Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
Encyclopedia
The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (Devanagari
:हिन्दू स्वयंसेवक संघ; Organisation of Hindu Volunteers) is an organization that engages in community activities, social services and religious work amongst the adherents of any religion across the world.
The aim of the HSS is to bring the scattered and divided Hindu communities together, in veneration of Indian culture
, and Hindu religious values and principles. They also aim to advocate against "defamation and mistreatment of the Hindu people,". The group is influenced by RSS ideologues, but the HSS has no overt political goal, and thus does not share the RSS's Hindu political ideology.
The HSS is the largest in North America
and the United Kingdom
, and is also spread out in the Europe
, Caribbean
, East
and Southern Africa
and South East Asia
. There are approximately 75 shakhas (or branches) across the UK and 100 in the United States
. Unlike shakhas in India, where they are held daily, shakhas in the UK and the US are held weekly.
Although it has been alleged that the HSS has some ideological similarities to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS), the HSS and the RSS have an independent legal, administrative and financial structure, as the RSS restricts its activities to India. Leaders from many organizations including the RSS are often invited by the HSS for promotional and speaking tours, and the HSS borrows from the RSS methodology, including Shakha (Branch) concept.
Devanagari
Devanagari |deva]]" and "nāgarī" ), also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
:हिन्दू स्वयंसेवक संघ; Organisation of Hindu Volunteers) is an organization that engages in community activities, social services and religious work amongst the adherents of any religion across the world.
The aim of the HSS is to bring the scattered and divided Hindu communities together, in veneration of Indian culture
Culture of India
India's languages, religions, dance, music, architecture, food and customs differ from place to place within the country, but nevertheless possess a commonality....
, and Hindu religious values and principles. They also aim to advocate against "defamation and mistreatment of the Hindu people,". The group is influenced by RSS ideologues, but the HSS has no overt political goal, and thus does not share the RSS's Hindu political ideology.
The HSS is the largest in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and is also spread out in the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, East
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
and Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
and South East Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. There are approximately 75 shakhas (or branches) across the UK and 100 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Unlike shakhas in India, where they are held daily, shakhas in the UK and the US are held weekly.
Although it has been alleged that the HSS has some ideological similarities to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
(RSS), the HSS and the RSS have an independent legal, administrative and financial structure, as the RSS restricts its activities to India. Leaders from many organizations including the RSS are often invited by the HSS for promotional and speaking tours, and the HSS borrows from the RSS methodology, including Shakha (Branch) concept.
External links
- Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA - www.hssus.org
- Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK - www.hssuk.org