New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, describing the organisation as a “virtuous incarnation of India’s eternal national consciousness.” He released a specially designed postage stamp and a ₹100 commemorative coin marking 100 years of the RSS.
Paying tribute to RSS founder Dr. K.B. Hedgewar, Modi said the Sangh had always anchored its work on the principle of “Nation First,” guiding swayamsevaks towards discipline, service, and sacrifice. “An RSS shakha is where the journey from ‘me’ to ‘we’ begins,” he noted, calling shakhas “grounds of inspiration” that nurture collective spirit.
The Prime Minister recalled the participation of RSS volunteers in the 1963 Republic Day parade and said the commemorative stamp was a tribute to their proud service. He likened the Sangh to a river that has branched into multiple streams through its affiliated organisations, serving diverse fields from education to social welfare, while remaining united in purpose.
Highlighting the Sangh’s “sacrifices during Partition, the Emergency, and natural calamities,” Modi said swayamsevaks embodied “enduring hardship to ease the suffering of others.” He underlined the Sangh’s role in promoting tribal empowerment, social harmony, and fighting caste discrimination, noting that successive Sarsanghchalaks carried forward the vision of equality and inclusivity.
Framing the Sangh’s future vision, Modi invoked its Panch Parivartan (five resolutions): self-awareness, social harmony, family enlightenment, civic discipline, and environmental consciousness, calling them vital pillars for building a developed India by 2047.
“The Sangh’s mission is to strengthen Indian culture, awaken self-confidence, and ignite the flame of public service in every heart,” Modi said, congratulating swayamsevaks on the historic occasion.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale were present at the event.
