SAN JOSE, Calif. (Diya TV) — In a wide-ranging interview with Diya TV, RSS expert and author Dr. Ratan Sharda sought to demystify the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India’s largest voluntary organization, often mired in controversy abroad. Speaking with Diya TV’s Ravi Kapur, Sharda described the RSS as a misunderstood grassroots movement committed to character-building, national service, and unity within Hindu society.
Founded in 1925 by Dr. K.B. Hedgewar, the RSS was born out of what Hedgewar saw as a deeply divided Hindu society weakened by caste, linguistic, and sectarian divisions. “He believed that unless Hindus unite and have pride in their nation and culture, they will continue to fail,” Sharda said, noting that the group’s early mission focused on instilling discipline and nationalism through selfless service.
Over the decades, the RSS has expanded from a handful of teenage volunteers to more than 100,000 branches across India, giving rise to a vast ecosystem of affiliated organizations—including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), student group ABVP, and labor union BMS.
Yet outside India, particularly in the U.S., the RSS is often described in terms like “paramilitary” and “extremist”—terms Sharda disputes. “RSS is not involved in propaganda or violence. Its primary focus is to build strong character and serve the society selflessly,” he said, emphasizing that any member who engages in violence is immediately expelled.
Sharda also addressed the widespread narrative linking the RSS to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, a claim frequently used to criticize both the RSS and BJP today. “Nathuram Godse left the RSS in 1932. He was never named in court as acting on behalf of the RSS,” Sharda noted. “In fact, a police report one month after the assassination concluded there was no RSS role at all. The continued linking of RSS to the incident is politically motivated and historically inaccurate”.
When asked about the organization’s ideology, Sharda differentiated between “Hindutva” and religious extremism. “Hindutva is not about supremacy. It is about inclusivity, pluralism, and duty to society,” he said. “In Hinduism, there is no concept of a non-believer. Everyone is allowed their own path to the divine. That’s the essence of Hindutva”.
Sharda rejected comparisons between RSS nationalism and Western models that often evoke memories of fascism or Nazism. “Our concept of nationhood goes back thousands of years, rooted in culture, not conquest,” he said, referencing ancient Indian texts and thinkers.
On caste discrimination—an issue now increasingly debated in the U.S.—Sharda defended India’s progress. “We are the only society that has continually reformed itself from within. We’ve had strong laws against discrimination for decades, and the RSS itself has no caste-based discrimination. We don’t even ask a person’s caste when they join,” he said. He warned that some in the U.S. are politicizing caste to create Hinduphobia.
As for the RSS’s global reach, Sharda clarified that while there are sympathetic organizations abroad, they are autonomous and not directed by RSS leadership in India. “They operate independently and are formed by people who share the RSS ethos, but they are not formally part of the RSS.”
Sharda also discussed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who began as an RSS volunteer. “Modi’s rise from humble roots is a testament to RSS values. His policies—like delivering toilets, gas, and water to poor households—are focused on reaching the last person in the queue,” Sharda said. He credited Modi with transforming global perceptions of the Indian diaspora and instilling national pride.
On the role of women, Sharda acknowledged traditional divisions but emphasized growing inclusivity. “There is a parallel women’s organization, Rashtra Sevika Samiti, with hundreds of thousands of members,” he said. “We believe men and women are complementary, not competitive. Both are essential to a balanced society”.
As the RSS nears its centenary, Sharda insists its mission remains focused on unity, self-reliance, and service. “The world may not understand us, but we’re committed to our principles. And those principles are about building a better society—for everyone.”
