Decoding the RSS

by Raosaheb Kasbe

The RSS can’t stand this book. When it was first published in Marathi, RSS cadres made a public bonfire of it in Pune. Raosaheb Kasbe presents an incisive critique of M.S. Golwalkar’s Bunch of Thoughts, the main ideological treatise of the RSS. Kasbe traces the historical roots of cultural nationalism as outlined by Golwalkar, and exposes its authoritarianism. His study of the functioning of the RSS reveals its communal blueprint, its anti-modern views and anti-democratic objectives. Kasbe challenges the RSS on its own turf – its interpretation of Hinduism. Through a rigorous critique of Golwalkar’s text and careful analysis of ancient texts, Kasbe shows how the RSS version of Hinduism is unapologetically casteist and deeply patriarchal. Four decades and seven editions after its first publication, Kasbe’s zestful polemic is finally available for the first time in English, with an Introduction by scholar and activist Shamsul Islam.

177 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2020

Reviews

[Akshay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a wonderful take on the ideology of RSS, which counters statement from Golwalkar's "Bunch of thoughts". What Raosaheb wrote is very hard hitting, well structured and organized. The functioning, ideology, practice of the Sangh plays dubious role in our country's democracy now. A must read for all the people who wants to understand the root of the problem that we are facing in this time.

[Critical · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1978, so a lot more has happened since then, that I'm sure would significantly change the narrative in the book. However, the primary reason to consider reading this book would be to go to the source of the ideological positions of the RSS - primarily Golwalkar's thoughts and writings, and a direct criticism of them.

[Mahender Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book systematically and thoroughly exposing the evil designs and conspiries of the RSS.
A must read for every Indian.