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{{Short description|Magazine}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox magazine
|title = Organiser
| logo =
| logo_size =
|image_file = Organiser magazine cover.jpg
|image_size = Magazine cover from a 2016 issue.
|image_caption =
|Managing Editor = Bharat Bhushan Arora
|current editor = Prafulla Ketkar
|previous_editor = A.R. Nair<br />[[K.R. Malkani]]<br />[[L.K. Advani]]<br />[[V.P. Bhatia]]<br />[[Seshadri Chari]]
|staff_writer =
|frequency = Weekly
|circulation = 500,000+ <ref name="Organiser">{{cite news | url=http://organiser.org/static/archive.aspx | title=Organiser | access-date=August 5, 2017}}</ref>
|category = News, Politics, Science, Sport, History
|company =
|publisher = Bharat Prakashan Delhi Limited
|firstdate = {{start date and age|1947}}
|country = [[India]]
|based= 2322, Sanskriti Bhavan, Laxmi Narain Street, Paharganj, New Delhi
|language = English
|website = {{URL|http://organiser.org}}
|issn =
}}

'''''Organiser''''' is an affiliated publication of the right wing, [[Hindutva]] organisation [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS), launched as a newspaper in 1947 in the weeks before the [[Partition of India]].{{sfn|Andersen & Damle, Brotherhood in Saffron|1987|pp=114-115}} Despite its professed claims of independence,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nistula|first1=Hebbar|title=Is Organiser anything more than a mouthpiece of RSS?|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-05-18/news/62323097_1_manmohan-vaidya-rss-bharat-prakashan|access-date=27 January 2016|date=May 18, 2015}}</ref> it is regarded by scholars as an official organ of the RSS.{{sfn|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011|p=32}} The newspaper has been edited by A. R. Nair, [[K. R. Malkani]], [[L. K. Advani]], V. P. Bhatia, Seshadri Chari and R. Balashanker.<ref name="Organiser - ABOUT US">{{cite news | url=http://organiser.org/static/about.aspx?NB=&lang=4&m1=&m2=&p1=&p2=&p3=&p4= | title=Organiser - ABOUT US | work=Organiser | access-date=March 11, 2012}}</ref> The current editor is Prafulla Ketkar. ''Organiser'' was relaunched in a magazine format since the edition of 1 April 2014.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}

== History ==
After the [[second world war]], the leadership of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) contemplated how to communicate its views quickly to the growing membership of the organisation. Its theoretical underpinnings established by the founder [[K. B. Hedgewar]] discouraged publicity and mass communication. He preferred informal communication of verbal messages carried by [[RSS pracharak]]s (full-time workers). However, in the run-up to Indian independence, the "activist pracharaks"–those that favoured more wide-ranging activities for the RSS than societal organisation—argued that the RSS needed to publicise its position on the [[partition of India|Partition]], on the goals of [[Indian independence movement|independent India]] and on how Hindus should respond to [[communalism (South Asia)|communal tension]]. After discussion, the RSS leaders consented to the establishment of trusts that could publish newspapers and journals sympathetic to the RSS. Consequently, in late 1946, the [[swayamsevak]]s (volunteer members) in the [[Punjab]] and [[Delhi]] region sold shares for the [[Bharat Prakashan]] Trust and raised Rs. 400,000.{{sfn|Andersen & Damle, Brotherhood in Saffron|1987|pp=114-115}}

The Bharat Prakashan Trust started publishing the ''Organiser'' as a weekly starting on 3 July 1947, roughly a month after the British announcement to grant independence and partition the country. The initial issues of Organiser focused on the impending partition of India and called for resistance to such proposals.{{sfn|Andersen & Damle, Brotherhood in Saffron|1987|p=115}}

The 1948 ban of the RSS following the [[assassination of Mahatma Gandhi]] and the press attacks on the RSS strengthened the `activist' members calling for a network of newspapers. In subsequent years, further newspapers were started in vernacular languages, including [[Panchjanya (newspaper)|''Panchjanya'']] and ''Rashtra Shakti'', and a news wire service [[Hindusthan Samachar]].{{sfn|Andersen & Damle, Brotherhood in Saffron|1987|p=115-116}}

