Origins and Historical Context: Roots in National Crisis
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in India and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in China are two vastly influential organizations that have shaped the political landscapes of their respective nations. While they operate in different cultural, ideological, and political contexts, there are intriguing parallels and stark contrasts in how they have pursued and achieved power. The RSS was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in response to perceived threats to Hindu identity during British colonial rule and amid Hindu-Muslim tensions. It began as a grassroots movement focused on cultural revival and character-building, aiming to unite Hindus and foster a sense of national pride rooted in Hindutva (“Hindu-ness”). Though not initially a political entity, its influence grew over decades, particularly through its ideological offspring, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which now governs India. The CCP, established in 1921 under the influence of Marxist-Leninist ideology and Soviet support, emerged from a different crucible: the collapse of imperial China and the desire to overthrow feudalism and foreign domination. After a protracted civil war and resistance against Japanese invasion, it seized power in 1949 under Mao Zedong, establishing the People’s Republic of China as a one-party state. Parallel: Both arose in the early 20th century during periods of national crisis—colonial subjugation in India and warlordism/imperial decline in China—seeking to restore national strength through collective organization. Contrast: The RSS rooted itself in cultural nationalism, while the CCP embraced a revolutionary class struggle aimed at dismantling traditional structures.
Organizational Structure: Discipline and Hierarchy
Both the RSS and CCP rely on disciplined, hierarchical frameworks. The RSS operates through a network of “shakhas” (local branches), where volunteers (swayamsevaks) engage in physical drills, ideological training, and community service. It is led by a Sarsanghchalak (chief), currently Mohan Bhagwat, and maintains a decentralized yet tightly knit structure. The RSS claims no formal membership rolls, emphasizing voluntary participation, but its influence extends via the Sangh Parivar, a family of affiliated organizations including the BJP. The CCP, by contrast, is a formal political party with over 99 million members as of 2024, governed by a rigid hierarchy culminating in the Politburo Standing Committee and the General Secretary (currently Xi Jinping). Its structure is underpinned by “democratic centralism,” where internal debate is permitted but ultimate obedience to the party line is mandatory. The CCP controls the state, military, and society through extensive bureaucratic and grassroots networks. Parallel: Both emphasize disciplined cadres—swayamsevaks for RSS, party members for CCP—and use hierarchical command to mobilize large populations effectively. Contrast: The RSS is a non-governmental volunteer organization with indirect political influence, while the CCP is the state itself, wielding direct and absolute power.
Ideology and Goals: Nationalism as a Driving Force
The RSS promotes Hindutva, envisioning India as a Hindu Rashtra (nation) where Hindu culture and values predominate. It seeks social cohesion through cultural unity, often criticized for exclusionary tendencies toward minorities. Its long-term goal is a strong, unified India based on indigenous traditions, achieved through gradual societal transformation rather than violent revolution. The CCP’s ideology is Marxism-Leninism adapted to “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” emphasizing state control of the economy (though moderated since Deng Xiaoping’s reforms) and a unified national identity under Han Chinese dominance. Its goal is to make China a global superpower, historically through revolution and now through economic and military might. Parallel: Both prioritize nationalism—Hindu for RSS, Chinese for CCP—and aim to “strengthen” their respective communities against perceived external or internal threats. Contrast: The RSS’s cultural nationalism avoids state ownership, while the CCP’s statist ideology rejects religious or cultural primacy in favor of secular, party-driven unity.
Paths to Power: Mobilization and Control
The RSS’s path to power has been indirect but profound. Banned multiple times (e.g., after Gandhi’s assassination in 1948), it avoided formal politics, focusing instead on grassroots mobilization and ideological propagation. Its influence crystallized through the BJP, founded in 1980, which rose to national prominence under leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi (a former RSS pracharak). By 2014 and 2019, the BJP’s electoral victories—backed by RSS organizational muscle—made it the world’s largest political party, surpassing even the CCP in membership (over 180 million claimed in 2022). The CCP’s ascent was direct and revolutionary. After years of guerrilla warfare, it defeated the Kuomintang in 1949, establishing a monopoly on power. It consolidated control through land reforms, purges, and mass campaigns like the Cultural Revolution, later pivoting to economic liberalization under Deng Xiaoping. Today, it maintains power through strict censorship, surveillance, and suppression of dissent, bolstered by economic growth. Parallel: Both leveraged mass mobilization—shakhas for RSS, peasant armies and party cells for CCP—to build influence over decades, eventually dominating their political spheres. Contrast: The RSS gained power through democratic elections via the BJP, while the CCP seized and retains it through authoritarian means, rejecting electoral challenges.
Influence and Criticism: Power and Controversy
The RSS wields immense soft power in India, shaping education, social programs, and policy through the BJP and Sangh Parivar. Critics accuse it of fostering intolerance and undermining India’s secular fabric, pointing to communal violence linked to its affiliates. Yet, its supporters hail its role in empowering marginalized Hindus and resisting Western cultural hegemony. The CCP’s hard power is unrivaled in China, controlling all levers of government and society. It faces global criticism for human rights abuses, suppression of minorities (e.g., Uyghurs), and expansionist policies, though it touts lifting millions out of poverty and restoring China’s global standing. Parallel: Both face accusations of intolerance—RSS toward religious minorities, CCP toward political and ethnic diversity—while claiming to unify and uplift their nations. Contrast: The RSS operates within a democracy, subject to legal and electoral constraints, whereas the CCP’s unchecked authority allows it to suppress opposition outright.
Conclusion: Parallel Ambitions, Divergent Realities
Are the RSS and CCP on parallel paths to power? To an extent, yes: both harnessed disciplined organization, nationalist fervor, and mass participation to transform their societies and achieve dominance. However, their methods and endpoints diverge sharply—cultural influence within a democracy for the RSS, totalitarian control for the CCP. The RSS shapes India’s polity indirectly through the BJP, thriving in a pluralistic system, while the CCP is China’s polity, ruling as a monolith. Their paths reflect not just parallel ambitions but the profound differences between India’s democratic chaos and China’s authoritarian order.
By BHARAT GLOBAL TIME
