On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) vehemently denounced the release of a special postage stamp and coin commemorating the RSS centenary. They called this act a ‘grave injury and insult’ to the Indian Constitution, arguing that the Sangh has historically rejected its principles.
In an official statement, the CPI(M) Politburo raised strong objections, particularly highlighting the coin’s depiction of ‘Bharat Mata’—an image of a Hindu goddess propagated by the RSS to symbolize its vision of a Hindutva Rashtra. They also argued that the postage stamp, which features uniformed RSS volunteers at the 1963 Republic Day parade, distorts historical facts.
The party asserted that the Prime Minister’s decision to release a postage stamp and a ₹100 coin to mark the RSS’s 100th anniversary represents a severe affront to the Indian Constitution, a document the RSS has consistently failed to embrace.
They further emphasized the ‘highly objectionable’ nature of an official coin featuring the ‘Bharat Mata’ image, a Hindu goddess promoted by the RSS as a sectarian symbol for its ‘Hindutva Rashtra’ ideology.
Regarding the postage stamp, the Left party contended that it ‘falsifies history’ by suggesting that former Prime Minister Nehru invited the RSS to the 1963 Republic Day parade as an acknowledgment of their patriotism during the India-China war. They argued that historical evidence indicates the 1963 parade was primarily a massive public gathering, and any presence of uniformed RSS volunteers was neither significant nor officially reported.
CPI(M) Challenges RSS’s Historical Role
The CPI(M) characterized the entire commemoration as an effort to ‘whitewash the shameful role of the RSS,’ asserting that the organization not only remained detached from India’s freedom struggle but actively bolstered the British ‘divide and rule’ policy, thereby undermining national unity. They further highlighted that the RSS and its affiliates (Parivar) have been implicated in some of independent India’s most severe communal violence, as detailed in numerous official inquiry reports. The party accused them of persistently targeting minority communities and marginalized sections of society by promoting ‘manuvadi’ ideologies.
The party concluded that the Prime Minister, by attempting to conceal this ‘reality of the history of the RSS’ and misusing his office, has ‘lowered the dignity of the constitutional position he holds.’
CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby reiterated that issuing a coin and stamp to ‘glorify the RSS constitutes an insult to the Constitution and an effort to erase its divisive history while whitewashing its past actions.’
On social media platform X, Mr. Baby further accused the Prime Minister of ‘misusing his office to legitimize the RSS’s sectarian agenda and distort India’s freedom struggle.’ These comments followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier release of the special postage stamp and commemorative coin, which notably features the first-ever depiction of Bharat Mata on Indian currency, celebrating the RSS’s centenary.
Kerala Chief Minister Criticizes Stamp Release
Adding to the chorus of criticism, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also voiced his disapproval on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. He labeled the commemoration of the RSS centenary with a postage stamp and a ₹100 coin as a ‘grave insult’ to the Constitution.
In a post on social media platform ‘X’, Mr. Vijayan stated, ‘Commemorating the RSS centenary with a postage stamp and a 100 rupee coin is a grave insult to our Constitution. It legitimizes an organization that abstained from the freedom struggle, promoting a divisive ideology that aligned with the colonial strategy.’
He concluded by saying, ‘This national honour is a direct assault on the memory of our true freedom fighters and the secular, unified India they envisioned.’
The commemorative coin also prominently features the RSS motto: ‘Rashtray Swaha, Idam Rashtraya, Idam Na Mama’—a Sanskrit phrase translating to ‘Everything is dedicated to the nation, Everything is the nation’s, Nothing is mine.’
The postage stamp, on the other hand, highlights the participation of RSS volunteers (swayamsevaks) in the 1963 Republic Day Parade, an inclusion that has been presented as a testament to the organization’s historical contributions.