What RSS brings to the plate is Indian culture: Walter Andersen

US academic and author of ‘The Brotherhood in Saffron’ says RSS wants to unify all Indians. 

- INDRANI GHOSH

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which has had a huge impact on India›s politics and yet remains misunderstood is a mediation platform that with its discussions, debates and continued survey to infuse fresh blood into the organisation brings an amalgamation of diverse sections of society united by their Indian culture, said American academic and author of “The Brotherhood in the Saffron”, Walter K. Andersen. He attempted to explain the Sangh for the audience at the opening session on Day 2 of Festival of Ideas hosted by NewsX, The Sunday Guardian and India News that are a part of iTV network.

“What RSS adds to the plate is Indian culture. They want people to not be ashamed of the Indian culture. And people in fact are proud of what we›ve achieved. And it’s not just landing on the moon but many other achievements of their past.”

In conversation with Aishwarya Pandit Sharma, the American author said that at the core of the RSS ideology is the Hindutva philosophy which has had a profound influence over a huge landmass and population that stretches from Asia to Asia Pacific and beyond across several countries.