R.S.S.

History
RSS was founded in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a Nagpur doctor, with the aim to unite Hindus.[6] Hedgewar proposed that Hindus must unite to face challenges and protect the freedom and diversity of Indian civilization. The organization was able to establish itself through out the country on account of its nationalistic ideology and sacrifices of selfless karyakartas. The "pracharaks" or "full-time workers", who were spread all over the country, and karyakartas helped make RSS the world's biggest social welfare organisation.[7]. Also, the organization took part in the Indian independence movement
Sarsanghchalaks
The Sarsanghchalak is the head of the RSS organization. The individuals who have been Sarsanghchalkas are:
• Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (founder), also known as Doctorji (1925-1930 & 1931-1940)
• Dr. Laxman Vaman Paranjpe (1930-1931) (when Dr Hedgewar was in jail during Forest Satyagraha)
• Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar, also known as, Guruji (1940-1973)
• Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras, also known as, Balasaheb (1973-1993)
• Rajendra Singh, also known as, Rajjubhaiya (1993-2000)
• Kuppahalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan (2000-present)
The position is decided by nomination by predecessor. The current sarsanghachalak of RSS is K. S. Sudarshan.
Shakha
"Shakhas" means "branch" in Sanskrit.
Most of the organisational work of the RSS is done through the coordination of shakhas or branches. These shakhas are run every morning (prabhat shakha), evening (sayam shakha) or night (ratri shakha) for 1 hour in public places and are open to people of all castes, creeds or social and economic status. Currently more than 60,000 shakhas are run throughout India. Apart from 42,000 daily gatherings, there are about 5,000 weekly and 2,000 monthly gatherings conducted throughout the length and breadth of the country.[12]
These shakhas are usually operated in playing grounds without any offices. At the end of the shakha the prayer "Namaste Sadaa Vatsale Matrubhoome" (which means "My salutation to you forever, loving motherland") is recited.
These shakhas are the core building blocks of RSS structure. During a Shakha, the activities consist of yoga, games, discussions on broad range of social topics, prayer to Bharat Mata and an inspirational session (baudhik). The RSS uniform consists of a black cap, white shirt and khaki-coloured shorts. On the day of 'Guru Poornima' the RSS volunteers pay tributes to the 'Bhagwa Dhwaj' - the saffron flag, which has considerable symbolic importance.
An RSS volunteer who attends shakha is referred to as a "Swayamsevak". A Swayamsevak is sometimes appointed as a Mukhya Shikshak, meaning group administrator, and is given the task of leading and organizing the Shaka's events.
Caste system
RSS rejects the caste system and believes in equality of all Hindus. Historically, the RSS has had several Dalit and middle caste members in their fold, several of whom are in key positions along their rank-and-file.[16]. An RSS sarsanghchalak quotes:"All our best attended shakhas are in the poor areas, not in the alienated middle class or rich upper caste suburbs or cities or towns. In simple words, the new Sangh Swayamsevak is mostly a backward caste or Dalit".[7]
The RSS has recently expressed concern over caste-based political and social conflicts, they have urged Hindus to "get rid of this evil at the earliest".[17]Their resolution adopted at a national executive meeting said:
"Hindu society should take all necessary measures to ensure entry and access to every Hindu, irrespective of his caste, to their homes, temples, religious places, public wells, ponds, and other public places. Hindu society will have to get rid of this evil at the earliest.[17]"
The organisation further contends that "caste-based untouchability" and "feelings of high caste and low caste" were the main evils haunting the Hindu society and aims to eradicate Casteism from Indian society. To that end, the RSS has tried to reach out to prominent Dalit (traditionally the "Untouchable" Caste) leaders in India, such as poet and leader of the Dalit activist group "Dalit Panthers" Namdeo Dhasal.[18] The Dalit Panthers have been traditional adversaries of the R.S.S and peceived them as an "upper-caste" dominated party. However, negotiations with RSS chief K.Sudarshan on August 2006 led to reconciliations, when Sudarshan declared that the RSS categorically rejects all forms of caste discrimination in the organization. He further said:
The Dalits are our own flesh and blood, but because of some ill practices and social evils the practice of untouchability has brought havoc on those who were an integral part and defenders of Dharma. This has to be corrected through our deeds and actions.[18]"
Namadeo Dhasal said at the meeting with the RSS, "Yes, I do feel that the fight to eradicate caste has to be fought by Dalits and caste Hindus together carrying forward the tradition of Adi Sankara, which got broken somewhere in between."
Sudarshan then said, "I fully agree with what you have said here today".
In addition, the RSS has advocated for training Dalits and other backward classes to be temple high priests (a position traditionally reserved for Caste Brahmins and denied to lower castes). They argue that the social divisiveness of the Caste system is responsible for the lack of adherence to Hindu values and traditions and reaching out to the lower castes in this manner will be a remedy to the problem.[19]
Appealing for social harmony and Hindu brotherhood, the organisation warned the community against the political parties, which it said had been drawing "political benefits" out of casteism and "Inventing caste based new conflicts in the Hindu society for the sake of political benefits [which has] has become a trend of many politicians these days.[17]"
Social activity
The RSS was instrumental in relief efforts after the 1971 Orissa Cyclone and the 1977 Andhra Pradesh Cyclone.[25]
Khushwant Singh credits members of the RSS with helping and protecting Sikhs who were being targeted be members of the Congress(I) political party during the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots.[26] He said:
"It was the Congress(I) leaders who instigated mobs in 1984 and got more than 3000 people killed. I must give due credit to RSS and the BJP for showing courage and protecting helpless Sikhs during those difficult days”[26]
The RSS has also participated in relief efforts in the Indian State of Kashmir, which has been besieged by Islamic terrorism (see Terrorism in Kashmir). An RSS-affiliated NGO, Seva Bharati, has adopted 100 children, most of them Muslims, from militancy affected areas of the region to provide them education at least up to Higher Secondary level.[27] They have also taken care of many victims of the Kargil War of 1999.[28]
The RSS assisted in relief efforts quite extensively during the 2001 Gujarat earthquake. They helped rebuild villages.[29] They "earned kudos" from many varied agencies and sources for their actions.[25]
Sewa Bharati has also collaborated with several relief groups, such as the Catholics Bishops Conference of India to conduct relief operations in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Activities included building shelters for the victims, providing food, clothes and medical necessities.[30] They raised over one crore rupees for the effort in one week after the tsunami.[31] The RSS assisted relief efforts during the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake and the subsequent Tsunami.[32].
In 2006, RSS participated in relief efforts to provide basic necessities such as food, milk and potable water to the people of Surat, Gujarat who were affected by massive floods in the region[33].