During the colonial period, the RSS collaborated with the British Raj and played no role in the Indian independence movement. After independence, it grew into an influential Hindu nationalist umbrella organisation, spawning several affiliated organisations that established numerous schools, charities, and clubs to spread its ideological beliefs. It was banned in 1947 for 4 days, and then thrice by the post-independence Indian government, first in 1948 when Nathuram Godse,Krant M. L. Verma Swadhinta Sangram Ke Krantikari Sahitya Ka Itihas (Part-3) p.766 an erstwhile member of RSS,—— assassinated Mahatma Gandhi;
