image sourced from original article at The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a powerful Hindu nationalist organization, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary with a grand parade in Nagpur, showcasing its influence and disciplined ranks. The group, which forms the ideological core of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party, has long promoted the idea that Hindu identity is central to India's nationhood, a stance that critics say marginalizes religious minorities and undermines the country's secular constitution.
Founded in 1925, the organization has a controversial history, including links to violent events during India's partition and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Despite past bans and criticism for its hardline views, the group has rebuilt and expanded, now claiming tens of thousands of local branches and a vast network of schools and social projects.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's resurgence in recent decades has been marked by mass mobilization on religious issues, notably the demolition of a historic mosque in Ayodhya, and its pivotal role in the rise of Modi's party. While its leaders deny involvement in violence or hate crimes, observers note a shift in Indian society toward greater nationalism and less tolerance for dissent. Supporters, however, insist the group instills discipline and patriotism, emphasizing unity and service to the nation.
