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Bharat Education Hindus Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
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Futuristic Blueprint for Humanity

Panch Parivartan of RSS provides a transformative package for Bharat while communities globally could adopt the model. Vinod Kumar Shukla ​For its centennial events, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideated on five core social transformative ideas as ‘Panch Parivartan’ (Five Transformations). Samajik Samrasta (Social Harmony), Kutumb Prabodhan (Family Enlightenment), Paryavaran Sanrakshan (Environmental Protection), Nagrik Kartavya (Civic Duties) and Swa / Swadeshi (Self-Reliance) as areas into which the Hindu-centric organization would like to work on. These initiatives serve as tools to transform Bharat’s society and provide a template for global communities. These five transformative campaigns represent collective resolutions to prepare people of Bharat to deal with futuristic challenges. By fostering essential behavioural changes, they aim to drive national renaissance and build stronger, self-reliant Bharat: Samajik Samrasta (Social Harmony) ​Pluralism is as old as the civilization of Bharat itself. It is a heritage where diverse ideas including contrarian philosophies and opposing viewpoints have not only been welcomed but have coexisted and flourished. People of Bharat are inherently seekers who engage in dialogue rather than denying or negating the very existence of others. ​Samajik Samrasta programme is to promote unity and eliminate discrimination based on caste, creed or social status to build an inclusive society. In an ancient civilization like Bharat, social realignments are periodic necessity. RSS vision of social harmony begins with breaking down caste and community barriers. This is exemplified by call for Hindus to share “one temple, one well and one crematorium,” effectively erasing caste segregation at its source. While this is a prominent example, continuous efforts are being made to extend support to every section of society that feels marginalized or left behind. ​Kutumb Prabodhan (Family Values) ​After the individual, family constitutes the most vital unit of any society or the nation. Family being foundational unit, nurturing strong familial values, healthy dialogue within the family members and constructive cultural traditions in the household is primary objective of Kutumb Prabodhan. ​Over time, the institution of the family has weakened due to various factors, facing a continuous onslaught from Western influences and those in Bharat swayed by them. RSS aims to strengthen this very institution, recognizing that a resilient family structure builds a robust society and consequently, a strong nation. In Bharat, family values are not viewed as a form of bondage; rather, they are the cornerstone of personal growth and social stability, nurturing responsible, compassionate citizens. ​Paryavaran Sanrakshan (Protection of Environment) ​Today, entire globe faces the fury of nature, a direct consequence of unimpeded exploitation of natural resources. Encouraging sustainable living, tree plantation and a lifestyle that respects nature is deeply embedded in Bharat’s civilizational ethos, where the earth, rivers, seas, air, water, trees, moon and sun are traditionally worshiped. ​In championing culture and civilization, RSS is simply advancing these ancient tenets that treat environmental protection as a cardinal rule of life. Through Panch Parivartan, RSS has made an “environment-friendly lifestyle” a core focus area. The message of Paryavaran Sanrakshan—saving water and using natural resources judiciously—is now transcending generations with each age group adopting its own methods to protect the planet. It represents a collective movement where different people take diverse paths toward a common cause. ​Selfhood & Self-Reliance (Swa) ​If there is anything that was severely eroded over past millennium, it was sentiment of Swa (Selfhood). Realizing essence of Swa is crucial; it begins with taking pride in indigenous roots, promoting local economies and embracing “Swadeshi” way of life as against western economic aggression. This is the core of being self-reliant and proudly Bharatiya. ​The element of Swa extends beyond economic independence to encompass cultural self-confidence. This principle is applied through a five-fold transformative agenda known as Panchamukhi Vikas, which focuses on Swa (Self-Reliance), Shiksha (Education), Swasthya (Health), Sanskar (Culture) and Artha (Economy). Civic Duty (Nagrik Kartavya) ​The citizens of Bharat are frequently criticized for a perceived lack of civic sense, which is vital for the transformation of any society. The RSS seeks to instil deep sense of duty among citizens, encouraging them to follow rule of law, adhere to constitutional obligations and maintain social decency apart from participation in societal governance. ​This also includes a citizen’s democratic duty to exercise their franchise during elections. While many people harbour cynicism toward “the system,” Panch Parivartan urges citizens to actively change the system from within instead of merely complaining. Among the five resolutions, Environmental Protection is the most critical for survival of mankind. The immediate priority is raising awareness about vital importance of environmental conservation and educating people on how to achieve it. As pressure on natural resources intensifies, several interventions have become urgent: protecting fresh drinking water bodies, undertaking large-scale afforestation to combat global warming, balancing oxygen levels, preventing soil erosion and eliminating single-use plastics to safeguard rivers, farmlands and oceans. The RSS seeks to address these challenges by blending traditional ecological practices with civic responsibility and community-driven movements. ​The greatest immediate challenge is rapid development-linked urbanization which leaves a heavy negative footprint on the environment. Western model of development has caused maximum ecological harm. In contrast, Bharat not only talks but proposes eco-friendly development models. It also proved by achieving its initial goal of reducing emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 –35 per cent well ahead of 2030 deadline and has since escalated its ambition, targeting a 47 per cent reduction by 2035. ​However, global progress on this is hindered by a long-standing schism between developed and developing nations. Many developed countries are reluctant to compromise or deviate from high-emission paths that initially secured their wealth. Consequently, developing nations are being pressured to reduce their carbon footprints disproportionately while others falter—such as the United States’ past withdrawal from climate agreements. The list of faltering nations is long. Denying access to eco-friendly technologies and funding arrangements by the stubborn Western leadership is yet again an issue ​Bharat not only abides by Paris Agreement but advocates for a sustainable development model that rejects aggressive consumerism. This model aligns with ancient Indian wisdom, which emphasizes that humanity is an integral

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Artificial Intelligence Bharat Business Economy Technology
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Swadeshi Goes Hi-Tech!

‘Swa’ and Bharat’s self-reliance in advanced technology areas is a reality, domestic nuclear power campaign to fuel energy security. Dr Upender Krishen Saroop Swadeshi way of life carries a very deep and broader meaning. One must first understand Self (Swa) inherent in the word “Swadeshi.” ‘Swa’ has three foundational dimensions that have given Bharat a distinct identity and personality. When these three dimensions find natural expression in our personal, familial, professional, social and national life, only then can that way of living be truly called Swadeshi way of life in fullest sense. Bharat’s first and most fundamental concept of ‘Swa’ is spirituality. As Bharatiya worldview is rooted in spirituality, it is integral (Ekatma) and holistic (Sarvangeen). Bharat perceives the entire creation as interconnected, and it is from this that idea of “world is one family” (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam) emanates. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) advocates Swadeshi (economic and cultural self-reliance) as outward manifestation of this unique concept, ‘Swa’ and a core pillar of national reconstruction. Championed through its socio-political affiliates, this philosophy shapes domestic policies, promotes indigenous industries and re-centres Bharat’s cultural identity. Rooted in the philosophy propounded by RSS ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, Swadeshi goes beyond economics to encompass cultural and spiritual self-reliance that ingrains holistic human development over unchecked consumerist globalisation. RSS promotes a native economic model that avoids both hyper-capitalism and state-controlled socialism, emphasizing on sustainable development, small-scale industries and maintaining environmental balance. The organization advocates protection of traditional familial structures, local community bonds and promotion of mother tongues and indigenous lifestyles. The Swadeshi concept forms ideological bedrock for major national campaigns. It heavily aligns with Bharat government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and “Vocal for Local” initiatives which aim to empower domestic manufacturers and boost locally made products.  India’s successful Swadeshi designed Nuclear reactor: India has marked a major milestone in its nuclear energy programme. The indigenously designed and built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu successfully attained first criticality on April 6, 2026, marking initiation of a sustained nuclear chain reaction. This PFBR is 500 MW reactor built by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) at the Kalpakkam Nuclear Complex. With this feat, Bharat has entered second stage of its three-stage nuclear power campaign, first conceived by Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the architect of domestic nuclear programme. The milestone carries substantial global significance. Once fully operational, India will become only the second country in the world after Russia to operate a commercial fast breeder reactor. This milestone is testament to decades of scientific effort led by Department of Atomic Energy. It also marks a significant step in India’s clean energy journey, reinforcing the country’s commitment to reliable, low-carbon power. Additionally, it brings Bharat closer to realizing net zero emissions by 2070, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Three-stage nuclear power campaign India holds limited uranium reserves but one of the largest thorium deposits globally. To make the most of these resources, Department of Atomic Energy designed a three-stage nuclear power campaign built on a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The goal is to progressively multiply domestic fissile resources and secure long-term energy independence. Natural uranium is used as fuel in PHWRs to generate power. The spent fuel from these reactors produces plutonium which becomes primary input for the next stage. The plutonium obtained from Stage 1 is used as fuel in Fast Breeder Reactors which generate more fuel than they consume. PFBR at Kalpakkam marks Bharat’s entry into this stage. These reactors will be used to breed Uranium-233 from thorium, laying the groundwork for Stage 3. This stage will harness India’s vast thorium reserves at scale using Uranium-233 bred in Stage 2 as fuel. Thorium is considered a practically vast energy source and this stage holds the key to India’s long-term energy security. Each stage feeds into the next, making India’s nuclear programme one of the most forward-looking energy strategies in the world. PFBR: An Overview PFBR represents decades of indigenous research, design and engineering. Its technology was developed by Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), an R&D centre under Department of Atomic Energy. Nuclear Power Landscape in India Bharat’s nuclear energy campaign has maintained steady presence in the country’s electricity mix. It now stands at a pivotal moment with significant expansion planned over coming years. Taken together, these numbers tell a clear story. Nuclear energy is no longer just a supplementary source of power in India. It is fast becoming cornerstone of the country’s clean energy future. Long-Term Mission Bharat has set sights on a significantly larger role for nuclear energy in its power mix. Government has announced Nuclear Energy Mission, outlined in Union Budget 2025–26, with the aim of achieving 100 GW nuclear power generation capacity by 2047. The mission also supports India’s broader goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070. The sector is under regulatory oversight, opening new avenues for collaboration and investment. India’s long-term nuclear vision is ambitious by design. With policy backing, dedicated funding and indigenous research at its core, country is building a nuclear future that is both self-reliant and globally significant. Conclusion Concept of Self Reliance or Atma nirbharta has its roots and inspiration from the concept of Swa and Swadeshi, an important paradigm for RSS. This is one of the five transformative ideas put forth in centenary year of RSS. Realm of Swadeshi has gone into high technology areas like Nuclear and solar energy to ensure energy security of our nation, space missions, defence equipment production, Semiconductors to name a few. The emergence of Bharat as an economic superpower based on ennobling values of peace and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is not only inevitable but desirable for the world which is torn apart in wars and violence. Bharat will provide the lead in this endeavour. (Author holds a doctorate in polymer technology from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. He was a scientist in Shriram Institute for Industrial Research and formerly Vice President with Reliance Industries. Currently, he’s advisor to several packaging and polymer companies)

