RSS at 100: Struggles in Academia Despite Political Gains

Saralnama

The RSS marks 100 years in 2025. Today, it dominates political narratives but lags in academia. From 1969-1977, the Left held sway in universities and textbooks. The RSS gained legitimacy after the Emergency. Until now, it focused on mass outreach through shakhas, not intellectual debates. The Sangh runs over 12,000 schools via Vidya Bharti. It has student, teacher, and research wings. Next, the RSS aims to boost its presence in higher education and research. Despite political power, it still struggles to shape academic discourse. (Updated 2 Oct 2025, 14:05 IST; source: link)

Key Points

• The RSS marks 100 years in 2025
• Today, it dominates political narratives but lags in academia
• From 1969-1977, the Left held sway in universities and textbooks