`Activist' members of the RSS worked for the Organiser and other newspapers of the RSS. They were also the most regular contributors to the Organiser, writing on a wide range of social and policy issues where the RSS had a point of view.
* In 1949, it argued for [[Jana Sangh|political participation]] by the RSS.<ref>{{harvtxt|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011|p=194}}: [[K. R. Malkani]] wrote: "Sangh must take part in politics not only to protect itself against the greedy designs of ppoliticians but to stop the un-Bharatiya and anti-Bharatiya policies of the Government and to advance and expedite the cause of Bharatiya through state machinery side by side with official effort in the same direction." (Organiser, 1 December 1949:7-14</ref>
* In 1952, ''Organiser'' opposed [[Federalism in India|Federalism]] and separate provincial governments. It also opposed the [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956|linguistic reorganisation of the states]].<ref>{{harvtxt|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011|p=32}}: "In our ideal, we would wish to abolish the provinces and wish to establish a unique and a unified administration in our country." (Organiser, 29 December 1952: 3).</ref>
* It opposed the [[Hindu Code Bill]].{{sfn|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011|p=230}}
* It announced the formation of the [[Sangh Parivar]] organisations such as the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] and the [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]], and explained their rationale.{{sfn|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011|pp=167, 193, 210, 229, 257}} It also printed regular news reports regarding their activities.
* In 1954, it supported the RSS faction in the [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] and denounced the president [[Mauli Chandra Sharma]].<ref>{{harvtxt|Andersen & Damle, Brotherhood in Saffron|1987|p=163}}: "''Organiser'' informed its readers that Sharma "suffered from a fatal flaw of an insufferable self-aggrandisment—even at the cost of the party. In this he had no scruples as to the means he employed. Soon it became clear that he was hardly the man to lead a great and growing organisation." (Organiser, 8 November 1954).</ref>
* In 1980, it denounced the [[Janata Party]] leadership over the dual membership issue and warned it that it would lose support both inside and outside the party.{{sfn|Andersen & Damle, Brotherhood in Saffron|1987|p=225}}
* In 1983, it took the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] to task for its alleged failure to attract "mass support," while it was able to attract non-Hindus.{{sfn|Andersen & Damle, Brotherhood in Saffron|1987|pp=232-233}}
* In 1990, it denounced the [[Mandal Commission]] recommendation of reservations.<ref>{{harvtxt|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011|p=507}}: "The havoc the politics of reservation is playing with the social fabric is unimaginable. It proves a premium for mediocrity, encourages brain drain and sharpens caste-divide." (quoted from Organiser, 26 August 1990:15). "There is today an urgent need to build up moral and spiritual forces to counter any fall-out from an unexpected Shudra revolution." (quoted from Organiser, 1 May 1994:20).</ref>
* In 1998, it contemplated the form of the national government, whether it should be parliamentary, presidential, or some other form.<ref>{{harvtxt|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011|p=218}}: [[L. K. Advani]], while acting as the home minister, wrote about the possibilities, "whether the politicalsystemneeded to be decentralized, whether to continue with the parliamentary system, and whether the electoral system needed to be reformed." (Organiser, 29 March 1998: 29).</ref>
* It denounced [[multinational corporation|multinationals]], the World Bank loans and the [[Economic liberalisation in India|economic liberalisation]].{{sfn|Hansen, Saffron Wave|1999|p=171}}
* It campaigned against the [[NCERT textbook controversy|NCERT textbooks]] that went against Hindu nationalist views.
* In 1997, it covered the [[Ghar Wapsi|reconversion]] of tribal Christians.{{sfn|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011|p=164}}
* It consistently paints the [[Dalit]] leader [[B. R. Ambedkar]] as a Hindu nationalist, an anti-Muslim and an opponent of the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] party.<ref>Maclean, Kama Kellie. "Embracing the untouchables: the BJP and scheduled caste votes." Asian Studies Review 23.4 (1999): 488-509.</ref>
* It expresses outrage about the perceived injustices to Hindus.<ref>{{harvtxt|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011|p=310}}: A rader writes: "Tolerance is a great quality but not at the cost of wiping out the great religion... there are several [...] cases where minority card is being played. But when it comes to a Hindu thought, psyche, religion or anything associated with Hindu, there is a lot of demeaning, defamation, hurting the religious sentiments, etc." (Organiser, 2007:80) Another reader: "The Hindu in India is faced with a unique situation. While he is theoreitcally part of a majority, he is so fractured into various ideological groups that he is virtually powerless to influence the politics of the country." (Organiser, 2007:80).</ref>

