Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS; Sanskrit: राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक सङ्घ, translated into English as National Volunteer Organization) is a far-right extremist, paramilitary terroristCIA document tags VHP and Bajrang Dal as militant religious outfits ThePrintWhen shall the UNSC declare RSS a terrorist outfit? Modern Diplomacy organizationLes Back and John Solomos (2000), Theories of Race and Racism: A Reader, p.591, ISBN 9780415156714. "It is important to note the marriage between far-right-wing Hindutva ideology and Western New Ageism in the works of writers like David Frawley (1994, 1995a, 1995b) who is both a key apologist for the Hindutva movement and the author of various New Age books on Vedic astrology, oracles and yoga." from India advocating Hindutva (Hindu nationalism). The RSS’s ideology was directly inspired by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.Guruji’s Lie: The RSS and MS Golwalkar’s undeniable links to Nazism by Dhirendra K Jha (31 July 2021) The Caravan. RSS is the parent organisation of Bharatiya Janata Party, a Hindu party and current ruling party of India.
The RSS’s goal of Hindu supremacy brought them into conflict with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Hindu teachings and the secularism of independence leaders such as . We all know what happened next... Gandhi was murdered on January 30, 1948; by Nathuram Godse, an RSS member. Bitter conflict between the Hindu nationalists and those advocating for a democratic secular and diverse India gave birth to a modern organization dedicated to bringing about its vision of a Hindu state. 
India has banned the RSS on three separate occasions, once in 1948 after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, one after the imposition of during 1975 to 1977 by Indira Gandhi (where almost all sorts of opposition were arrested), and most recently after they razed the claiming that it was built over a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu god in 1992. The organization was acquitted each time and its members vehemently deny militancy, although their critics disagree and often label it as a terrorist organization.I. K. Shukla (2003). Hindutva: An Autopsy of Fascism as a Theoterrorist Cult and Other Essays. Media House. pp.105–. ISBN 978-81-7495-143-4. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
==History==
===Role in freedom struggle===
===Major ideologues===
====Vinayak Damodar Savarkar====
 is credited for popularising the word “Hindutva’’. He is known to his followers by the honorific prefix 'Veer'; however, it is much less known that this title was bestowed by himself in a Hagiography he wrote with a different name!Savarkar praised and called himself ‘Veer’ in biography penned by himself National Herald
Savarkar was deeply "Islamophobic" since childhood, admitting to having destroyed mosques and attacked Muslims with knives, pins, and foot rulers at the age of 12, as a reaction to the surge in attacks on Hindus.
Savarkar was (and still) erroneously and wrongly (though blatantly) accused (especially by the opponents of Hindutva) of inventing the destructive mere 2-3 years ago before proposed Pakistan.
Savarkar criticised the British for banning Sati. For those unaware, sati refers to the practice of forcing or prompting widows to commit suicide, usually by being lit on fire over their deceased husband's body at the funeral. While it is true that the British banned it, they weren't the first, as the Muslims who ruled over India for centuries (the ) banned it before as well. Too rich and misogynistic even for Sharia law, it appears. Even the (India's secularist party) banned the practice with the .
 was allergic of Savarkar, as far as his Savarkar's sectarian ideology was concerned. Savarkar in turn, called Bose a "Hindu Jihadi".Collaborator Savarkar versus Freedom Fighter Bose Sabrang SHAMSUL-ISLAM 26 January 2016Savarkar really inspired Subhas Chandra Bose? Experts weigh in India Today Subodh Kumar 31 May 2023, 12:11 ISTSubhas Chandra Bose wasn’t ‘anti-Savarkar’. Here’s how it’s more nuanced than you thought The Print 
Chandrachur Ghose
23 January 2022 10:02 am ISTThe fateful meeting of Savarkar and Netaji Subhas The Pioneer Dr. Gour Mohanty Friday, 3 February 2023
Now, the Hindu far-right in India has started rewriting history to portray Savarkar as a great freedom fighter.
====Madhavrao Sadashiv Golwalkar====
M.S. Golwalkar , the second leader of the RSS, was allegedly a Nazi admirer and one of the first proponents of a Hindu Rashtra.
==Pseudoscience==
===Cattle pseudoscience===
In 2009, some RSS followers claimed that Western brands like Pepsi and Coca-Cola were corrupting Indian culture, and introduced cow urine soda in India. The drink contained cow urine with flavours such as Aloe vera and some Ayurvedic herbs. They promote the drinking of cow urine as a cure for diseases arguing, "Cow urine offers a cure for around 70 to 80 incurable diseases like diabetes."Udder Nonsense? Cow Urine Promoted for Health Benefits Livescience
In 2017, Shankar Lal, President of Bharatiya Gau Sewa Sangh (An RSS affiliate dedicated to Cow lovers) said.
===Eugenics===
In May 2017, RSS's health wing launched its grand plan to Make India Great Again, using Nazi eugenics.
===Teaching babies Sanskar in womb===
On March 2023, Samvardhini Nyas, a wing of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, the women's section of the RSS, announced their new campaign titled Garbha Sanskar (Sanskrit: गर्भ संस्कार (though the actual term is , Sanskrit: गर्भाधान संस्कार)), to help indoctrinate foetuses into their ideology and religion even before they are born (albeit with questionable efficacy).
It was also said that as a part of womb cleaning, reading Sanskrit and the should also be done during pregnancy, claiming that if garbha sanskar was performed properly, even the DNA of the child in the womb could be changed.
To top it all off, some homophobia:Teach babies 'sanskar' in womb: RSS wing to doctors The Times of India
==Stopped Clock==
In recent years, the RSS has accepted LGBT members and some leaders have made statements supporting LGBT rights, though some say that such support is likely "hollow and superficial" to attract more supporters by utilizing Christophobia and Islamophobia from these communities harbouring anti-LGBT sentiments and homophobia.RSS chief bats for rights of transgender, LGBTQ citizens The Hindu
==See also==
*Pan-Iranist Party
*Bharatiya Janata Party
*Hindutva
==External links==
*Their website
==Notes==
==References==
Category:Anti-Christian bigotry
Category:Antifeminism
Category:Anti-LGBT bigots
Category:Fascism
Category:Government incompetence
Category:Hindu nationalism
Category:Hinduism
Category:Hindu nationalism
Category:Homophobia
Category:Indian politics
Category:Islamophobia
Category:Political parties
Category:Pseudoscience promoting organizations
Category:Racism
Category:Sexism
Category:Transphobia