New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday underlined his deepest contained relationship with the nation, addressing the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which he has always called a “privilege” to be associated with his heritage.
In a podcast with Lex Fridman, aired earlier this year, he reiterated how the RSS gave its life a purpose and how to give them the values of selfless service.
PM Modi’s RSS background shaped his emphasis on discipline, nationalism and cultural pride. Even when he infected in mainstream politics, the impression of the Sangh appeared in his rhetoric and policy priorities.
Despite his ideological alignment and background as a ‘evil’, his public presence in the RSS events since becoming Prime Minister in 2014 was relatively rare. His duties with the office kept him with regular participation in the incidents which is seen as an ideological patron of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Some saw it as an institutional distance from the union to preserve an image of constitutional neutrality, while the other blamed it for its growing stature in the country’s politics.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the BJP lost some seats compared to the earlier parliamentary elections – especially in West Bengal and Jharkhand – critics pointed to the party’s “expansion chase” with the RSS. There were allegations of “dissatisfaction” within the party, “cracks” between the old and the new – pointing to all political party, allegedly shifting away from an organization from where it receives ideological inspiration.
Incidentally, RSS volunteers and its affiliated organizations have been working in tribal and backward areas in such states for decades. Although officially it denies any political participation, the Sangh has contributed a large number of leaders to the BJP. Thus, the “social work” performed by the organization, or its colleagues is sometimes considered “politically inspired”.
Therefore, when the BJP lost three Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand compared to the 12 won in 2019, and from 18 (in 2019) from 12 (2024), some analysts blamed it for a conspiracy theory. On the contrary, when PM Modi welcomed the RSS 100 years as “the world’s largest NGO” in his Independence Day speech, and appreciated his volunteers for his dedicated service for the nation, the opposition targeted him, called it “shameful” and insulted for Freedom Struggle.
Disgusting was also born from the same people who accused him of “flowing” from the Sangh, when as Prime Minister, he first visited the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on March 30 this year.
On Wednesday, PM Modi’s deep symbolic and political importance is also being seen as the chief guest in New Delhi at the RSS centenary celebrations. RSS’s praise for a 100-year long legacy of the RSS as “sacrifices, selfless service, extraordinary examples of nation-building and discipline”, and unveiling the 100 rupee coin and a postage stamp recalling the event.
Incidentally, the RSS marked its foundation day on Vijayadashami every year, rather than that the date was established.
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