PTI, New Delhi, August 15, 2025 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) 100-year journey as “very proud and glorious,” calling it the world’s largest non-governmental organisation and lauding its volunteers for a century of dedicated service to the nation.
Delivering his 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi said a nation is not built by the government alone, but through the combined efforts of millions — saints, seers, scientists, teachers, farmers, soldiers, workers, individuals, and organisations.
“Today, I want to mention with great pride that 100 years ago, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was born. Its century-long service to the nation is a very proud and glorious page in our history,” said Modi, a former RSS pracharak.
The Prime Minister praised the swayamsevaks for their commitment to vyakti nirman (character building) and rashtra nirman (nation-building), highlighting the organisation’s hallmarks of service, dedication, discipline, and organisational strength.
“It is, in a way, the world’s biggest NGO,” Modi said, adding that the country is proud of the RSS’ “dedicated and glorious” journey and that it will continue to inspire future generations.
This appeared to be the first time Modi spoke extensively about the RSS in an Independence Day address.
From a Small Group to a Nationwide Presence
Founded by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925 on Vijayadashmi in Nagpur, the RSS has expanded into a nationwide network. Senior functionaries said the organisation currently conducts over 83,000 daily shakhas at more than 51,000 locations, along with 32,000 weekly and 12,000 monthly shakhas.
To mark its centenary year, the RSS has planned more than one lakh “Hindu Sammelans” across the country. The celebrations will culminate with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s address at the organisation’s Nagpur headquarters on October 2.
As part of a massive outreach campaign, the RSS will also launch a nationwide door-to-door public contact programme.
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