The RSS from the lens of a Christian layman

Growing up in a small Christian-majority village in Kerala's Kannur district, my world was defined by the church bells, catechism classes, and the vibrant festivals that marked our community's cultural calendar.

- SANTHOSH MATHEW

Growing up in a small Christian-majority village in Kerala's Kannur district, my world was defined by the church bells, catechism classes, and the vibrant festivals that marked our community's cultural calendar. But amid this deeply rooted Christian environment, a unique encounter during my childhood left an impression that has only deepened over time—an encounter with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, better known as the RSS.

It was a man named Balakrishnan, a dedicated RSS pracharak, who first introduced me to this organization. For an impressionable child, his personality—calm, composed, disciplined—was striking. He was not a politician, nor a fiery speaker, but a man of gentle demeanor, deep conviction, and unparalleled punctuality. While the village was mostly Christian and naturally hesitant about anything remotely connected to 'Hindutva,' Balakrishnan was quietly winning hearts—not by words, but by example.

Years later, in college, I met Sudheesh T.T., a close friend and another admirer of the Sangh's ideals. Our conversations extended late into the night—not debates, but thoughtful discussions. Through him, I began to understand the ideological foundations of the RSS: a vision of cultural nationalism, of service to the nation, of a unified identity rooted in Bharat's civilizational values. It wasn't the kind of nationalism that screamed slogans or chased media headlines—it was a quiet, deep commitment to the motherland. As a Christian, I found no contradiction here. In fact, it reminded me of the message of universal love and sacrifice that Jesus Christ preached.

As the RSS enters its centenary year, completing 100 years since its founding in 1925, I write this as an outsider—not a member, not a swayamsevak—but a keen observer, a Christian layman who has learned to appreciate and admire the Sangh from a distance.