Muslims and the RSS: A personal odyssey

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has, in its 100 years, become one of the most powerful cultural and social forces in India.

- Syed Zafar Islam

In his centenary address, RSS general secretary, Dattatreya Hosabale, spoke of an India where divisions of religion, birthplace and caste would give way to shared purpose, urging swayamsevaks (volunteers) to “reach all sections of society... to seek cooperation and participation in the mission of national service.”

Hosabale outlined five pillars for transformation—swadeshi (self-reliance), strong family values, social harmony, ecological consciousness and civic duty. He invoked rashtra dharma (duty to the nation) as an eternal moral duty transcending faith or region, declaring that Indians must dedicate themselves to the nation.

The RSS has endured bans, survived suspicion, and transformed into a body capable of shaping the national agenda. It is often misunderstood as merely a sociopolitical force because of its proximity to the BJP. True, the organisation has expanded dramatically during the years the BJP has been in power, but it flourished even during the long decades of Congress rule. In truth, it is politically agnostic. What it ultimately desires is not office but imprint. In my view, the RSS is a civilisational movement, waging a patient battle for hearts and minds.