At age 8, he became part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, known as the R.S.S., a right-wing Hindu group that would play a huge role in his life. The R.S.S. is widely seen as a service organization. But its members are the foot soldiers of the Hindu nationalist movement, and some of its critics have accused it of being fascist - in the 1930s the group's members were inspired by Mussolini's Italy.
Eneminyaka eyi-8, uba yingxenye yeRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, eyaziwa ngokuthi i-R.S.S., iqembu lontamolukhulu lamaHindu elingadlala indima ebaluleke kakhulu empilweni yakhe. I-R.S.S. ibonakala kakhulu iyinhlangano ehlinzeka ngomsebenzi. Kodwa amalungu ayilabo abahamba ngezinyawo enhlanganweni yobezombusazwe bamaHindu, futhi abanye abangahambisani nayo bayisole ngokuba wontamolukhuni - ngeminyaka yo-1930 amalungu eqembu ayekhuthazwa i-Italy yeMussolini.