It is amazing that not much is known about Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in spite of being one of the oldest mass Indian organization, being around for 85 years and widely accepted as the largest NGO in the world. People only have half baked information about it.
While critics blame it on the secretive ways of the RSS, the RSS volunteers believe that these critics don't really wish to understand its working that is quite different from other organizations or its philosophy as that too goes against the established norms of ideological discourse in India, heavily influenced as it is by dominating elite brought up on western world-view of culture, nationalism and social organizations. The noise created by media also vitiates the view of any lay people. This book tries to rip off the so-called veil of secrecy around the RSS with its easy flowing narration that is peppered with live examples and anecdotes.
It is probably the time that there is an attempt at comprehensive 360 degree view of the RSS in a single book that covers not just its philosophy but also its organizational structure, its working; information about its little understood Prachaarak systems, its Prayer, its Constitution etc. It talks about working of its 'Shakhsa' that look so simple and yet produce leading organizers, managers and leaders. It gives a glimpse of manifestation of this philosophy that has created thousand of organizations covering nearly the entire spectrum of socio-political action across India. The annexure throws light on some crucial days in this organization's history, namely 1942, 1947 and 1948 that also witnessed Gandhiji's assassination. |
