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COVER STORY OCTOBER 10, 2025 | The Indian Eye 4
RSS AT 100
INDIA’S
GUIDING FORCE!
Marking its centenary, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh reflects on its enduring
influence in India’s social, political, and cultural landscape
OUR BUREAU
Nagpur / New Delhi
n October 2, 2025, the Rash-
triya Swayamsevak Sangh
O(RSS) celebrated its centena-
ry on the sacred occasion of Vijaya-
dashami, with grand ceremonies held
in Nagpur and across India. The mile-
stone marked not just a hundred years
of organizational continuity, but also
a century-long contribution to India’s
social, cultural, and political fabric.
The event drew dignitaries, including
former President Ram Nath Kovind,
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and
Maharashtra Chief Minister Deven-
dra Fadnavis, alongside countless
swayamsevaks who gathered to recite
the Sangh Prarthana and pay homage
to the organization’s founder, Dr.
Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, who es-
tablished the RSS in Nagpur in 1925.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
highlighted the enduring mission
of the RSS in nation-building, not-
ing, “Vyakti nirmaan se rashtra nir- Former President Ram Nath Kovind, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, and others, during the centenary celebrations
maan—nation-building through of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Vijayadashami, at Reshimbagh Ground in Nagpur on Thursday (ANI)
character-building—has been the
Sangh’s path. For this, it created the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ques- narratives emphasized continuity, while promoting active engagement
unique, simple and enduring mecha- tioning the Sangh’s role in India’s service, and social transformation. in social initiatives.
nism of the daily shakha. The shakha freedom struggle. Gandhi remarked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his an- Bhagwat also highlighted the
is an inspiring place where every that “cowardice” defined the RSS- nual Vijayadashami address, reiterat- RSS’s engagement with both local
swayamsevak begins his journey BJP ideology, citing statements by ed the organization’s focus on individ- and national-level organizations, un-
from ‘Me to We’ and goes through a External Affairs Minister S. Jaishan- ual and societal development. “The derscoring the Sangh’s approach to
process of personal transformation.” kar on China to illustrate what he de- system for creating individuals was social dialogue and collective expe-
Modi’s reflection underscored the scribed as the avoidance of stronger destroyed in our society during the rience. “Swayamsevaks have actively
Sangh’s emphasis on cultivating indi- adversaries. Owaisi added that “not a long period of foreign invasion... the engaged in various aspects of social
vidual character as a foundation for single person lost his life in the free- Sangh Shakha is such a system. For life, as well as diverse organizations
collective societal strength. dom struggle,” challenging the RSS’s the past 100 years, Sangh Karyakar- and institutions. Swayamsevaks con-
The centenary celebrations historical legacy. Communist Party of tas have consistently sustained the tinue to cooperate and engage in
came amid contrasting viewpoints. India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat system in all kinds of circumstanc- dialogue with numerous individuals
Opposition leaders, including Con- similarly criticized Prime Minister es,” he said. Bhagwat described the who are actively working in society.
gress MP Rahul Gandhi and AIM- Modi for lauding the RSS during the shakha as a forum that nurtures per- The Sangh has drawn certain obser-
IM President Asaduddin Owaisi, centenary celebrations. sonal discipline, value-driven con- vations and conclusions based on its
criticized the RSS and its affiliated Yet the celebrations and official duct, and solidarity within society, Continued on next page... >>
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