On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest at the centennial celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
During the significant event, Prime Minister Modi officially released a special postage stamp and a commemorative coin, both designed to mark 100 years of the RSS.
Reflecting on the milestone, PM Modi remarked, “The RSS’s illustrious 100-year journey serves as an extraordinary testament to sacrifice, selfless service, nation-building, and discipline. Our current generation of ‘swayamsevaks’ is incredibly fortunate to bear witness to these centenary years of the RSS.”
The RSS, widely recognized as the ideological progenitor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is poised to complete its first century on Vijayadashami, October 2, 2025. Founded in 1925 in Nagpur, Maharashtra, by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the organization was established as a volunteer-based movement with the core objectives of cultivating cultural awareness, instilling discipline, promoting dedicated service, and fostering social responsibility among Indian citizens.
Earlier, on Sunday, September 28, 2025, Prime Minister Modi had already spoken about this landmark occasion. In his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address to the nation, he praised the RSS for its “unprecedented and inspiring” journey as it approached its 100th year on Vijayadashami.
PM Modi, who has a personal history with the RSS, also highlighted that the Sangh was originally formed during a period of significant national identity introspection in India, predating the country’s independence.