On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during its centenary celebrations, acknowledging its unwavering commitment to the principle of ‘nation first’. The event highlighted the RSS’s significant contribution to the fabric of Indian society, especially in times of turmoil.<\/p>\n
Addressing attendees, Modi praised the organisation’s role in nation-building and its dedication to fostering societal harmony by bridging caste and creed divides. He remarked, \u201cThe Sangh has fought against British atrocities, provided a safe haven for freedom fighters, and witnessed the jailing of its founder, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, several times in the pursuit of independence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister reflected on the challenges faced by the RSS, including bans and false allegations, highlighting its core ethos of resilience. He recalled the wisdom of former RSS chief Madhav Golwalkar, who, despite being falsely accused, stated: \u201cAt times, the tongue may get caught under the teeth, but we do not break the teeth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Modi credited the RSS for maintaining calm and composure despite facing significant crises, particularly during the Emergency. He emphasized that two core values\u2014oneness with society and faith in constitutional institutions\u2014have provided a steady foundation for swayamsevaks throughout history.<\/p>\n As a hallmark of this momentous occasion, the Prime Minister released a special \u20b9100 commemorative coin<\/strong> and a postal stamp<\/strong>. The coin features the national emblem on one side and, celebrating its historical prominence, Bharat Mata<\/strong> depicted in Varada Mudra<\/em> alongside a lion and participants bowing in reverence. The postal stamp showcases the RSS’s participation in the Republic Day Parade of 1963, a significant historical event.<\/p>\n \u201cToday is a moment of immense pride, as this marks the first time Bharat Mata has appeared on Indian currency,\u201d stated Modi, highlighting the spiritual and cultural importance of the occasion.<\/p>\n Modi further recalled significant events where the RSS played a pivotal role, including its service during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the 1971 refugee crisis, and the riots of 1984. He emphasized the RSS’s unwavering commitment to equality, compassion, and unity during tumultuous times. The Prime Minister lauded current Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat\u2019s recent call for \u201cone well, one temple, one cremation ground,\u201d positioning it as a crucial initiative towards eliminating discrimination.<\/p>\n In response, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale expressed gratitude towards the government for recognizing the Sangh’s century-long commitment to service. He described the issuance of the commemorative coin and stamp as a fitting tribute to the selfless contributions of swayamsevaks since the organisation’s inception in 1925.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Prime Minister Modi celebrated the RSS centenary by releasing a \u20b9100 coin and a postal stamp, praising its contributions to nation-building and harmony.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[103],"class_list":{"0":"post-4949","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national","8":"tag-bjp-india"},"yoast_head":"\n