STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the RSS on its centenary celebrations, saying the organisation never displayed any bitterness despite several attacks on it as it continued to work on the principle of nation first.
Participating in the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) here, Modi highlighted the contribution of the Sangh in nation-building and said it reached every corner of the country with the goal of fostering harmony by removing divisions of caste and creed and spreading the message of an inclusive society.
“The Sangh has fought against the atrocities of the British. Their only interest has always been love towards the nation,” Modi said, adding that Sangh volunteers gave shelter to freedom fighters and its founder Doctor Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was also jailed several times during the freedom struggle.
The prime minister said there have been numerous attempts to crush the spirit of the RSS by levelling allegations and registering false cases.
“The RSS has never been bitter, despite attempts to make false cases against them, attempts to ban them, and other challenges,” he said, in an apparent reference to the ban on the RSS after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
Modi said swayamsevaks understood that they were not separate from society, but society is made of them.
“What is good belongs to them, and what is less good also belongs to them,” he said.
Modi said even the then RSS chief Madhav Golwalkar was falsely implicated in a case and sent to jail.
“Yet, when he came out, he said with calm wisdom: ‘At times, the tongue may get caught under the teeth, but we do not break teeth’,” the prime minister said.
He said one of the key reasons the RSS never harboured bitterness is the unwavering faith of every swayamsevak in democracy and constitutional institutions.
The Prime Minister recalled that during the Emergency, this very belief empowered swayamsevaks and gave them the strength to resist.
“These two core values – oneness with society and faith in constitutional institutions – have kept swayamsevaks composed in every crisis and sensitive towards societal needs. Despite facing numerous challenges over time, the Sangh stands firm like a mighty banyan tree, continuously serving the nation and society,” Modi said.
The prime minister also released a special postage stamp and a commemorative coin to mark the centenary of the RSS.
“The Rs 100 coin features the national emblem on one side and on the other side it depicts a majestic image of Bharat Mata in Varada Mudra with a lion, while swayamsevaks are shown bowing before her in devotion and dedication,” Modi said.
“For the first time in the history of independent India, the image of Bharat Mata has been featured on Indian currency, which marks a moment of great pride and historical significance,” he said.
The prime minister said the foundation of RSS on Vijaya Dashmi 100 years ago was not just a coincidence but a resurrection of a tradition that has been continuing for thousands of years.
“The Sangh has been synonymous with patriotism and service since its inception,” he said.
Modi asserted that the RSS believes in ‘One India, Great India’, yet post-Independence attempts were made to prevent it from joining the national mainstream.
“Unity in diversity has always been the soul of India. If this principle is broken then India will weaken. Despite challenges, the RSS stands strong and is tirelessly serving the nation,” he added.
The prime minister said enduring hardship to alleviate the suffering of others is the hallmark of every swayamsevak.
Modi recalled the 1962 war, when RSS swayamsevaks supported the armed forces, boosted their morale and extended aid to villages near the border.
The prime minister said that during the 1971 crisis, when millions of refugees from East Pakistan arrived in India without shelter or resources, RSS swayamsevaks mobilised food, provided shelter, delivered healthcare services, wiped their tears and shared in their pain.
Modi said that the swayamsevaks also gave shelter to many Sikhs during the 1984 riots.
The prime minister said former Presidents A P J Abdul Kalam and Pranab Mukherjee too were greatly impressed by the work ethos of the RSS.
Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to a Sangh camp in Wardha, where he had praised the Sangh’s spirit of equality, compassion and harmony. He said successive RSS chiefs have espoused the message of equality, compassion and untouchability.
The prime minister said that the current Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has set a clear goal before society for social harmony, encapsulated in the vision of “one well, one temple and one cremation ground”.
He said that the Sangh has taken this message to every corner of the country, promoting a society free of discrimination, division, and discord.
“India’s soul has always been rooted in unity in diversity. If this principle is broken, India’s strength will diminish,” Modi said, stressing on the need to reinforce this foundational ethos continuously.
The prime minister termed demographic manipulation as a greater challenge than infiltration as it directly impacted internal security and future peace.
Founded in 1925 in Nagpur by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS was established as a volunteer-based organisation with an aim to foster cultural awareness, discipline, service and social responsibility among citizens.
Modi was himself an RSS ‘pracharak’ and made a mark as an able organiser before being shifted to the BJP, which draws its ideological inspiration from the Hindutva organisation.
The centenary celebrations were organised by the Ministry of Culture and attended by RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.