Founded in 1925, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has played a pivotal role in fostering cultural unity in India. Guided by the philosophy of ‘Bharatiyata’ (Indian-ness), the RSS emphasizes the idea of a unified nation bound by a common civilization, cultural heritage, and historical continuity, despite India’s rich linguistic, social, regional, and religious diversity. Its vision of unity is rooted in shared traditions, moral values, and a deep sense of national pride. Its role is profoundly patriotic, serving as a catalyst for cultural restoration and continuity. As the RSS marks a century of its existence, it is apt to reflect on its role in reshaping Bharat as a cultural entity, despite the nation’s vast diversity in every sphere of life.
Cultural Nationhood and Civilizational Identity: The RSS Perspective
The RSS places strong emphasis on the idea of a shared cultural and civilizational identity that unites the people beyond distinctions of religion, language, or region. Central to its worldview is the concept of Sanskritik Rashtra the notion that India is not merely a political entity but a cultural nation, bound together by centuries of shared traditions, values, and collective wisdom and memories.
Drawing inspiration from ancient epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as well as spiritual and philosophical systems such as Vedanta, the RSS asserts that these foundational texts and ideas form the core of a unifying cultural consciousness. This common heritage is seen as a powerful force for national cohesion, offering a sense of belonging and identity to all citizens, regardless of their diverse backgrounds. By promoting pride in India’s ancient knowledge systems, the RSS is fostering a deepseated cultural unity one that nurtures respect for diversity while reaffirming the essential oneness of the Indian civilization.
Building National Solidarity Through Shared Festivals and Inclusive
Practices Acknowledging the deeply pluralistic fabric of Indian society, the RSS actively promotes the inclusive celebration of festivals and culturally significant occasions across regional, linguistic, and caste boundaries, reinforcing the belief that diversity is not a barrier but a vital strength of national unity.
The uniform observance of festivals such as Raksha Bandhan, Guru Purnima, the Hindu New Year, and Vijayadashami etc. across the country is not merely ceremonial appreciation of a deeper emotional and cultural integration that transcends local identities. Rather this serves as common cultural threads, weaving together communities from different parts in a shared experience of heritage, values, and belonging. Consistently, RSS leaders including current Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat Ji have emphasized the importance of unity beyond caste, community, and creed, reiterating the need to view all Indians through the lens of shared ancestry and collective destiny.
Accordingly, grassroots initiatives such as the ‘one temple, one well, one cremation ground’ campaign are aimed at dismantling caste-based hierarchies and fostering inclusive social practices that reflect true egalitarianism. Through such programs and broader cultural outreach, the RSS act as a unifying force that strengthens the bonds of national solidarity by celebrating India’s ancient heritage while advocating for social harmony and mutual respect. Forging Character and Community: The Central Role of Shakhas in the RSS At the heart of the RSS organizational structure lies the institution of the shakha a daily gathering that serves as the foundational unit for character building, ideological training, and community bonding. More than just a routine exercise session, the shakha functions as a vital platform for instilling values such as discipline, patriotism, social responsibility, and spiritual grounding among swayamsevaks (volunteers). Conducted in neighbourhoods, villages, and urban centres across the country, these grassroots-level gatherings bring individuals from diverse social, linguistic, and regional backgrounds together in a spirit of fraternity and shared purpose.
Through a structured curriculum of physical drills, group discussions, storytelling, songs, and games rooted in Indian culture and history, the shakhas nurture a sense of national consciousness and cultural pride. They also play a crucial role in community engagement, organizing relief efforts during crises, promoting educational and service initiatives, and addressing social issues like caste and untouchability. By fostering personal development alongside a collective ethos of service and unity, the shakha acts as both a training ground and a microcosm of the RSS’s vision of a culturally cohesive and socially resilient Bharat. In this way, shakhas are not merely organizational units but dynamic institutions of social transformation, reinforcing the Sangh’s broader mission of nation-building through grassroots cultural revival and civic engagement.
