RSS: The Trojan Horse (in Tamil)
K. Veeramani
Price: Rs.120/- pp.176
Periyar Book House
84(1) / 50, E.V.K. Sampath Road,
Vepery, Chennai-600 007.
In RSS: The Trojan Horse (ஆர்.எஸ்.எஸ். என்னும் டிரோஜன் குதிரைை), is a carefully documented examination of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), arguing that its influence on contemporary India extends far beyond its public identity as a cultural organisation. Rather than viewing the RSS merely through the prism of electoral politics, Asiriyar K. Veeramani, the author invites readers to consider its long-term ideological project and the ways in which, according to him, it has gradually influenced institutions, public discourse and national life over the course of nearly a century.
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The title itself is deeply symbolic. Drawing upon the legend of the Trojan Horse, the author suggests that the RSS presents an outward image of patriotism, cultural service and national unity while simultaneously advancing a broader ideological agenda. In his view, this agenda seeks not merely political power but a gradual transformation of India’s constitutional and social order through the spread of Hindutva as the defining principle of national identity.
Central to the book is the concept of the “deep nation.” The author’s analysis distinguishes this from the commonly used expression “deep state.” Whereas the latter refers to hidden centres of power within the machinery of government, the “deep nation,” as he employs the term, describes an extensive ideological network that reaches into society itself. Through educational institutions, cultural organisations, social movements and public narratives, this network, he argues, cultivates a worldview that ultimately influences governance without relying solely upon electoral success. The author contends that the RSS has patiently built such a network over decades, making its influence enduring and pervasive. The narrative traces the evolution of the RSS from its founding in 1925, following its organisational expansion through numerous affiliated bodies operating in education, labour, student movements, tribal welfare, religious activities and political mobilisation. According to the author, these diverse organisations function together as parts of a larger ideological ecosystem, each reinforcing the other’s objectives while extending the reach of the parent organisation into different segments of society.
It is argued further that electoral victories represent only the visible dimension of this larger enterprise. Governments may change through elections, but ideological influence over institutions, public consciousness and cultural life, the author suggests, has a far more lasting impact. It is this deeper transformation, rather than the outcome of individual elections, that the author considers the defining feature of the RSS’s long-term strategy.
The book also explores the relationship between the RSS and contemporary governance, maintaining that many political and administrative developments cannot be fully understood without recognising the ideological framework from which they emerge. In the author’s assessment, public policy, educational reforms and institutional changes increasingly reflect a vision shaped by Hindutva rather than by the pluralistic ideals embodied in India’s Constitution.
Throughout the work, the author places considerable emphasis on the constitutional values of democracy, secularism, equality and social justice. He argues that these principles constitute the moral and legal foundation of the Indian Republic and contrasts them with what he characterises as the ideological objectives of the RSS. According to his analysis, the tension between these two visions represents one of the central political and intellectual struggles of modern India.
The author repeatedly stresses that his arguments rest upon historical records, official documents, speeches and published sources rather than rhetorical assertion. He urges readers to approach the subject critically, to examine the evidence independently and to understand the historical evolution of the organisation instead of relying upon popular perceptions or partisan narratives.
Ultimately, RSS: The Trojan Horse is presented as more than a political critique. It is offered as a study of ideology, institutional influence and the contest over the future character of the Indian nation. By encouraging readers to look beyond immediate political events and examine the long historical trajectory of organised ideological movements, the author, Asiriyar K.Veeramani seeks to stimulate informed public engagement with questions concerning democracy, secularism, constitutional governance and social justice. Whether one agrees with its conclusions or not, the book is intended to provoke careful reflection on the forces that, in the author’s view, continue to shape the destiny of contemporary India.
– V. Kumaresan
