Najmuddin A Farooqi.
As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) approaches a hundred years since its inception in 1925, a perceptible shift in its ideological tone and public posture has become increasingly evident. What once echoed with the assertive notes of a hardline Hindutva vision, articulated most famously by M.S. Golwalkar in the mid-20th century, now seems to be mellowing under the leadership of its current chief, Mohan Bhagwat.
This transition is not just stylistic it signals a complex recalibration of strategy, rhetoric, and self-perception. Gone are the days when the Sangh would publicly wear its majoritarian worldview on its sleeve. In recent years, Bhagwat has taken a noticeably softer, more conciliatory tone. From making inclusive statements about Indian Muslims and emphasizing shared cultural values to distancing the Sangh from fringe elements, the RSS appears to be consciously reshaping its image.
But this ideological moderation from the Sangh Parivar’s ideological fountainhead stands in stark contrast to the current political climate being steered by its most powerful affiliate the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While the RSS speaks of inclusion and unity, the BJP, now deeply entrenched in power, seems increasingly comfortable pushing policies that critics view as majoritarian in nature. Whether it’s the reading down of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act or the aggressive posturing around religious conversions, suspicious detentions, cow vigilantism and demolition of properties the government’s actions often stir up anxieties among Indan Muslims.
Adding another layer to this duality are the statements and campaigns run by the BJP’s allied organisations and the Sant parivar often accused of fanning Islamophobia or targeting minorities. While the Sangh publicly distances itself from such extremes, these voices persist and sometimes thrive within the broader ecosystem, both organisations inhabit.
This divergence raises important questions, What exactly is happening between RSS and the BJP ? Is this a calculated division of roles one playing the moderate mentor, other an assertive executor ? Or is there an underlying ideological tug-of-war, a disagreement over the tone, pace and tactics of Hindutva in 21st-century India ?
Historically, RSS has maintained a certain detachment from direct political engagement preferring to influence through ideology and cadre-building. Its early years, however, were not devoid of controversy. Several commissions of inquiry, including those looking into communal riots in pre- and post-independent India, have cast a shadow over the Sangh’s role in polarizing environments. While never conclusively proven, these allegations have formed part of persistent criticism against the organisation.
In contrast, BJP whether in its earlier avatar as Jana Sangh or in post-1980s resurgence has often balanced itself between hard and soft Hindutva, depending on political expediency. This strategic duality has helped it expand its electoral base, moving from a marginal party in the 1980s to the dominant political force in hupresent-day India.
Today, as the Sangh attempts a rebranding of sorts, perhaps in anticipation of changing demographic realities or global scrutiny, the BJP is doubling down on consolidation and control. This visible asymmetry has led to speculation about possible internal friction, or at the very least, a divergence of priorities.
In the end, whether this is a case of good cop bad cop political theatre or a genuine evolution of thought within Sangh, remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the ideological journey of RSS and its political counterpart is no longer marching in lockstep and in this growing dissonance lies a critical chapter in the future of Indian politics.
