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Messengers of Hindu Nationalism: How the RSS Reshaped India
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is a Hindu nationalist volunteer organization. It is also the parent of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Prime Minister Modi was himself a career RSS office-holder, or pracharak. This book explores how the RSS and its affiliates have benefitted from India's economic development and concurrent social dislocation, with rapid modernization creating a sense of rootlessness, disrupting traditional hierarchies, and attracting many upwardly mobile groups to the organization.
India seems more willing than ever to accept the RSS's narrative of Hindu nationalism--one that seeks to assimilate Hindus into a common identity representing true 'Indianness'. Yet the RSS has also come to resemble 'the Congress system', with a socially diverse membership containing a distinct left, right and center. The organization's most significant dilemma is how to reconcile the assault from its far right on cultural issues like cow protection with condemnations of globalization from the left flank.
Andersen and Damle offer an essential account of the RSS's rapid rise in recent decades, tracing how it has evolved in response to economic liberalization and assessing its long-term impact on Indian politics and society.
India seems more willing than ever to accept the RSS's narrative of Hindu nationalism--one that seeks to assimilate Hindus into a common identity representing true 'Indianness'. Yet the RSS has also come to resemble 'the Congress system', with a socially diverse membership containing a distinct left, right and center. The organization's most significant dilemma is how to reconcile the assault from its far right on cultural issues like cow protection with condemnations of globalization from the left flank.
Andersen and Damle offer an essential account of the RSS's rapid rise in recent decades, tracing how it has evolved in response to economic liberalization and assessing its long-term impact on Indian politics and society.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2019
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 3, 2020
The book has multiple chapters and each follows a template to introduce, elaborate and share an opinion on the topic.
I liked the approach because it helps with the history of the organisation and explains the approach.
This book is about the RSS and its affiliates and how RSS being the center of all the affiliates ensures harmony is maintained at all costs and the book does highlight instances where the RSS mediated between affiliates.
Published in 2018, this book felt more like a bit of propoganda to me but that's my opinion. But that does not take away the credit from the amazing hardwork and research done by the authors.
Lot of new things to learn here if you, like me, were unaware of exactly what the RSS does.
I liked the approach because it helps with the history of the organisation and explains the approach.
This book is about the RSS and its affiliates and how RSS being the center of all the affiliates ensures harmony is maintained at all costs and the book does highlight instances where the RSS mediated between affiliates.
Published in 2018, this book felt more like a bit of propoganda to me but that's my opinion. But that does not take away the credit from the amazing hardwork and research done by the authors.
Lot of new things to learn here if you, like me, were unaware of exactly what the RSS does.
Displaying 1 of 1 review