Understanding the RSS: A Century of Cultural Impact and National Identity

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.

Overall, “RSS: 100 years of National Resurgence” constitutes a meaningful and ambitious contribution to the literature on Indian political-cultural movements. It offers a detailed, context-rich portrait of the RSS’s first century, presenting a narrative that is at once informative and thought-provoking. For students, researchers, and curious readers seeking to move beyond caricature toward a nuanced understanding of a major cultural force, the book provides a substantial foundation. It may also serve as a catalyst for further scholarship—encouraging independent inquiry, critical dialogue, and broader engagement with the legacies and future trajectories of the RSS. Published by Indus Scrolls Press, New Delhi the work is a substantial, page-laden resource that invites ongoing discussion about the complexities of national resurgence, service, and identity in modern India. 

Book Details: 

Ø  Title: RSS: 100 Years of National Resurgence 

Ø  Author: Sudhir Kumar E S (Sudhir Neerattupuram)

Ø  Publisher: Indus Scrolls Press, New Delhi 

Ø  Price: Rs. 599/- (Discounted Price: Rs. 479/-) 

Ø  Pages: 346 

Ø  Available at: [Amazon Link -  https://amzn.to/4b83cEZ ] 

 This book is an important study for anyone seeking to understand the RSS’s enduring legacy and its role in India's national resurgence over the past century.

#RSS100Years #NationalResurgence #IndianHistory #BookReview #CulturalNationalism #SudhirKumarES #SudhirNeerattupuram #Hinduism #RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh #RSS #DrHeadgewar #MohanBhagwat