RSS Beyond Western Labels: Why 'Right-Wing' Fails to Define India's Civilizational Movement

• The article argues that labeling the RSS as "right-wing" is inaccurate, stemming from Western intellectual frameworks ill-suited to India's civilizational realities.
• The "Left" and "Right" political labels originated from the French Revolution and evolved with Western nation-states, capitalism, and communism.
• RSS leaders like M.S. Golwalkar, Dattopant Thengadi, and Deendayal Upadhyay rejected both capitalism and communism, focusing instead on the concept of Dharma.
• Unlike Western right-wing ideologies, the RSS does not endorse market fundamentalism or racial hierarchy; its philosophy emphasizes social harmony, cultural unity, and moral restraint.
• The RSS's core ideology rejects Western binaries, advocating for a "Dharma"-centric approach that predates Western political constructs.

Why It Matters: Understanding RSS requires an Indian civilizational lens, not restrictive Western "right-wing" labels.