#Review: Many Shades of Saffron by Chandrachur Ghose

Many Shades of Saffron turned out to be far more layered than I expected when I first picked it up. The blurb promises a “fuller story” of the RSS across a hundred years, and to the author’s credit, the book genuinely attempts to step outside the usual echo chambers. What struck me most was the steady, almost patient way Chandrachur Ghose pieces together leadership styles, ideological shifts, and the organisation’s changing relationship with India’s politics. It doesn’t rush to conclusions; instead, it lays out patterns and contradictions for the reader to notice.

Of course, the sheer breadth of the subject means some sections feel denser than others, and a few chapters lean more towards narration than analysis. At times, I found myself wishing the book lingered a little longer on the social impact versus the organisational timeline.

Still, as a whole, it’s an engaging and surprisingly nuanced read. It neither romanticises nor vilifies; it simply tries to make sense of a century of influence. And honestly, that balanced curiosity is what made me keep turning the pages.

Find this book here.