New Delhi, August 15 (HS): Addressing the nation from the historic Red Fort on Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a heartfelt tribute to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the occasion of its centenary, lauding the organisation’s selfless service and unwavering commitment to the nation.

Marking 100 years since the RSS was founded in Nagpur by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar on Vijayadashami in 1925, the Prime Minister said the Sangh has lived by its founding credo — nation-building through character-building.

“With dedication from the individual to the cause of the nation, the RSS has worked tirelessly for the welfare of Bharat Mata,” Modi said, adding that seva (service), samarpan (sacrifice), sangathan (organisation), and unmatched discipline have been the organisation’s enduring hallmarks.

Calling the RSS the world’s largest non-governmental volunteer movement, the Prime Minister hailed the “millions of swayamsevaks” who over the past century have rendered invaluable service in diverse fields — from education, rural upliftment, and healthcare, to disaster relief and fostering social harmony.

He credited the RSS’s approach and ethos for strengthening “a spirit of unity, discipline, and patriotism” in society, which, he emphasised, is a crucial foundation for a strong and prosperous India.

For a century, the RSS shakhas (daily gatherings) have been nurturing not just physical fitness but also intellectual, cultural, and moral values among volunteers. Through these, the organisation has worked to instil national pride, social responsibility, and resilience — quietly shaping generations of nation builders.

As the RSS enters its next century, the Prime Minister’s words underscored the rare scale and scope of its influence — a people-powered institution rooted in selfless service, continuing to stand as a pillar of community spirit in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar