The  relationship between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh a cultural organisation and the political parties—Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party is unique in the history of Indian polity.
Because of the shared ideology and cadre, the inner working and the interpersonal relationships have been a matter of surmise and conjecture. It has become more so now when the BJP has got an absolute majority to become the ruling party at the centre. With  an  unbroken relationship stretching from 1951 onwards, it is the informal  weave  of brotherhood that has made it a successful operation.
This book depicts the history, foundation and development of this relationship and how this symbiosis has played out over the years.

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Contents

Acknowledgement — 7

Preface — 9

1. Introduction — 13

2. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh — 33

3. Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Bharatiya Janata Party — 84

4. Meeting of Minds — 144

5. Issues of Conflict — 174

6. Hindutva, Secularism and Cultural Nationalism — 193

7. Analysis of Research — 207

8. Present Situation — 233

Annexure 1: Personal Interviews — 247

Annexure 2: Acronyms — 248

Endnotes — 249

Bibliography — 258

With a consistently brilliant academic career, Suchitra Kulkarni holds a Ph.D. in Political Science. She has an MA and M.Phil. from the Nagpur University, Nagpur.
Her professional career has spanned diverse areas. She has been a freelance writer for major national newspapers and magazines. She has experience in political and social research and analysis as well as market research and industry studies. She has worked in non-profits and public affairs and is at present Programme Director at the Ananta Centre, New Delhi.
An avid reader, she loves crosswords, travelling and sports and has a keen ear for Indian and western classical music. Suchitra lives in New Delhi.