Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) celebrated its centenary while embarking on a three-day lecture series. The lecture commenced on August 26, where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed a gathering and highlighted the organisation’s achievements and its future mission.
Bhagwat stressed that the organisation’s motive is to make the nation a ‘Vishwaguru’ through its contribution, and its objective is to instill a sense of responsibility in every Hindu.
Here are the five key takeaways from Bhagwat’s speech, which reflect the viewpoint of the organisation:
– India as ‘Vishwaguru’
Bhagwat said, “The purpose of the RSS’s establishment is for Bharat, its functioning is for Bharat, and its significance lies in India becoming a ‘vishwaguru’. The time for India’s contribution to the world has come.”
– Cultural and civilisational Unity
The RSS chief said, “Hindavi, Bharatiya, and Sanatan are synonymous… There is content behind these words, which is not just geographical… Our DNA has been the same for the last 40,000 years.”
– ‘Be a Responsible Citizen of the Nation‘
Bhagwat said RSS was an organisation for the entire Hindu community. “Anyone who wants to be identified as a Hindu will have to be a responsible citizen of the country. This is a responsible community because we got this identity a long time ago.”
– Outreach to other Communities
RSS will organise several events across the country. The main objective of the events is to present a comprehensive picture of the RSS to society. At Vigyan Bhawan, Bhagwat spoke on the theme “100 Years of RSS Journey: New Horizons”. He highlighted how Swayamsevaks view themselves and addressed misconceptions about the organisation, while also reaching out to groups that have kept a distance from the RSS.
– Remembering inspiring revolutionaries
He said “ There was another wave of revolutionaries. Many examples came out of that wave that still inspire us… The purpose of that revolution ended after independence. Savarkar ji was a luminous gem of that wave… That wave does not exist anymore and it is not needed also, but that wave was an inspiration to live and die for the country.”
On August 15, PM Narendra Modi said, “Today, I would like to proudly mention that 100 years ago, an organisation was born — Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). 100 years of service to the nation is a proud, golden chapter. With the resolve of ‘vyakti nirman se rashtra nirman’, with the aim of welfare of Maa Bharati, swayamsevaks dedicated their lives to the welfare of our motherland… In a way, RSS is the biggest NGO of the world. It has a history of 100 years of dedication.”
