Hindutva's fringe beneficiaries

For almost a decade, the Jana Sangh remained a marginal political force

Shadow Armies: Fringe Organizations and Foot Soldiers of Hindutva 

Author: Dhirendra K Jha

Publisher: Juggernaut

Pages: 240

Price: Rs 499

For several decades after its inception, the Sangh Parivar did not interest mainstream scholars, analysts and journalists. This was due to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Hindu Mahasabha displaying scant interest in the Indian national movement and instead staying focussed on reinforcing Hindu society. In the aftermath of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, these two organisations were kept at a distance as political pariahs. 

For almost a decade and half after India became a republic, the Jana Sangh remained a marginal political force.