NEW DELHI — In a significant address that directly confronted a question that has lingered in Indian public discourse for decades, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday provided a detailed explanation of the organization’s position on membership criteria for Muslims and other religious communities.
Speaking at a two-day lecture series titled “100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons,” Bhagwat outlined the RSS’s stance on inclusivity while emphasizing the conditions under which individuals from different religious backgrounds could participate in the organization.
The Core Message
Bhagwat’s response centered on the principle that the RSS welcomes all Indians regardless of their religious denomination, but requires members to identify primarily as part of what he termed “Hindu society” and as “sons of Bharat Mata” (Mother India).
“No Brahmin is allowed in Sangh. No other caste is allowed in the Sangh. No Muslim is allowed, no Christian is allowed in the Sangha. Only Hindus are allowed,” Bhagwat stated, before clarifying the organization’s interpretation of these terms.
He continued: “So people with different denominations, Muslims, Christians, any denomination, can come to the Sangha, but keep your separateness out. Your speciality is welcome. But when you come inside Shakha, you come as a son of Bharat Mata, a member of this Hindu society.”
Understanding the Framework
The RSS chief’s remarks appeared designed to address what the organization views as a fundamental misunderstanding about its membership philosophy. By stating that “no Brahmin is allowed” alongside “no Muslim is allowed,” Bhagwat seemed to emphasize that the RSS seeks to transcend both caste and religious identities in favor of a broader national-cultural identity.
According to Bhagwat’s formulation, individuals maintaining their religious practices and identities can participate in RSS activities, but must subordinate what he called their “separateness” to a shared Hindu societal identity when participating in the organization’s shakhas (local branch meetings).
Historical Context
The question of RSS membership and its relationship with India’s Muslim and Christian minorities has been a subject of ongoing debate since the organization’s founding in 1925. Critics have long accused the RSS of promoting Hindu majoritarian politics, while the organization has maintained that it represents a cultural rather than purely religious nationalism.
This latest clarification comes at a time when the RSS, the ideological parent organization of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), continues to wield significant influence in Indian politics and society.
Reactions and Implications
Bhagwat’s statement is likely to generate considerable discussion across India’s political spectrum. Supporters may view it as an inclusive gesture that opens doors to minority participation, while critics are expected to question whether the precondition of accepting a “Hindu society” identity is compatible with India’s constitutional secularism and the religious freedom it guarantees.
The lecture series, marking a century of the RSS’s existence, has provided the organization’s leadership with a platform to articulate its vision and address longstanding questions about its ideology and organizational structure.
As India continues to grapple with questions of religious identity, national belonging, and pluralism, Bhagwat’s remarks add another layer to an ongoing conversation about the nature of Indian citizenship and the relationship between religious and national identities.
