The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has reached its centenary. Its leaders call it a cultural force. Its members see it as the soul of the nation. But a century of its work shows something else. It has been a movement that has stalled India's progress, divided society, and narrowed the idea of the nation.

Founded in 1925, the RSS stayed aloof from the freedom struggle. While millions risked their lives against the British, the Sangh built a closed brotherhood. Its founder spoke of discipline, but not of liberation. Its cadres were never at the forefront of protests. That choice marked the organisation's true instinct: avoiding sacrifice, focusing instead on control.
The assassination of Mahatma Gandhi remains its darkest mark. The government of India banned the RSS at that time, and although the ban was lifted, the stain remains. An ideology that could breed such violence has continued to shape its politics.

The RSS claims it works for unity. Its record is of division. It has spread fear of minorities, labelled interfaith marriages as love jihad, and justified violence in the name of protecting Hindu identity. Christians and Muslims face harassment over worship, charity, or even companionship. Vigilante groups act with impunity. The state looks the other way, or worse, gives cover.

The RSS has also been largely successful in suppressing development. Its influence in education has damaged scientific inquiry and innovation. Textbooks are rewritten to glorify myths while erasing uncomfortable truths. Ministers speak of the internet in the Mahabharata. Critical thinking is discouraged. This is not a revival of heritage; it is a surrender to fantasy. A country with world-class scientists is being dragged into medieval thinking by those in power.

The damage extends to governance. The RSS thrives on centralisation and conformity. It prefers loyalty over competence. It celebrates symbolism while ignoring urgent needs. Jobs are scarce, inequality is deepening, farmers are struggling, and public services are collapsing. Yet national energy is spent on temple inaugurations, renaming cities, and fighting imagined cultural battles.

Instead of being known as a diverse democracy, India is seen as a Hindu-majoritarian state. Reports on press freedom, human rights, and academic liberty paint a grim picture, but the Indian diplomats shout that all is well and dandy. The promise of India's demographic dividend is wasted when universities are stifled and research is suffocated.

At its centenary, the RSS has power without accountability. It has reach without responsibility. It has influence without vision. Its legacy is not nation-building but nation-shrinking. A century of the RSS shows how far a society can drift.

India deserves better. A country of more than 1.45 billion people cannot afford to let its future be dictated by fear, false pride, and historical distortions. At 100, the RSS is not the guardian of the nation. It is its greatest obstacle.