Act Now: Heart Health Matters

Dr. Vashisth Das on World Heart Day stresses lifestyle's role in cardiac well-being

2 mins

One Hundred Years Of... Creating Heroes

Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, the second sarsanghachalak (or chief) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was possibly the most complicated and contradictory figure of modern India.

4 mins

One Hundred Years Of...Being Checkmated

Tamil Nadu has more temples than any other state in India, but has refused to endorse a single religion supremacy

5 mins

One Hundred Years Of...Prachar

In Chennai, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) made a start in 1939. The organisation has continued to grow in Tamil Nadu, with its share of ups and downs over the last eight decades. North Tamil Nadu Joint Prachar Pramukh Dr K. Gopalakrishnan and RSS Media Co-ordinator Chandrasekaran spoke to Lalita Iyer about the organisation's trajectory in the state. Excerpts:

4 mins

Trump's Tariff War - Donald Trump Deserves Nobel Prize In Economics

Trump, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, defies free trade norms with tariffs on allies and rivals, shaking global trade systems through his unpredictable, mercantilist-style policies

2 mins

One Hundred Years Of... Footprint in the South

A focus on local, cultural and political realities appears to be the strategy being deployed by both the RSS and the BJP to gain a stronger foothold in Karnataka

5 mins

The Lesser Halves

At Rashtra Sevika Samiti shakhas, women are offered empowerment—but only to a certain extent. Their roles remain largely defined: mothers, cultural custodians and loyal citizens

10+ mins

One Hundred Years Of... The Adivasi Quandary

RSS' Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram works in the fields of education, health and rural development. However, the cultural homogeneity of tribals as Hindus is at the core of its agenda

7 mins

One Hundred Years Of... Vicissitude

New histories, social work and indigenous faith revivalism have been the three pillars of the RSS' approach in Northeast India, where 'national integration' and Hinduisation are their top agenda

10+ mins

One Hundred Years Of...Wooing the Seven Sisters

The RSS is trying to bring the Northeastern communities into a broader Hindu fold by inventing cultural connections and by reinterpreting historical events through a religious lens

4 mins

One Hundred Years Of... Shadow Dance

The RSS and it shadow outfits have lauded Sufi practices and tapped the Muslims in Kashmir but political parties in J&K allege that they are claiming a bogus association with the Valley

5 mins

One Hundred Years Of... Influencing

RSS publications are thriving at a time when the print media is facing a big circulation challenge

5 mins

Women at Work

I've been observing the work of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since I was a child. My paternal uncle, the late Rambhau Haldekar, and my maternal uncle, the late Dattaji Bhale, were both dedicated pracharaks and committed RSS workers. Our home was steeped in the RSS' ethos, and there was a Rashtra Sevika Samiti shakha nearby. I started attending that shakha, and got completely immersed in it in no time.

3 mins

Read all Stories from Outlook

Outlook Magazine Description:

Publisher: The-Outlook-Group

Category: News

Language: English

Frequency: Fortnightly

Outlook is a weekly news magazine published by Outlook Publishing India Pvt. Ltd. It was founded in 1995 by Vinod Mehta. Outlook covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, society, and culture. The magazine is known for its investigative journalism and its bold and fearless reporting.

In every issue, you'll find:

* In-depth reporting: Outlook's journalists go the extra mile to bring you the latest news and analysis.

* Compelling storytelling: Outlook's writers tell stories that will stay with you long after you've finished reading them.

* Thought-provoking opinion: Outlook's columnists challenge you to think about the world in new ways.

* Engaging visuals: Outlook's photography and design will make you want to linger over every page.

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