RSS a Symbol of Patriotism and Service: PM Modi

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st Oct: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in the national capital. The event, held on the sacred occasion of Maha Navami, was marked by the release of a special postage stamp and a commemorative ₹100 coin in honour of the Sangh’s 100-year journey.

Extending greetings to citizens on Navratri, the Prime Minister described the founding of the RSS in 1925 as a “virtuous incarnation of India’s eternal national consciousness,” adding that the organization has stood as a pillar of patriotism, service, and unity through changing times.

Stamp and Coin Released
Unveiling the commemorative stamp and coin, Shri Modi said these symbols capture the Sangh’s contribution to nation-building. The coin, he noted, bears the national emblem on one side and Bharat Mata in Varad Mudra saluted by swayamsevaks on the other—possibly the first time in independent India’s history that Bharat Mata has been featured on Indian currency. It also carries the RSS guiding motto: Rashtraya Swaha, Idam Rashtraya, Idam Na Mama.

The postage stamp, meanwhile, recalls the 1963 Republic Day parade when RSS swayamsevaks marched with pride and discipline, marking their role in strengthening national spirit.

RSS as a Force of National Service
Tracing the Sangh’s journey, the Prime Minister said the organization has been synonymous with “Nation First” and “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.” From relief during Partition to service in natural calamities, wars, and refugee crises, he said swayamsevaks have endured hardships to ease the suffering of others.

Shri Modi highlighted how RSS shakhas remain the foundation of individual and collective development, shaping citizens with values of duty, teamwork, and sacrifice. “A shakha is where the journey from ‘me’ to ‘we’ begins,” he said.

Contributions Across Society
The Prime Minister underscored the Sangh’s wide reach across sectors such as education, agriculture, women empowerment, tribal upliftment, and social welfare. He credited the Sangh’s commitment to self-awareness, social harmony, family values, civic discipline, and environmental responsibility as guiding principles for building a developed India by 2047.

Quoting Dr. K.B. Hedgewar, RSS founder, Shri Modi said: “Take people as they are, shape them into what they should be.” He compared Hedgewar’s method to a potter shaping clay into bricks for a larger national structure.

Standing Firm Through Challenges
Acknowledging that the Sangh has faced bans, conspiracies, and attacks, the Prime Minister recalled how swayamsevaks remained steadfast with faith in democracy and constitutional values. He emphasized that this belief gave them strength during the Emergency and continues to guide their work.

Shri Modi also lauded the Sangh’s efforts to combat caste discrimination, recalling Mahatma Gandhi’s praise for its spirit of equality during his visit to a Sangh camp. He affirmed that successive Sarsanghchalaks—from Hedgewar to Mohan Bhagwat—have carried forward the message of unity and social justice.

Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047
Outlining the Sangh’s Panch Parivartan (five transformative resolutions)—self-awareness, social harmony, family enlightenment, civic discipline, and environmental consciousness—Shri Modi said these values are vital to confronting India’s challenges today, from demographic manipulation to environmental degradation.

“India in 2047 will be a glorious nation shaped by philosophy and science, service and social harmony. The Sangh’s mission is intrinsically linked to the dream of serving Bharat Mata,” he declared.

The Prime Minister concluded by calling the Sangh a “symbol of patriotism and service” and congratulated all swayamsevaks on the historic centenary.

Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale were among those present at the event.