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Bharat Disinformation Hindus Misinformation Security
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138

Why Spew Venom Against RSS & Hindus?

Self-styled Christian lobbyists’ campaign against Hindus outreach in US & Europe has not worked even with scaremongering and demonization tactics. Aniket Pingley There is a genre of writing immune to journalistic standards in gathering evidence, retaining balance and complete disclosure. It is the opinion piece. In its honest form, it declares a position and argues it. In its dishonest form, it uses the opinion format as legal exemption, a space where alarming assertions are made, dehumanising imagery deployed and contested allegations stated as settled fact, all under the protective cover of “these are merely my views.” John Dayal’s piece in UCA News, headlined, “The Indian paramilitary organization’s tentacles in the US,” is a distinguished specimen of the dishonest form. It is tactical scaremongering – calibrated to produce a specific emotional and political effect amongst a specific audience at a chosen moment in Washington lobbying calendar. The article makes claims about the RSS, Gujarat, lobbying firms, FCRA and about Indian-origin officials in the US government. I will not engage those claims here. They are matters of public record, available to any reader willing to search. Readers are capable of forming their own opinions about Gujarat 2002, Modi visa episode, Squire Patton Boggs and India’s FCRA regime. They do not need me to defend the RSS against Dayal’s version of events. What I will do is more useful: identify what this article actually is, what it is attempting at and why its final sentence, the most revealing sentence in the piece, tells the reader everything they need to know. Confession in last sentence Dayal ends his article with, “The RSS has money, access, a friendly executive environment, and the weight of geopolitics on its side, and for the moment seems able to counter the evangelical campaign.” Read it slowly. Counter the evangelical campaign. Not “respond to criticism.” Not “defend itself against allegations.” Counter the evangelical campaign. Dayal told his readers, in his own words, what this is actually about. There is an evangelical campaign, organised, funded and directed, targeting RSS in Washington DC. And, what is Dayal lamenting is that this campaign is not working. RSS is successfully countering it. This is the most important fact in the entire article and it appears in the last line, almost as an afterthought. Everything before it, the alarming language, assembled allegations, USCIRF references, lobbying firm drama, is the infrastructure in that evangelical campaign. The article is a dispatch from one side of an active lobbying contest, written by one of its participants, lamenting that the other side is holding ground. And, RSS has every right to hold its ground. USCIRF’s annual report is not scripture. It is not axiomatic truth. It is not a judicial finding. It is the output of an advisory commission whose India recommendations the US State Department has declined to act upon for six consecutive years, a fact Dayal buries in his final paragraph as if it were a footnote, rather than the most consequential sentence in his piece. American foreign policy operates on classified intelligence, diplomatic relationships and a comprehensive picture of the world that an advisory commission does not possess. What’s this Evangelical Campaign? The campaign Dayal laments, RSS is successfully countering, is a coordinated effort to have United States designate India as a Country of Particular Concern on religious freedom, impose targeted sanctions on RSS and restrict its members from entering the US. It runs through USCIRF, Congressional testimony, UN Special Rapporteur submissions and in coordination with International Christian Concern, National Association of Evangelicals and the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Its substance: Christian organisations in India are being persecuted, FCRA restrictions choke Christian churches and anti-conversion laws are religious oppression. Each of these claims deserves a question Dayal never asks: why are there so many foreign-funded Christian organisations operating in India and what precisely are they doing? The answer is not theoretical. It is on the record. Compassion International (CI), a major US-based Christian child sponsorship charity that operated in India for 48 years, provides the most precise forensic answer available. In 2017, Indian Government placed CI on “prior permission” list under FCRA, requiring explicit case-by-case approval for every financial transaction, effectively halting flow of approximately $50 million annually. The government’s case rested on CBI First Information Report and Income Tax investigation into CI’s primary Indian affiliate, Chennai-based Caruna Bal Vikas (CBV). CBV was registered under FCRA with its legally declared nature of association as “economic, educational and social.” The CBI found it had, in its own documents, “invariably indulged in religious activities.” More precisely, in CBV’s own stated long-term organisational objective, the goal was “converting poor children into fulfilled Christian adults.” That is not a characterisation by the Indian government. It is what the organisation wrote about itself. Furthermore, CI was identified as part of an organised international missionary industry focused on what its own practitioners call  “10-40 Window”, a geographic band encompassing majority of the world’s Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists, deliberately targeted as a conversion frontier. This is what the FCRA regime was responding to. Not the practice of Christianity, the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala have worshipped in this land since the first century, and nobody has targeted them. What was being regulated is a specific, documented, foreign-funded, institutionally organised project of converting economically vulnerable children using charitable cover. When an organisation tells CBI investigators, through its own documents, that its goal is to convert poor children, it is not a policy concern. That is evidence. India’s state governments have enacted anti-conversion laws through elected legislative assemblies using constitutional procedures with clear majorities. These laws do not prohibit practice of Christianity. They regulate coercive, fraudulent or inducement-based conversions. Twelve states have enacted such legislation. That is Indian democratic federalism functioning as designed. Whether those laws are sound policy is a matter for Indian courts and voters, not for an American advisory commission whose mandate derives from US domestic legislation with no jurisdiction over a sovereign parliament. FCRA regime applies

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Bharat Education Hindus International Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
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230

RSS at 100: A Civilisational Dialogue

In April 2026, in the centenary year of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). RSS Sarkaryavah, Dattatreya Hosabale, undertook a sequence of engagements across the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany. During his engagements, he addressed Chatham House in London, the inaugural THRIVE 2026 summit at the Stanford Faculty Club, the Hudson Institute in Washington, the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Berlin, alongside Nobel laureates, legislators, academic communities, business leaders, community leaders and members of the Indian diaspora in all three countries. Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies has released RSS at 100: A Civilisational Dialogue, a structured account of these engagements and of the philosophical foundations on which the world’s largest socio-cultural movement now offers a hundred years of reflection and experience to humanity at large for global good. Download & Read Full Brief:

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Bharat Hindus International Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) United States USA
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RSS Addresses US Forums on Technology, Innovation and Leadership: A Civilisational Vision for the Future of Humanity

Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies (CIHS) is pleased to release its latest brief, RSS Addresses US Forums on Technology, Innovation and Leadership: A Civilisational Vision for the Future of Humanity, documenting the engagements of RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale at THRIVE 2026, Stanford Faculty Club, and at the Hudson Institute, Washington D.C., in April 2026. Coinciding with the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), these engagements marked one of the most substantive transatlantic conversations on Indian civilisational thought in recent years. The brief brings together, in considered depth, the views articulated by RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale across both forums: the philosophy of oneness rooted in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the coexistence of tradition and modernity, the three-fold lens of economy, ecology, and ethics for evaluating technology, the distinctive ethos of seva (service), the centenary vision of Panch Parivartan, and the role of the Indian diaspora as a natural bridge between two democracies.Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), these engagements marked one of the most substantive transatlantic conversations on Indian civilisational thought in recent years. The brief brings toge We invite scholars, policymakers, and engaged readers to download the full brief below. [Download the full brief here]

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Bharat Hindus Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) World
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RSS in US: Civilizational Bridge @100

Without losing Bharatiya identity, diaspora can become vital link with host nation by demonstrating its complete commitment. Arun Anand Commemorating its centennial, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has begun a serious conversation with a bevy of stakeholders in the West especially the United States and Europe. As part of its global outreach, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale undertook a significant visit to United States in April 2026. It’s more than a routine diaspora engagement. This tour represented a carefully crafted civilisational outreach—one that combined reflection on a hundred-year journey with a forward-looking articulation of Bharat’s intellectual and cultural role in a rapidly transforming world. At a time when global discourse is increasingly shaped by technology, geopolitics and identity debates, Hosabale’s visit sought to position the RSS not merely as an Indian organisation but as a participant in a wider philosophical conversation about humanity’s future. Civilizational Dialogue in Silicon Valley The intellectual centre piece of the visit was Hosabale’s address at Stanford University during the Thrive 2026 conference. Speaking before an audience comprising technologists, entrepreneurs and members of the Indian diaspora, he framed his intervention around a central proposition: that modern technological advancement must be guided by deeper ethical and civilisational wisdom. Drawing from Indic traditions, he argued that knowledge systems in India have historically refused to separate the spiritual from the scientific. Ancient texts, including the Upanishads, were presented not merely as theological works but as repositories of inquiry into the nature of the human mind, the cosmos, and existence itself. In this view, the fragmentation of knowledge into rigid categories science versus spirituality is a relatively recent phenomenon. Hosabale suggested that this integrated approach offers valuable insights in an age defined by artificial intelligence, ecological stress, and social inequality. He advocated what he termed a “holistic lifestyle,” contrasting it with excesses of consumerism and unchecked technological ambition. The emphasis was not on rejecting modernity, but on anchoring it within a broader ethical framework. At the heart of this framework lies the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the belief that the world is one family. Hosabale presented this not as a rhetorical flourish, but as