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RSS at 100: Shakhas from Bharat Gone Global
The RSS was never meant to be just another organization. Hedgewar envisioned it as a civilizational awakening.
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Vijendra Agarwal - Thu, 02, Oct 2025
- 23:48 EDT
- 43
RSS. / RSS/Wikipedia
In 2025, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) marked its centenary on Vijayadashami. For an organization founded in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the milestone is not only historic but civilizational. What began as a modest effort to instill discipline and unity among Hindus under colonial rule has grown into the world’s largest voluntary cultural movement, deeply rooted in Sanatan Dharma and sustained by seva (selfless service).
The RSS was never meant to be just another organization. Hedgewar envisioned it as a civilizational awakening—reviving confidence in Bharat after centuries of foreign rule, cultural erosion, and ultimately Partition. Through shakhas—daily gatherings of exercise, dialogue, and discipline—the Sangh has cultivated generations of swayamsevaks who see service to society as service to God: Nar sewa, Narayan sewa.
While critics often reduce RSS to politics, its enduring strength lies elsewhere—in selfless service to humanity. Whether offering relief during floods and earthquakes, supporting villages at the grassroots, preserving festivals and traditions, or inspiring institutions like Vidya Bharati (education), Seva Bharati (social service), and Sanskar Bharati (arts), the Sangh has consistently placed society above self. Its quiet discipline has nurtured leaders across all walks of life. One of the finest examples in the political arena is Prime Minister Modi, with his roots in RSS and shakha.
The global reach of this vision is perhaps the most striking development of recent decades. Through the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), the ethos of Dharma, discipline, and service now spans more than 40 countries. In the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, shakhas globally nurture Hindu identity among second-generation children while fostering civic responsibility. In America especially, HSS has built bridges across communities through interfaith outreach and cultural celebration, while also strengthening Hindu confidence in a multicultural society.
As a member of the diaspora, I have witnessed firsthand how this global extension of the Sangh serves a dual purpose: it keeps our roots alive in foreign soil and equips younger generations to carry forward a Hindu identity with pride. For many Hindu families in America, HSS has become an anchor for cultural continuity and leadership development.
On a personal note, I inherited the RSS ethos from my father and attended shakhas in my youth. That foundation has shaped my life and inspired me, along with my wife, to co-found Vidya Gyan, a non-profit serving Bharat Mata through education and learning opportunities in rural government schools.
One hundred years later, the Sangh’s legacy is unmistakable and unshakable. It has preserved Sanatan Dharma, sustained cultural pride, served society in times of need, and inspired a confident Hindu presence worldwide. Though often misunderstood in political terms, RSS has endured and thrived because it is deeply rooted in eternal values and a spirit of community.
For the diaspora, the centenary is more than a commemoration—it is an invitation. It reminds us that RSS is not about personalities but about a philosophy of disciplined service and cultural confidence. Whether in Bharat or abroad, the next century calls on us to live by those ideals with unwavering commitment to Dharma, Seva, Truth, and above all, the Rashtra. Regular shakhas are one way to embody those ideals in one’s life.
NOTE: The author acknowledges the use of ChatGPT in researching topics and the meaningful improvement of content.
The author is a Ph.D. physicist from IIT Roorkee. He has served in academia as a faculty member and researcher and held various leadership roles across universities. He also worked as a Policy Analyst at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not Necessarily reflect the official policy or position of India Abroad)
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