Mohan Bhagwat in His Own Words
On the weekend of November 8-9, 2025, India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) held an information session in Bengaluru. It was a celebration of 100 years of RSS history and an exercise in accessibility. On Saturday morning, several dozen international guests had the opportunity to ask questions of the Sarsangchalak, Shri Mohan Bhagwat, while on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday the floor was opened to the public.
The answers given by the Sarsangchalak were not surprising, but they were enlightening. For example, when asked about the number of Pracharaks (full-time RSS volunteer workers) he revealed that:
The number of Pracharaks is steadily increasing. It is about 3700 now. Every year, about 500-550 youth become Pracharaks, and about 300-350 go back for various reasons. There is a net increase of 100-200 every year.
Few people seemed to realize that many Pracharaks dedicated a portion of their lives to the organization before starting families and returning to ordinary Swayamsevak (volunteer) status. The numbers suggest that the bulk of full-time workers of the RSS consists of young people on temporary service. That makes the accomplishments of the remaining life-long Pracharaks look all the more impressive.
This small cadre base supports the work of the 6 million Swayamsevaks, roughly half of whom are married ("householders" in the RSS terminology) while the remainder are young people.
These figures confirm that the RSS is both a youth organization and a life-long commitment. While most young members become inactive as they grow up, a substantial portion remain engaged throughout their lives. And it is these lifelong Swayamsevaks who represent the real strength of the organization. With roughly 1000 or them for every Pracharak, it is impossible for the central leadership team to direct the activities of the general membership. They must be driven primarily by their own initiative.
This is reflected in the Sarsangchalak's philosophy of volunteerism. He emphasized that "Swayamsevaks have separate, autonomous, independent organizations." They don't just do the work; they decide what work should be done. When asked of the RSS vision for India in 2047, he reiterated that "our role is preparing the society. Sangh does only shakha work. Everything else belongs to Swayamsevaks, who do it independently and autonomously."
The Sarsangchalak fielded several questions about Muslim Indians but had little new to say. Reiterating the quizzical formulation that all Indians are Hindus, he stuck to the RSS line that there are no Hindu Indians and Muslim Indians but only Bharatis (Indians). He said that:
No Brahmin is allowed in RSS. No other caste is allowed in RSS. No Muslim is allowed. No Christian is allowed. No Shakha. Only Hindus are allowed. People of different denominations (Muslims, Christians) can come to the Sangh. Keep your separateness out. Your specialty is welcome, but when you come inside the Shakha, you come as a Son of Bharat, a member of this Hindu society.
This is a disingenuous play on the historical meaning of "Hindu." Yes, in origin it simply meant an inhabitant of India: an Indian. But that is not what it means today, nor is it what the RSS and its Sarsangchalak use the word to mean in any other context. After all, if "Hindu" simply means "Indian," why not just use the word "Indian" or "Bharati" for the people who are welcome in the RSS? Neither term would raise any ire.
The RSS is of course an all-male organization operating in a thoroughly patriarchal society. Recognizing this, the Sarsangchalak charted a pathway toward greater equality. The RSS does have a women's affiliate, the Rashtra Sevika Samiti. The RSS considers this a parallel organization, not a subordinate one. But it is much smaller than the RSS, with "over 50 full-time Pracharikas," compared to the 3700 Pracharaks of the RSS.
More importantly for women's advancement in India, the Sarsangchalak said that:
At the level of execution and decision-making in the various organizations run by Swayamsevaks, we are trying to bring women workers at par with the males. This effort is called Mahila Samanvay. The goal is for women to participate equally in national affairs.
The Sarsangchalak emphasized throughout the weekend that the "RSS applies itself exclusively to man-making; all other work is done by the Swayamsevaks." Exactly what he meant by that is not entirely clear, but he ended his marathon question-and-answer sessions with a simple exhortation that "the best way to understand is to come and see Sangh from inside."
If nothing else, he certainly made everyone feel welcome. Love or hate the RSS, the organization seems determined to make itself accessible. The ball is in our court.
Salvatore Babones is the executive director of the Indian Century Roundtable and the author of Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World's First Democracy.