a practical principle for navigating global fragmentation and conflict. Science, Knowledge & Civilisation A key theme that ran through his address was the need to revisit and revitalise Indic knowledge systems. Centuries of disruption particularly during protracted periods of foreign rule led to erosion and marginalisation of indigenous intellectual traditions, he averred. As a result, many scientific ideas embedded within cultural and spiritual texts were either forgotten or dismissed as superstition. Today, he argued, there is a renewed effort in India to recover and systematise this knowledge. Education, in this context, becomes central, not merely as a means of economic advancement but as a tool for reconnecting society with its intellectual heritage. Hosabale emphasised that scientific inquiry and spirituality were not opposing forces. Rather, they complement and enrich each other. Historically, scholars engaged in both domains simultaneously, integrating empirical observation with philosophical reflection. This integrated approach also carries ethical implications. He proposed that any technology intended for human welfare must be evaluated on three touchstones: economy, ecology and ethics. Technological progress that generates inequality, exploits nature or violates moral norms, he warned, ultimately undermines both society and the environment. Equally significant was his emphasis on democratization of knowledge. While knowledge production has accelerated globally, access to it remains uneven. A truly equitable world, in his view, requires insights from all civilizations that be shared widely, enabling a more balanced and inclusive global order. Redefining Diaspora Role Beyond intellectual discourse, Hosabale’s engagement with Indian diaspora carried a clear and pragmatic message. Addressing gatherings in Silicon Valley, he urged Indian-origin communities to demonstrate complete commitment to countries they inhabit. For the diaspora, he stated, contributing to progress and well-being of their host nation is basic dharma. This articulation is significant in contemporary debates around identity and belonging. Rather than encouraging a divided loyalty, Hosabale advocated a model of integration rooted in responsibility and participation. At the same time, he encouraged diaspora to remain connected to Bharat’s cultural and civilisational values. This dual identity, being fully American while retaining an Indian cultural consciousness was presented as strength rather than a contradiction. In effect, the diaspora becomes a bridge: grounded locally, yet carrying a global civilisational perspective. Path Ahead: Balancing Extremes A recurring thread throughout the visit was call for balance. Hosabale warned against dangers of an unrestrained race for technological dominance, one that prioritises speed and scale over sustainability and human well-being. He argued that traditional Indian thought offers a corrective: a worldview that emphasises harmony with nature, respect for all forms of life and an understanding of interconnectedness of existence. This perspective, he suggested, is particularly relevant in addressing contemporary challenges such as climate change and social fragmentation. The concept of “knowledge guided by wisdom” emerged as a central motif. Knowledge, when divorced from ethical judgment, can lead to arrogance and exploitation. When guided by discernment, viveka, it becomes a force for collective good. Conclusion Dattatreya Hosabale’s 2026 visit to the United States was not merely a commemorative exercise marking RSS centenary. It was an attempt to articulate a vision, one that situates Indian civilizational thought within global debates on technology, ecology and human coexistence. By engaging with Indian diaspora and intellectual communities in Silicon Valley, RSS signalled its intent to participate more actively in shaping global narratives. The emphasis on loyalty to host nations, cultural rootedness and ethical balance reflects a nuanced approach to globalisation, one that seeks integration without loss of identity. (Author is a senior journalist & columnist. He has authored more than a dozen books)

