NAGPUR: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed RSS as ‘modern akshyavat (indestructible banyan tree)’ of India’s eternal culture and invoked the vision of its founders, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and Madhav Sadashivrao Golwarkar, for completing his govt’s mission of ‘Viksit Bharat‘.
Addressing a gathering at the foundation-laying ceremony of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, an eye hospital dedicated to Golwalkar, Modi said: “In Ayodhya, I said we are laying the foundation of Bharat that will remain strong for the next 1,000 years. With the guidance of Hedgewar and Guruji (Golwalkar), we will achieve Viksit Bharat. We will not let the sacrifices made by our generations go waste.”
As India approaches its centenary of independence in 2047, Modi underscored Sangh’s role in shaping the vision of India. “When RSS was formed in 1925, the country was in midst of a freedom struggle. Today, after 100 years, we stand at another crucial juncture where we must build a stronger India.” He said the next 25 years are key “because big goals are ahead of us”.
Quoting Golwalkar, he said the measure of life is not its duration, but its contribution to society.
Describing RSS as a force that withstood historical challenges, Modi said: “The seeds sown a 100 years ago have grown into a vast banyan tree, with lakhs and crores of swayamsevaks as its branches. This is not just an organisation; it is a force of national consciousness.”
Modi praised the RSS’s grassroots service initiatives, including Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and Ekal Vidyalaya for tribal education, and Seva Bharati, which supports underprivileged communities. He recalled how RSS volunteers provided relief during natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, and played a key role in organising the recent Netra Kumbh.
Reflecting on India’s spiritual resilience, Modi credited the country’s survival through centuries of challenges to its deep-rooted cultural consciousness. He recalled the contributions of saints like Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar in unifying society and noted Swami Vivekananda’s role in rekindling national confidence during times of crisis.
“India’s cultural consciousness has remained unwavering, and RSS has been instrumental in keeping this spirit alive,” he stated.