Preserving Culture Through Language: RSS’s Role in Promoting Vernaculars and Sanskrit
The RSS places significant emphasis on the promotion of regional languages and Sanskrit, viewing language not merely as a means of communication but as a vital vessel for preserving and transmitting cultural values, historical memory, and civilizational identity. Recognizing the intimate link between language and culture, the RSS encourages the use of mother tongues in daily life and education, while also advocating for the revival and respectful use of Sanskrit as a symbol of India’s intellectual and spiritual heritage.
The RSS supports a wide network of educational institutions through affiliated organizations such as Vidya Bharati and Ekal Vidyalayas, which operate across the nation. These schools, apart from providing basic education, also integrate teachings on Indian history, ethics, customs, and indigenous knowledge systems delivered in regional languages to foster cultural familiarity and accessibility. This approach instils linguistic pride and cultural rootedness among students, while also nurturing a respectful awareness of India’s broader linguistic diversity. By promoting vernacular languages alongside Sanskrit, the RSS aims to safeguard India’s cultural pluralism, counteract linguistic alienation, and strengthen national unity through the revival of local identities and traditional wisdom.
Fostering Social Harmony and Unity: The RSS Vision of Inclusive National Identity
The RSS has long championed the cause of social harmony Samajik Samarasata by actively opposing caste-based discrimination and advocating for equality and inclusiveness across all layers of society. In numerous communities across India, RSS gatherings serve as crucial spaces where individuals from different castes, communities, and social backgrounds come together, breaking down traditional barriers through shared activities and mutual engagement. Initiatives such as the community meals play a transformative role in challenging entrenched caste divisions, fostering interpersonal bonds that transcend social stratifications, and nurturing a collective sense of fraternity within the broader Hindutva community that reflects the values of dignity, respect, and unity.
The organization affirms that India’s true strength stems from its pluralism, but it cautions that such diversity should serve as a source of enrichment rather than division. Thus, the RSS motivates people to cultivate a unified cultural consciousness that harmonizes multiplicity with oneness. Further, the RSS upholds the ideal of India as a single, indivisible cultural nation where people are united despite regional, religious, caste, or ethnic diversities. It promotes the vision of Akhand Bharat and emphasizes national integration over parochial identities. Thus the RSS stands firmly against identity politics rooted in narrow sectarian interests, and social fault lines. It campaigns against divisive ideologies and seeks to forge a cohesive national identity.
Fostering Unity in Diversity
Through a comprehensive array of outreach initiatives including educational programs, welfare activities aimed at marginalized communities, and various service missions the RSS endeavours to foster a sense of belonging to a single national and cultural family, known as the Rashtra Parivar. It celebrates the foundational traits of Indian culture, particularly its intrinsic inclusiveness and remarkable adaptability, which enable the harmonious coexistence and unification of people from myriad backgrounds under the guiding principles of Dharma (righteous living) and Seva (selfless service). The RSS seeks to cultivate a collective identity deeply rooted in time-honoured traditions such as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah. These enduring philosophies serve as the moral and spiritual foundation for promoting harmony, inclusivity, and unity across the country’s diverse social fabric, reinforcing the ideal that despite multiplicity, India remains one indivisible whole.
Recapitulation
At its core, RSS plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the dangers of social and political fragmentation, striving tirelessly to unite the diverse peoples of India by promoting a shared set of cultural values and an inclusive vision of nationhood. Through its extensive grassroots engagement, it actively involves communities across the country, emphasizing service to every section of society irrespective of religion, caste, or ethnicity thereby fostering a deep sense of belonging and solidarity among citizens.
By anchoring its efforts in the timeless ideals of civilizational unity, disciplined living, and selfless service, the RSS endeavours to nurture a society where diversity is not perceived as a fault line, but embraced as a vital strength that enriches the collective identity of the nation. Over the decades, the RSS’s cultural initiatives and ideological outreach have profoundly influenced the collective consciousness of vast sections of Indian society, reinforcing bonds that contribute to national unity and cultural resilience.
Given the multifaceted challenges India faces in preserving its unity amid diversity, it remains a matter of national interest that the RSS continues to pursue its mission of building a united, culturally vibrant, and harmonious India. This work of RSS will lay the groundwork for a future where all Indians can coexist with mutual respect, shared purpose, and unwavering commitment to the nation’s well-being. Views are personal. Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