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Bharat Disinformation Hindus Human Rights Misinformation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
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260

Rebuttal of USCIRF India Entry and Issue Update on Alleged Religious Persecution

Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies (CIHS) has released a comprehensive rebuttal of the USCIRF Annual Report 2026 and its accompanying Issue Update on India. The rebuttal finds that USCIRF’s recommendation to designate India a Country of Particular Concern rests on methodological failures, unsourced assertions, and recommendations disconnected from the document’s own findings. Most strikingly, the report proposes sanctioning Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the world’s largest voluntary organisation and India’s Research and Analysis Wing without a single evidentiary basis anywhere in its text. CIHS concludes that documents of this kind, issued under the authority of a U.S. government commission, do not serve the cause of religious freedom. They damage the mutual respect on which one of the world’s most consequential democratic partnerships depends.

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It’s By Design and Agenda!
Bharat Disinformation Hindus Misinformation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
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487

It’s By Design and Agenda!

Write up in The Diplomat, CSRR report against Hindus, RSS & Bharat’s diaspora is factually incorrect, misleading & spreads fear! Madhusudhana Hebbar A write up in The Diplomat, titled “Decoding Hindutva’s US Operations,” published on October 27, 2025 attempts to unveil what it portrays as a network of Hindu nationalist organizations in United States, allegedly tied to India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and purportedly pose a threat to American equality and religious pluralism. Drawing extensively from May 2025 report by Rutgers University’s Center for Security, Race, and Rights (CSRR), titled “Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism,” the piece labels Hindutva as a “supremacist” ideology comparable to fascism or white supremacy. But the article is marred by factual inaccuracies, logical inconsistencies; innuendos and a biased narrative that stigmatizes Hindu Americans. CSRR report itself has been questioned for its methodological flaws, including cherry-picking evidence, false equivalences and lack of community input. The report and the article wrongly portray cultural pride as supremacy while ignoring Hindutva’s roots in inclusivity and principles like vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family). A core inconsistency emerges in the article’s handling of RSS connections internationally. While the write up cites RSS website on not having any affiliates abroad, it still adventures to bracket Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh as RSS international wing. Factually, there are no formal linkages whatsoever between the two organizations barring the Bharat, Bharatiyata and Hindus link. RSS website said, “RSS works only in Bharat. But it is possible that we will be able to connect you to some like-minded organization in your country. No concrete evidence of formal ties (if any) is provided; instead, the article relies on vague “people trails”- personal associations which tantamount to guilt by association. This tactic echoes historic smears and overlooks that US-based organizations like HSS operate independently to promote cultural education, yoga, family values, community service and preserve Hindu heritage in multi-cultural America and not as an RSS extension. As against what has been claimed in the write up, HSS has 267 shakhas or basic chapters across seven regions in the United State in 33 states. The assertion that “primary focus of RSS activities in US is to unify the Hindu diaspora with an India-centric approach and to raise funds from them for projects in India” is baseless, as RSS does not operate in the US. The write up does not support its claims accusing RSS of mobilizing funds illicitly for and from organisations like Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation. In contrast, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation complies with US laws and focus on education in underserved areas of India. Supporting organizations back in Bharat working on its villages is not a crime. When Irish Americans supports Ireland or Jewish communities aid to Israel do not pose threat to US, then how do Bharat diaspora run Ekal become an issue? Yet another misleading charge made in the write up was that Hindutva organizations seek to “erase the history of caste-based atrocities” from US textbooks. This stems from 2005-17 California textbook controversy where Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and others advocated for equitable portrayal of Hinduism, akin to treatment of Islam or Judaism. Authors of The Diplomat write up sought to correct inaccuracies, highlight positive contributions like yoga and philosophy and distinguish ancient varna / jati systems from modern caste discrimination without denying historical issues. HAF had requested taking on board Dalit Hindu spiritual traditions framing this as a push for fairness, not erasure. Opponents labeled it whitewashing, but the process involved public hearings and resulted in balanced revisions. The talk of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation in funding “reconversion” of Indian Christians to Hinduism is again far from truth. The article provides no link to RSS or other listed groups. From publicly available data, it appears that GHHF operates focusing on preserving Hindu temples and culture. These activities are not illegal in US and pale in comparison to centuries of Christian missionary efforts in India towards evangelism, funded by millions of dollars from outside India. Claims about figures like Saumitra Gokhale as RSS “pracharak” rely on affiliations, not proof of covert operations. His role in HSS and related groups involve open community work focused on the organisation’s mission and vision including yoga instruction, holding camps, seminars, talks, workshops etc. The Diplomat article and CSRR report perpetuate a narrative that conflates cultural advocacy with extremism, risking the marginalization of Hindu Americans that constitute over two per cent of US population. It’s by design that their contribution through technology, medicine, and philanthropy has been ignored. Alarmist smears against Indian American Hindus sans evidence smacks of a pre-designed and agenda-based writing. The article fails to offer evidence on threats posed by American Hindus to the country’s commitment to equality and religious pluralism. A simple Google search for terms like Yoga, SNY (Surya Namaskar Yagna) GuruVandana, Adopt a Highway, beach cleaning or SewaDiwali reveal a wealth of community service initiatives undertaken by HSS and like-minded organizations to benefit the areas they serve. The article fails to include perspectives of any individual or organization mentioned (beyond HAF) while writing based purely on CSRR report. It’s truly unfortunate that a respected outlet like The Diplomat would publish a piece that reads more like a promotional pamphlet or propaganda for the CSRR report itself. Online hate has intensified with White House Deepawali events triggering racist campaigns calling for deportations and denouncing Hindu immigrants’ contribution through taxes, technology and innovation. The timing is no coincidence. The write up claims division when Hindu advocacy groups push for recognition and protection against hate crimes that have doubled. Rather than countering this bigotry, pieces like the one Diplomat fuel flames, risk real world violence against a community threatened by prejudice. (Author is an IIT Graduate Engineer, living in the greater Los Angeles area. He is engaged in coaching youngsters interested in Hindu civilizational history, universal values, and their modern-day relevance.)

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NPR’s Covert Operation to Market Fear on Hindus & RSS
Bharat Disinformation Hindus Media Misinformation News Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
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NPR’s Covert Operation to Market Fear on Hindus & RSS

