History: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh During India's Independence Movement

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was founded on September 27, 1925, in Nagpur, Maharashtra on the Hindu festival of Vijayadashami (Dussehra). The organization recently celebrated its centenary (100th anniversary) in late 2025.

Key Facts About Its Founding:

• Founder: It was established by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a physician from Nagpur.
• Initial Goal: The primary objective was to organize the Hindu community through character-building and discipline to achieve "cultural regeneration."
• Influence: Hedgewar was significantly influenced by the writings of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, particularly his ideological pamphlet Essentials of Hindutva.
• Naming: While the group began in 1925, the name "Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh" was formally adopted a few months later, in April 1926.

RSS' Work During Initial Years: 

The RSS was not founded to work as a political party. Here is a breakdown of its major activities and focus during the initial period:

1. Establishing the "Shakha" System

• The Shakha (branch) was the cornerstone of the RSS. The daily one-hour meeting was designed to instill discipline and unity.
• Physical Training: Included Suryanamaskar, wrestling, and drills.
• Ideological Education: Sessions included patriotic songs (Bhajans), stories of historical Indian heroes (like Shivaji and Maharana Pratap), and discussions on "Cultural Nationalism."
• Saffron Flag (Bhagwa Dhwaj): Instead of a person, the saffron flag was treated as the "Supreme Guru," symbolizing ancient Indian tradition.

2. Character Building and Social Unity

• A major goal was to bridge the deep caste and class divisions within Hindu society.
• Anti-Caste Initiatives: Dr. Hedgewar insisted that within a Shakha, all volunteers (Swayamsevaks) must be treated equally, regardless of caste.
• Discipline: The focus was on "character-building" to create individuals who were physically strong and mentally dedicated to the nation.

3. Relief Work and Social Service

Early on, the RSS began its tradition of mobilizing for social causes and disaster relief:

• Famine and Flood Relief: Volunteers were often the first to arrive at natural disaster sites to provide food and aid.
• Pilgrimage Management: During large festivals like the Kumbh Mela, RSS volunteers managed crowds and provided sanitation and medical help.
• Communal Harmony: During the frequent communal riots of the 1920s and 30s, the RSS focused on organizing Hindu self-defense and relief for victims.

4. Expansion through "Pracharaks"

• In the 1930s, the RSS began expanding beyond its original base in Nagpur.
• Full-time Volunteers: Dr. Hedgewar introduced the concept of Pracharaks—dedicated, celibate, full-time workers who gave up their professional lives to travel across India and set up new Shakhas.
• National Reach: By 1940, the year Hedgewar passed away, the organization had grown from a handful of boys in Nagpur to a network of roughly 100,000 volunteers across several provinces.

5. Relationship with the Independence Movement

While the RSS as an organization did not officially launch movements against the British (to avoid being banned and to focus on long-term "social capital"), Dr. Hedgewar encouraged members to participate in their individual capacities.

• Satyagraha: Hedgewar himself participated in the Jungle Satyagraha (1930) and was imprisoned.
• Purna Swaraj: When the Congress declared "Purna Swaraj" (Complete Independence) in 1929, Hedgewar ordered all RSS branches to celebrate the occasion.

RSS Founder was jailed by the British for participation in India's Freedom Movement. 

Dr. K.B. Hedgewar was imprisoned by the British Raj on two major occasions. While he founded the RSS as a social and cultural organization, he personally participated in several political agitations led by the Indian National Congress.

1. First Imprisonment: Non-Cooperation Movement (1921)

Before founding the RSS, Hedgewar was a prominent leader in the Provincial Congress.

He was arrested in May 1921 for "sedition" due to "objectionable" (anti-British) speeches he delivered in Maharashtra. During his trial, he famously defended his actions by arguing that the British had no moral or legal right to rule India. The judge reportedly remarked that his defense statement was "even more seditious than his original speech." He refused to provide a bail bond or an undertaking to stop his speeches and was sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment in Ajani Jail. He was released in July 1922.

2. Second Imprisonment: Jungle Satyagraha (1930)

This took place after the formation of the RSS. When Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement (Salt Satyagraha), Hedgewar decided to participate. He officially resigned as the Sarsanghchalak (Chief) and joined the movement in his individual capacity. He led a group of volunteers in the "Jungle Satyagraha" at Pusad (near Yavatmal), where they defied colonial forest laws by cutting grass and wood in reserved areas. He was arrested on July 21, 1930, and sentenced to nine months of rigorous imprisonment. He served this term in Akola Jail and was released in February 1931.

During his second term in Akola Jail, Hedgewar reportedly started an RSS Shakha (assembly) inside the prison premises to interact with other political prisoners.

Upon his releases, he was often greeted by large crowds and prominent leaders. For instance, in 1922, Motilal Nehru and Hakim Ajmal Khan addressed a public reception held in his honor.

RSS Role During Partition Riots 

The RSS was very active during the chaotic period surrounding India's independence/partition. RSS volunteers organized extensive relief camps for Hindu and Sikh refugees fleeing from newly formed Pakistan. RSS played a key role in the protection of people during the 1947 riots.