RSS Centenary: PM Modi Unveils ₹100 Coin, Stamp in New Delhi

New Delhi, October 1, 2025 —For a hundred years, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been a quiet yet decisive force in shaping India’s cultural and social landscape. Founded in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the organisation has grown from a small circle of volunteers in Nagpur into a nationwide movement. Through its ethos of patriotism, discipline, and selfless service, the RSS today touches millions of lives. Its daily shakhas—community gatherings that instill character and unity—are viewed by swayamsevaks as sacred spaces, where ordinary individuals are moulded into citizens driven by the mantra of “Nation First.”

From empowering tribal communities to providing relief during crises such as Partition, natural disasters, and pandemics, the RSS has woven itself into the story of modern India—standing firm as a symbol of resilience and national pride.

This century-long journey was marked today with a grand celebration at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest. He unveiled a ₹100 commemorative coin and a postage stamp to honour the organisation’s contribution to India’s cultural and social progress.

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A Sacred Occasion Rooted in Tradition

In his address, Modi extended greetings on Navratri, highlighting the significance of Maha Navami, dedicated to Goddess Siddhidhatri, and the upcoming Vijayadashami, symbolising the triumph of justice and truth. He described the RSS’s founding as a century-old alignment with India’s eternal values, not a coincidence but a “restoration of an ancient tradition” to meet contemporary challenges.

“The Sangh is a virtuous incarnation of that eternal national consciousness,” Modi said, paying tribute to Hedgewar’s vision of nation-building through individual transformation.

He emphasised the RSS’s disciplined method through its shakhas, which he likened to “sacrificial altars” for character-building. “The shakha is where a swayamsevak’s journey begins—from ‘me’ to ‘we,’” he remarked, underscoring how these gatherings foster sacrifice, teamwork, and collective spirit.

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A Century of Nourishing India

The Prime Minister compared the RSS to a great river, nourishing lives across every domain—education, agriculture, social welfare, tribal upliftment, and women’s empowerment. Through its network of affiliated organisations, it has empowered youth, farmers, and marginalised communities, all guided by the principle of “Nation First.”

Modi recalled Hedgewar’s guiding philosophy: “Take people as they are, shape them into what they should be.” Like a potter moulding clay, he said, the RSS has transformed ordinary individuals into swayamsevaks capable of extraordinary feats for the nation.

According to Modi, the century-long journey of the RSS rests on three pillars: a grand vision of nation-building, a clear path of individual development, and the dynamic method of the shakha. Together, these have shaped millions of swayamsevaks committed to advancing India’s progress.

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A Legacy of Sacrifice and Resilience

Tracing the RSS’s role in India’s most turbulent moments, Modi cited Hedgewar’s participation in the freedom struggle, where swayamsevaks faced imprisonment and aided countless revolutionaries. Post-independence, the RSS resisted oppression in Hyderabad, supported liberation movements in Goa and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and offered relief during the 1956 Anjar earthquake, the 1962 war, the 1971 refugee crisis, and the 1984 riots.

Modi noted the organisation’s endurance through bans and political conspiracies, recalling Guruji’s composed response to wrongful imprisonment: “Sometimes the tongue gets caught under the teeth and is crushed. But we do not break the teeth, because both are ours.” This, Modi said, exemplifies the Sangh’s spirit of unity, even during the Emergency, when swayamsevaks upheld faith in democracy and resisted authoritarianism.

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A Vision for 2047

Looking ahead, Modi outlined the RSS’s five transformative resolutions as a roadmap to meet contemporary challenges: self-awareness, social harmony, family enlightenment, civic discipline, and environmental consciousness.

Self-awareness, he explained, involves embracing India’s heritage and swadeshi ethos. Social harmony emphasises uplifting the marginalised and countering divisive forces. Family enlightenment preserves Indian values, civic discipline fosters responsible citizenship, and environmental consciousness safeguards the nation’s future.

“These resolutions are vital to strengthening India and achieving the dream of a developed nation by 2047,” Modi declared. He envisioned an India shaped by philosophy, science, service, and harmony—one that embodies the RSS’s century-old mission of “Nation First.”