Reservations And RSS: A Historical Perspective

On 28 April 2024, Mohan Bhagwat, all-India head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) stated categorically that his organisation, right from the beginning, has never opposed reservations.

The anti-RSS camp meanwhile has been quick to dig out statements of various RSS leaders that were allegedly critical of reservation.

One of the earliest proponents of reservations was Shahu Maharaj (1874-1922) a descendant of legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji and a Raja under British Government. It was a reservation for non-Brahmins in many of the posts that came under his administration. He also recognised non-Brahmin Jagat Guru or Kshatra Jagat Guru, Sadashiv Patil-Benadikar.

He and Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS shared the dais and he was highly appreciative of Dr Hedgewar’s work. Reservation as representative justice for the entire Hindu society had been not at all a problem for the RSS founder.

In a larger context of the Hindutva of the time, it was 'Hindutvaite' barrister M R Jayakar who became one of the earliest voices asking for reservations for scheduled communities in police forces.

Dr Narayan Savarkar stood in the court to testify in favour of Dr Ambedkar in his Mahad Satyagraha. So the Hindutva ranks were in favour of social emancipation during the times of Dr Hedgewar.

The second all-India leader of the RSS, Madhav Sadasiva Golwalkar or ‘Guruji’ as he was called by the RSS cadre, was more inclined towards orthodoxy initially. However, he was initiated into the spiritual path by Swami Akandananda of Sri Ramakrishna Math who was known for his humanitarian service organisations.

Due to these constant interactions with society, Golwalkar transformed from his somewhat pro-orthodox position to a very clear pro-social justice position. Based on the thought of Dr Ambedkar as conveyed to Thengadi, Golwalkar worked on bringing together all Acharyas to declare untouchability as being against the shastras, in 1969.

However, during the times of both Dr Hedgewar and ‘Guruji’ Golwalkar, reservations were not such a burning issue.

So, what was the RSS approach? Padma Sri Ramesh Patange, author and now a senior RSS office bearer was then a young cadre. He witnessed what happened in the meeting of the All India Delegates of the RSS that took place in March 1981.

Patange writes:

Patange credits two RSS leaders, Sukhadev Navale and Bhiku Idate for categorically making the RSS stand clear on the issue of reservations.

While there may be individual voices in the RSS organisation who may not be comfortable with the present scheme of reservation, the RSS as an organisation has a clear vision.

Patange explains:

However there is a difference between how the Congress as well as the so-called progressives view reservation, and how the RSS views reservations.