India at a crossroads - 100 years of the Hindu nationalist RSS movement | DW Documentary

Key Concepts:

• RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh): A Hindu nationalist organization promoting a socio-cultural identity, often classified as a paramilitary force.
• Hindutva: An ideology envisioning India as a Hindu nation.
• Shakha: Local assemblies or branches of the RSS where training and indoctrination occur.
• Love Jihad: A conspiracy theory alleging that Muslim men seduce Hindu women to convert them to Islam.
• Ram Janmabhoomi Movement: A campaign to reclaim Ayodhya as the birthplace of Lord Ram and build a temple on the site of the Babri Mosque.
• Babri Mosque: A 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya demolished by Hindu nationalists in 1992.
• Secularism: The principle of separation of religion from state affairs.

1. The RSS and its Ideology

• The RSS is a Hindu nationalist organization founded in 1925, claiming to be the world's largest volunteer organization with over 80,000 branches across India and other countries.
• The RSS promotes Hindutva, an ideology that envisions India as a Hindu nation, emphasizing Hindu values and culture.
• Youngsters are trained in "shakhas" (local assemblies) with physical discipline and indoctrination.
• Muskan Bansel's experience highlights how RSS training camps instill a sense of duty and shape personalities from a young age.
• VJ Bahadur Singh views Hindutva as a shared identity and a source of unity, emphasizing devotion to Hinduism and India.
• The RSS is closely tied to the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), the ruling party in India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having a background as a full-time RSS organizer.
• The head of the RSS, Moan Bakot, stated in October 2024 that the belief that India belongs first and foremost to Hindus lies at the heart of the RSS worldview.

2. Exclusion and Suspicion of Minorities

• The RSS ideology often excludes those outside the Hindu fold, particularly Muslims, who are viewed with suspicion and considered a potential threat.
• Hate speech and violence against religious minorities, especially Muslims, have intensified in recent years.
• Interfaith couples face fear and targeting, even in Delhi, due to religious divides.
• The concept of "love jihad" is used to demonize interfaith relationships involving Muslim men and Hindu women.
• Muskan's family reflects the belief that those who do not embrace Hindu roots and culture should leave India.

3. Historical Context: Partition and Gandhi's Assassination

• India's independence from Britain was accompanied by partition, leading to mass migrations and communal violence between Hindus and Muslims.
• Two distinct visions of India emerged: a secular, democratic vision led by Gandhi and the Congress party, and a Hindu nationalist vision espoused by the RSS and Hindu Mahasabha.
• The RSS blamed Gandhi for appeasing Muslims and weakening the nation, leading to his assassination in 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu Mahasabha activist and former RSS member.
• The RSS was banned after Gandhi's assassination, accused of spreading hate and fueling violence.

4. Glorification of Gandhi's Assassin and Violence Against Interfaith Couples

• A temple in Meirut glorifies Nathuram Godse, Gandhi's assassin, reflecting a fringe belief that is gaining confidence.
• Interfaith relationships provoke social hostility and state violence, with couples monitored, harassed, and brutalized.
• A Muslim man was humiliated and abused by the police for loving a Hindu woman, while authorities tried to convince his partner to leave him.

5. The Ram Janmabhoomi Movement and the Demolition of the Babri Mosque

• The Ram Janmabhoomi movement aimed to reclaim Ayodhya as the birthplace of Lord Ram and build a temple on the site of the Babri Mosque.
• The Babri Mosque became a symbol of historical grievance for Hindu nationalists.
• In 1990, BJP leader LK Advani led a campaign to mobilize support for the Ram Temple, backed by the RSS and other Hindu nationalist groups.
• On December 6, 1992, the Babri Mosque was demolished by Hindu nationalists, leading to widespread communal violence across India.
• VJ Bahador Singh was accused but acquitted of conspiring to demolish the Babri Mosque.

6. Influence on National Politics and the Inauguration of the Ram Temple

• The RSS holds a central place in Indian politics, with close ties to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Modi's government inaugurated the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on the site of the former Babri Mosque, fulfilling a key political promise.
• The building of the Ram Temple is seen as a symbol of what Hindutva forces want India to be, asserting a Hindu national identity.

7. Historical Inspiration and Ideological Roots

• Early Hindu nationalist thinkers and movements were influenced by European nationalists and authoritarian ideas, such as Mussolini's fascism.
• KB Hedgavar, the founder of the RSS, aimed to unify Hindus and reclaim India as a Hindu nation, excluding Muslims, Christians, and other faiths.
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar developed the concept of Hindutva.
• MS Golvakar, the second chief of the RSS, praised Hitler's ideas and suggested that India should emulate Germany's treatment of Jews.

8. The Role of Social Media

• Social media has amplified Hindutva's reach, connecting young voices across India and spreading its message.

9. Conclusion

The RSS, with its Hindutva ideology, has significantly shaped India's political landscape and social fabric. Its emphasis on Hindu identity and culture, coupled with the exclusion and suspicion of minorities, has led to increased religious polarization and violence. The demolition of the Babri Mosque and the subsequent construction of the Ram Temple symbolize the fulfillment of a long-standing Hindu nationalist vision, but also highlight the contested nature of India's future. The influence of the RSS on national politics, particularly through its ties to the ruling BJP, raises concerns about the erosion of secular values and the marginalization of religious minorities.