== Current status ==
In February 2013, media reports indicated that the RSS had dismissed the editors of the ''Organiser'' as well as ''Panchjanya'' for having taken a pro-Narendra Modi stand ahead of the RSS's endorsement of him as the Prime Ministerial candidate, and while they extended no support for the BJP President [[Nitin Gadkari]].<ref>
{{cite news |title=New editor for RSS Hindi weekly |newspaper=Indian Express |date=15 Feb 2013 |access-date=2014-09-12 |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/new-editor-for-rss-hindi-weekly/1074463/}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news |title=Editors of two RSS weeklies lose jobs over pro-Modi stand |newspaper=Times of India |date=6 April 2013 |access-date=2014-09-12 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Editors-of-two-RSS-weeklies-lose-jobs-over-pro-Modi-stand/articleshow/19409786.cms}}
</ref>
Vijay Kumar, the Managing Director of Bharat Prakashan took temporary charge as the editor of ''Organiser''. In July, Prafull Ketkar, a political scientist from the BRD Arts and Commerce College for Women in [[Nashik]], was appointed as the editor.<ref>
[http://organiser.org/Encyc/2013/7/27/542953.aspx?fb_comment_id=211184652397785_508109#f21cc89f6 Prafulla Ketkar is new editor of Organiser], Organiser, 27 July 2013.
</ref>

Multiple controversial articles have since appeared in the magazine, most notorious of which being an article calling [[Kerala]] a "Godless country."<ref>
[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/row-after-rss-journal-calls-kerala-a-godless-country/99/print/ Row after article in RSS journal calls Kerala a ‘godless country’], Indian Express, 13 November 2015.
</ref><ref>
[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/rss-mouthpiece-analyses-what-is-wrong-with-kerala-sets-off-social-media-storm/article7872893.ece?css=print RSS mouthpiece article on `live-in relationships' in Kerala sets off social media storm], The Hindu, 13 November 2015.
</ref>
The article invited widespread condemnation including a censure by the [[Press Council of India]].<ref>
[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/press-council-notice-to-organiser-for-mocking-kerala-on-beef-issue/article8018878.ece Press Council notice to Organiser for ‘mocking’ Kerala on beef issue], The Hindu, 23 December 2015.
</ref>
The publication of an interview of the RSS chief [[Mohan Bhagwat]] in the run-up to the [[2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|Bihar polls]] is said to have embarrassed the BJP government and contributed to the defeat of the party in the polls.
In January 2016, the RSS has appointed Jagadish Upasane, a former journalist with ''[[India Today]]'' and a director in the Bharat Prakashan Trust, as a "group editor" with full control over the editorial content of both ''Organiser'' and ''Panchjanya''.<ref>
[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/rss-appoints-senior-journalist-jagadish-upasane-as-group-editor/99/print/ RSS appoints senior journalist Jagadish Upasane as group editor], Indian Express, 13 January 2016.
</ref>

==See also==
* [[Panchjanya (newspaper)|''Panchjanya'' (newspaper)]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
; Sources
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |first1=Walter K. |last1=Andersen |author-link=Walter K. Andersen |first2=Shridhar D. |last2=Damle |title=The Brotherhood in Saffron: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Hindu Revivalism |url=https://archive.org/details/brotherhoodinsaf0000ande |url-access=registration |orig-year=Originally published by Westview Press |publisher=Vistaar Publications|location=Delhi |year=1987 |ref={{sfnref|Andersen & Damle, Brotherhood in Saffron|1987}}}}
* {{citation |last=Hansen |first1=Thomas Blom |author-link=Thomas Blom Hansen |title=The Saffron Wave: Democracy and Hindu Nationalism in Modern India |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=1999 |isbn=9781400823055 |ref={{sfnref|Hansen, Saffron Wave|1999}}}}
* {{cite book|last=Jaffrelot|first=Christophe|author-link=Christophe Jaffrelot |title=Religion, Caste, and Politics in India|year=2011|publisher=C Hurst & Co|isbn=978-1849041386|ref={{sfnref|Jaffrelot, Religion, Caste and Politics|2011}}}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.organiser.org/ ''Organiser'']

[[Category:1947 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Hindutva]]
[[Category:English-language magazines published in India]]
[[Category:English-language newspapers published in India]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 2014]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Delhi]]
[[Category:News magazines published in India]]
[[Category:Publications established in 1947]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]]
[[Category:Sangh Parivar]]
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in India]]
[[Category:World magazines]]

Organiser (magazine) - Revision history

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