PM Modi to attend RSS centenary celebrations in Delhi on October 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as Chief Guest on October 1 in New Delhi, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement issued through the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The event will take place at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre at 10.30 am, where the Prime Minister will release a specially designed commemorative postage stamp and coin marking the organisation’s 100 years of existence. He is also scheduled to deliver an address on the occasion.

RSS marks 100 years since founding

The RSS, founded in Nagpur in 1925 by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, is observing its centenary this year. Hedgewar set up the organisation with the aim of nurturing cultural awareness, discipline and service among citizens at a time when India remained under colonial rule.

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The Sangh describes itself as a people-driven movement for national reconstruction. Its rise, according to the organisation, was a response to centuries of foreign rule, while its continuing appeal lies in its vision of India’s resurgence rooted in Dharma.

Over the decades, the Sangh has emphasised character building and patriotism, promoting discipline, self-restraint, courage and service. Its stated goal is Sarvangeena Unnati – the all-round development of India.

PM Modi praises Sangh's journey

In his Mann Ki Baat radio address on Sunday, PM Modi called the centenary "a historic milestone" and hailed the Sangh's journey as "amazing, unprecedented and inspiring".

He noted that the organisation was formed at a time when the country was suffering from a deep identity crisis. "One hundred years ago, when the RSS was founded, the country had been bound in the chains of slavery for centuries. This slavery had hurt our self-respect and self-confidence. The most revered Hedgewar ji founded the Sangh on Vijayadashami in 1925. After his passing, Guruji carried forward this great mission of serving the nation," he said. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the Sangh's relief efforts during natural disasters and lauded its "nation first" approach.