BOOK REVIEW
Ashwin Chakraborty
The book “RSS: 100 years of National Resurgence” by Sudhir Kumar E S (Sudhir Neerattupuram) arrives at a diachronic milestone—the RSS’s centennial in 2025—by presenting a historical study that promises to render a difficult and often polarized subject into a narrative that is accessible to the general reader. The author’s stated aim is to deliver a comprehensive, balanced, and evidence-based account, not advocacy. In an intellectual climate where narratives about the RSS are frequently contested and sometimes biased, the author positions the work as a bridge across polemics, seeking to illuminate the organization’s evolution, philosophy, and social interventions with documented history and honest reflection.
The
volume thus invites readers to engage with a complex cultural movement that has
shaped, and continues to shape, public discourse in India. The book is
organized across 21 chapters, a structure that enables a panoramic yet focused
exploration of the RSS. It traces the genesis of the organization, its guiding
worldview, and its leadership succession from Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar to
Dr. Mohan Bhagwat. By foregrounding the Sangh’s ritual life, ideological
standpoints, and its unique institutional model, the narrative moves beyond
caricature to examine how the organization has maintained a coherent identity
while navigating a shifting political landscape. Special emphasis on the
Sangh’s responses to controversies, as well as its social interventions and
organizational discipline, helps situate the RSS within broader debates about
nationalism, civilizational ethos, and public service.
The
author also situates the RSS in conversation with related figures such as Veer
Savarkar and contrasts its trajectory with the Indian National Congress and
various Leftist movements, thereby offering readers a framework to assess the
organization’s role within India’s freedom struggle, the trauma of Partition,
and subsequent political realignments.
This
breadth of scope — from prayer and worldview to leadership and institutional
practice — is one of the book’s notable strengths, enabling readers to gauge
both the continuities and tensions that define a centennial movement. A
defining feature of the work is the author’s particular background. Sudhir
Kumar’s seven years of full-time engagement as an RSS Pracharak, along with his
editorship of Vrittantam, the Malayalam mouthpiece of the RSS, provides him
with intimate access to internal perspectives and a depth of firsthand exposure
to the Sangh’s rhetoric and activities. This insider vantage offers depth,
nuance, and a level of detail that can greatly illuminate the subject for
readers who lack direct familiarity with the organization. At the same time,
such proximity raises legitimate concerns about potential bias. The author
acknowledges this tension by asserting a commitment to factual history and
honest reflection; however, critical readers will want to weigh the insider
perspective against independent scholarship and external critiques to assess
how comprehensively the book interrogates contested episodes or uncomfortable
questions.
In terms of strengths, the volume appears to foreground a robust evidentiary approach. It emphasizes historical contexts—the freedom struggle, Partition, and evolving political currents—thereby counterbalancing simplistic or celebratory depictions. The inclusion of discussions surrounding controversies and debates surrounding the RSS signals an attempt at balanced treatment. The book’s comparative dimension, invoking reflections on the RSS alongside Indian National Congress and Leftist organizations, enriches the reader’s understanding of how different strands of Indian political culture have defined themselves across generations.
The
explicit aim to present the “Virat Swaroop” of the RSS in an accessible,
straightforward manner is commendable, as it seeks to make a historically dense
subject intelligible to lay readers without sacrificing analytical rigor. Nonetheless,
certain caveats warrant attention. The author’s vigorous defense of the RSS’s
enduring principles and its alleged capacity to “reawaken a civilizational
ethos” risks veering toward apologetics if not continually tempered by critical
examination of contentious episodes and dissenting voices. While the text
promises to include both admiration and opposition, readers should remain alert
to the possibility that the synthesis may privilege internal perspectives or
favorable interpretations over more contentious analyses. Independent
corroboration from neutral scholars and cross-referencing with archives outside
the RSS milieu would further bolster the work’s credibility. The reliance on
high-profile figures and internal leadership speeches—though valuable for
context—also raises questions about the breadth of sources and the
representation of diverse viewpoints within Indian public life.
The
foreword to this book is written by J. Nandakumar, a senior RSS pracharak,
philosopher, author and national convener of Pragya Pravah. This makes the
authenticity and credibility of this historical book on RSS clear.
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Title: RSS: 100 Years of National Resurgence
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Author: Sudhir Kumar E S (Sudhir Neerattupuram)
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Publisher: Indus Scrolls Press, New Delhi
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Price: Rs. 599/- (Discounted Price: Rs. 479/-)
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Pages: 346
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Available at: [Amazon Link -
https://amzn.to/4b83cEZ ]
