RSS entered its centenary year on Saturday. It was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur on the day of Vijayadashami.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is dedicated to serving the country as he greeted its volunteers on the historic milestone in the organisation’s continuous journey as it enters its hundredth year.
Lauding the outfit, PM Modi, a former RSS pracharak before he was drafted into the BJP, said the organisation’s resolve and dedication for Mother India would inspire the generations and would infuse new energy in realising a goal of a ‘developed India’.
“The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), dedicated to the service of the nation, is entering its 100th year today. My heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all the volunteers on this historic milestone of Aviral Yatra. This resolve and dedication for Maa Bharti is going to inspire every generation of the country as well as infuse new energy in realising a ‘developed India’,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
राष्ट्र सेवा में समर्पित राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ यानि आरएसएस आज अपने 100वें वर्ष में प्रवेश कर रहा है। अविरल यात्रा के इस ऐतिहासिक पड़ाव पर समस्त स्वयंसेवकों को मेरी हार्दिक बधाई और अनंत शुभकामनाएं। मां भारती के लिए यह संकल्प और समर्पण देश की हर पीढ़ी को प्रेरित करने के साथ ही…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 12, 2024
While sharing a link of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Vijayadashami address, the Prime Minister urged the citizens to listen to the former’s words. Every year on Dussehra, the RSS chief addresses Sangh volunteers during the event held at the Reshimbagh ground in Maharashtra’s Nagpur.
Mohan Bhagwat Address
In his annual address, the Sangh Sanchalak urged the Hindu society to overcome caste differences and reach out to Dalits and weaker sections. He claimed that a “Deep State” was at work to divide the nation on the caste and community lines and that some political parties were helping it in for their “selfish interests”.
Noting that “being weak is a crime”, Bhagwat said, “If we are divided and disorganised, we invite trouble. Unity, empowerment, and support are essential to protect ourselves and all these vulnerable groups.”
He added, “Foreign forces with vested interests seek to destabilise India’s progress. Deep state conspiracies, cultural Marxism, and woke ideologies infiltrate institutions — be it educational, environmental, or societal — aiming to control the narrative and undermine India’s cultural integrity.”
He described ‘Dharma’ as universal, eternal (Sanatan), and intrinsic to the existence of the universe. According to him, the ‘Hindu Dharma’ is not something newly discovered or created, but something recognised as belonging to all humanity, making it a religion for the world.
He further lamented atrocities against women, stating that the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata Medical College was shameful.
Bhagwat said a narrative is being spread in neighbouring Bangladesh, which recently underwent a political upheaval and power shift, that India was a “threat” and that they should join Pakistan as a defence against Bharat. He asked who is spreading such a narrative.
The RSS chief said the Hindu community in Bangladesh faced “atrocities” and came out to defend themselves. “What unfolded in Bangladesh may have immediate causes, but the underlying issue is the repeated atrocities against Hindus. For the first time, Hindus united to protect themselves, but as long as this radical violence persists, not just Hindus, but all minorities are at risk. They need global Hindu support and India’s government must step in. Being weak invites atrocity. Wherever we are, we must be united and empowered — weakness is not an option.”
RSS entered its centenary year on Saturday. It was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur on the day of Vijayadashami. RSS is considered the ideological mentor of the BJP, and its volunteers have played a key role in its organisational growth over the decades.
