The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) (Hindi: राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ), (National Volunteer Organization[2] or National Patriotism Organization[3]), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary,[4] volunteer,[5] and allegedly militant [6][7][8][9][10][11] organization in India.The allegation of being militant is denied by RSS and some other prominent personalities and they
termed it as political conspiracy[12] [13][14][15][16][17].RSS is a part of the umbrella group of Hindu nationalist organisations - Sangh Parivar.[4] It was founded in 1925 by Dr. K. Hedgewar, a doctor from Nagpur, as a social and cultural organisation in British India,[5] to oppose both British colonialism in India and Muslim separatism.[18]
RSS volunteers participated in various political and social movements including the freedom movement[5] and the organization became the leading Hindu nationalist organization in India.[18] By the 1990s, the group had established numerous schools, charities and clubs to propagate its ideology.[18] RSS volunteers are also known for their role in the relief and rehabilitation work during natural calamities[19] and for running more than 100,000 service programs in education, health care, rural development, tribal emancipation, village self-sufficiency, and the rehabilitation of lepers and special needs children.[20][21]
Some critics have referred to the RSS as a Hindu nationalist organization.[1][22][23][24] The RSS has been banned three times by the Government of India.