Dr Aniket Pingley / Nagpur Were someone to write a handbook on “Pandering to Prejudice while Pretending to Report,” they need look no further than Diaa Hadid’s National Public Radio (NPR) write-up and radio broadcast RSS. Hadid hides lack of diligence behind familiar imagery and attempts to flatter an audience expectation instead of testing them. Hollywood often turns social problems into entertainment. Crime, addiction and family breakdown appear again and again in films. These stories do not describe society as it is; they present a pattern that audiences already know. By recycling them, filmmakers sell a sense of realism itself. Sociologists have called this commodification of stereotypes where social anxieties are turned into products that people can consume. Hadid’s radio report for NPR titled “A Hindu nationalist movement celebrates 100 years. Now what?” follows the very pattern? The report attempts to present Bharat through a ready-made frame of danger and division. The listeners / readers are not invited to learn something new; they are prodded to recognize something familiar, a martial or fascist Hindu organisation, fearful Muslims and a society leaning toward intolerance. This works well for Western audience who have been mentally “incepted” for years by shoddy journalism to consume such stories as both alarm and entertainment. It becomes a reaffirmation that their liberal conscience remains intact. I have lived in the USA for more than a decade. I have listened to NPR on radio for years during my daily commute. Over time, I came to notice a pattern in its coverage of India. Their tone is rarely one of inquiry or balance; it is one of quiet moral certainty. Their general method is not to argue openly but to evoke unease through association, mood and selective recall. It is in this sense that Diaa Hadid’s report on the centenary of RSS fits perfectly within NPR’s broader narrative framework. I will expose anatomy of NPR’s covert style of building narrative. To this end, I will first explain the covert devices used by Hadid. Covert Devices Hadid’s piece works through three main covert devices: visual cues, selective use of authority and affective storytelling. a. Visual cues The report opens with the image of “more than 1,000 men in khaki pants, white shirts, black hats marched in step, bamboo canes at the ready.” This picture establishes the mood before any facts are given. The imagery evokes paramilitary spectacle; audience’s imagination supplies menace before any argument begins. It does not explain what the event represents; it signals threat. Once this image is fixed, every later detail reinforces it. b. Selective authority Hadid then attempts to construct credibility through Sangh baiters like Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay and Saba Naqvi. Their observations are not contextualised; the audience is not told that these voices represent one interpretive tradition among many. Their audio bytes are cherry-picked to deliver a uniform message: Hindu nationalism feeds resentment, controls institutions and endangers pluralism. This is nothing more than an echo-chamber. c. Affective storytelling A later section features an unnamed Muslim activist who “fears retribution.” No evidence or data is offered to support how widespread this fear is. The emotion itself is projected as the proof. The audience does not have to ask for data or context; feeling replaces verification. In short, where evidence should appear, emotion takes its place. Symbols and Stigma Reference to the film, The Kerala Story, is most telling rhetorical move. The film bears no institutional connection to RSS and belongs to the domain of popular cinema. Its presence in the report functions as symbolic contagion, i.e., by mentioning the movie immediately after discussing RSS “influence on Bollywood,” Hadid fuses disparate cultural artefacts into a single moral field. The RSS thus becomes responsible not only for political developments but also for cinematic representations of Muslims. For a Western audience already primed to associate “Hindu nationalism” with intolerance, such conflation produces instant engagement. To amplify stigma about RSS, Hadid retrieves the prevalent elements of Western archive on the RSS – (1) Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination and (2) Ram Janmabhoomi movement. There is no acknowledgment that RSS was exonerated after Gandhi’s death or that it operates legally within India’s constitutional framework, or that Ram temple was built via Supreme Court judgment after a long, patient waiting by the entire nation. Hadid repeats familiar falsehood that “Godse was once a follower of the RSS. Godse’s family insists he never left,” ignoring Godse’s own courtroom statement that he had left the RSS to join the Hindu Mahasabha. But then, fact-checking has never been a priority for those committed to manufacturing history and Hadid is neither the first nor the last to do so. Here, each reference functions to deliberately misguide or act as a cue that re-connects today’s audience to an existing moral verdict. The long and the short of it The anatomy of NPR’s false narrative building has the following parts: Exposing the institutional motive of NPR Hadid’s report exemplifies an institutional pattern within Western public media: to convert complex national phenomena into moral parables for liberal consumption. RSS becomes a semiotic device, a shorthand for all that is wrong with contemporary India. In this symbolic economy, factual depth is secondary to recognizability. Diaa Hadid’s NPR piece about RSS centenary does not break new ground. It follows Hollywood model of selling familiar anxieties. This is not an individual failure of journalism but a sign of how certain institutions continue to operate. They produce stories that confirm a shared moral outlook rather than test it. The result is not better understanding of Bharat or RSS, but another example of how complex realities can be reduced to simple and marketable fears. P.S. As for “Now what?” from the title — perhaps, now, some real journalism 😊 (Author is an accomplished computer scientist, educator, and holds expertise in media content strategy)

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