Israeli researcher Yeshaya Rosenman on Sunday, 18 October described his experience with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as 'positive', praising the century-old organisation for its emphasis on hard work, dedication, and social service. Rosenman, featured among 18 young achievers in the centenary book 'Hundred Years Young: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh', said the RSS judges progress by merit and effort — not by caste or economic background.

A Researcher's First-Hand Account

Rosenman spoke candidly about his personal engagement with RSS members, offering a perspective rarely heard from outside India. 'The people there are friendly and welcome you with an open heart. I have friends in the organisation whom I continue to meet. What impresses me the most is the dedication of its members towards their purpose,' he said.

According to him, RSS volunteers work not for material gain or personal recognition but with what he described as sincere commitment to their cause — a quality he found striking compared to his prior expectations.

PM Modi as a Symbol of Meritocracy

Rosenman pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a concrete example of the RSS ethos of merit-based advancement. 'In the RSS, a person's progress should be based on hard work and merit. Prime Minister Modi is an example of this. He has advanced through his work style and achievements,' he said.

He further noted that Modi's global recognition speaks for itself. 'Generally, people in the West know very little about India; they only know the Taj Mahal, Mahatma Gandhi and Narendra Modi. So they recognise that he is an international brand, and that itself says a lot. Along with this comes respect. With the Prime Minister's global identity, India's prestige has also risen,' Rosenman said.

He added that understanding Modi's domestic support requires looking beyond ideology to measurable governance outcomes — clean drinking water, sanitation, cooking gas, bank accounts, and infrastructure development. 'The changes in these areas affect the lives of ordinary people. For many Indians, development and better administration matter more than ideology,' he observed.

Social Work and Cultural Preservation

Beyond politics, Rosenman highlighted the RSS's extensive social service activities, arguing that the organisation's footprint extends well beyond ideological work. 'The organisation plays a role in preserving and promoting Indian cultural identity,' he said, describing this as a dimension often overlooked in international coverage.

He stressed that Western perceptions of the RSS are frequently shaped by second-hand information rather than direct engagement, and urged observers to interact with members personally and study the organisation's history within its broader social context.

A Call for Cross-Civilisational Dialogue

Rosenman appealed to Western audiences to approach India's civilisational heritage — its mathematics, literature, philosophy, and history — without prejudice. He argued that Indian and Western civilisations share common values, and that structured dialogue between the two can deepen mutual cultural understanding.

His remarks come as the RSS marks its centenary year, a milestone that has prompted renewed international interest in the organisation's reach, ideology, and global diaspora networks. How Western academic and policy circles respond to outreach efforts like Rosenman's book feature will likely shape the next phase of the RSS's international perception-management.