RSS Marks 100 Years: A Century of Nation-Building and Outreach

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India’s premier Hindu nationalist organization, today commemorated its 100th founding anniversary on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, exactly a century after Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar established it in Nagpur on September 27, 1925. What began as a small gathering of 15-20 volunteers in Hedgewar’s home has grown into the world’s largest voluntary organization, boasting over 83,000 daily “shakhas” (branches) and millions of swayamsevaks (volunteers) dedicated to character-building, social harmony, and national service.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a former RSS pracharak, hailed the milestone as a “glorious page” in India’s history during a special event at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre here yesterday. Releasing a commemorative ₹100 coin and postage stamp – the first to feature an image of Bharat Mata in Varada Mudra alongside devoted swayamsevaks – Modi emphasized the RSS’s “unwavering” contributions to nation-building despite facing bans, attacks, and hardships. “The establishment of RSS 100 years ago was not a coincidence; it was the resurrection of a millennia-old tradition of victory over evil,” he said, urging continued focus on “vyakti nirman” (individual character development) and “rashtra nirman” (nation-building).

RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, delivering the annual Vijayadashami address at Reshimbagh Ground in Nagpur, called for a “Panch Parivartan” (five transformations): promoting social harmony, pride in family heritage, environmental protection, mother-tongue usage, and traditional Indian attire. “This centenary is not for celebration but for introspection and rededication to a harmonious Bharat,” Bhagwat stated, linking the RSS’s journey to global peace and prosperity. Former President Ram Nath Kovind served as chief guest at the inaugural event, underscoring the organization’s cultural and social influence.

A Year-Long Campaign of Unity and Outreach

Unlike traditional jubilees, the RSS has eschewed formal festivities in favor of a 12-month outreach drive under the theme “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” (One India, Excellent India). Key initiatives include:

Nationwide Rallies and Gatherings: Over 1.03 lakh Hindu Unity Conferences (Hindu Sammelans) at the block and district levels, starting today, to foster inter-community dialogue.
Door-to-Door Campaigns: From November to December, volunteers will visit every household in villages and urban neighborhoods to share the RSS’s 100-year legacy and invite participation.
Youth and Intellectual Forums: Series of dialogues in major cities – Delhi (August 2025), Bengaluru (November), Kolkata (December), and Mumbai (February 2026) – engaging diplomats, scholars, and youth, excluding representatives from Pakistan, Turkey, and Bangladesh.
Cultural and Training Programs: Intellectual sessions, environmental drives, and training in “Panch Parivartan” values, aiming to reach every block in India.

RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale announced the goal of “inclusive outreach across professions, geographies, and communities,” with a special emphasis on women’s participation and family sanctity. The campaign builds on recent milestones, including the abrogation of Article 370 and the Ram Temple consecration, which the RSS views as fulfillments of long-standing national aspirations.

From Humble Beginnings to Ideological Powerhouse

Founded amid the freedom struggle, the RSS emphasized physical drills, ideological education, and Hindu unity through daily shakhas – a model that propelled its expansion post-Independence. Despite a 1948 ban following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination (lifted in 1949), the organization rebuilt, contributing to relief efforts during wars, natural disasters, and the 1975 Emergency. Today, its affiliates influence education, health, and politics, with the BJP – led by RSS-trained leaders like Modi – forming governments at the center and in 18 states.

Critics, however, point to the RSS’s role in polarizing debates on secularism and minority rights, though supporters like Modi argue it embodies “selfless service” and resilience. As the RSS steps into its second century, Bhagwat reiterated its non-political ethos: “We are not a party; we are the soul of the nation.”