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.

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Despite its all-encompassing reach and deep penetration into Indian society, the RSS has not been able to completely address the question of caste. Jaffrelot acknowledges that the Opposition scored a win by successfully raising the issue of a caste census. The theme of upper caste versus lower caste may very well define the 2029 general elections. The tremendous success of the RSS, however, lies in that the average Hindu has come to believe that Hindutva is synonymous with Hinduism. The organisation's achievement is not only that it has completed 100 years—which in itself is quite unprecedented and unparalleled—but also that it has brought India to a point of “no return” in terms of cultural policing. The RSS has created a “deeper state” comprising loosely affiliated vigilante groups such as the Bajrang Dal and the VHP, which are deeply rooted in Indian society. This deeper state, Jaffrelot argues, will continue to exist and implement the Hindutva agenda even if the BJP loses power in 2029.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) completes 100 years in 2025. If you could talk about how the organisation has changed over the years, the present status given the political situation in India, its adaptability and the future.