Economist Podcasts The club rules? India’s RSS
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Dec 23, 2024 
Avantika Chilkoti, a global business correspondent for The Economist, shares her insights after attending the annual gathering of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur. She delves into the dual nature of the RSS as both a community for young men and a force behind rising Hindu nationalism in India. The complex ties between RSS and Prime Minister Modi reveal the organization's influence on policy. The episode also discusses a shift towards scientific innovation in the Gulf and introduces the intriguing word 'cacostocracy' as the word of the year.
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RSS Annual Celebration
- Avantika Chilkoti attended the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) annual celebration in Nagpur, India.
- She observed thousands of men in khaki, carrying sticks, marching and chanting.
RSS: A Powerful but Secretive Group
- The RSS, with 5 million members, is the parent organization of India's ruling party, BJP.
- It's both public, with daily meetings, and secretive about finances and organization.
Attendees and Speeches
- Attendees included everyday men, but also VIPs like billionaire Sajjan Jindal and a former space agency head.
- Speeches focused on patriotism, India's ancient civilization, and preserving Hindu culture.