On the auspicious day of Vijayadashami in 1925, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar sowed the seed of an idea that would grow into a mighty national force, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Today, as the Sangh marks 100 years of existence, every swayamsevak bows with gratitude to that vision which has shaped the destiny of Bharat and rekindled the spirit of cultural nationalism. The RSS, now the world’s largest voluntary organisation, has been more than an institution; it has been a movement to awaken the innate strength of Indian society.
Dr Hedgewar’s Vision: A Nation Awakened
Dr Hedgewar was a man of deep resolve. Born in Nagpur and shaped by the political upheavals of his time, he realised early that mere political freedom from colonial rule would not guarantee India’s strength. What India lacked, in his view, was unity of spirit and discipline in society. Fragmented by caste, weakened by appeasement, and under constant assault from alien ideologies, the Hindu society needed an organisation that would rebuild confidence, self-pride, and character.
Dr Hedgewar’s genius lay in creating a unique structure, daily shakhas where young men would gather, exercise, learn discipline, sing patriotic songs, and most importantly, imbibe the idea that Bharat was their motherland. He did not see Sangh as a political outfit, but as a movement to reawaken the Hindu society to its civilizational role. For him, the fight was not just against British rule but against centuries of psychological slavery. In Dr Hedgewar’s words, independence without cultural resurgence would be hollow.
Guruji’s Intellectual Fire: Defining Hindu Rashtra
If Dr. Dr Hedgewar was the founder, his successor, Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, respectfully remembered as Guruji, was the philosopher who gave the Sangh its ideological clarity. Guruji took charge of the RSS in 1940, at a time when the world was in turmoil with war, and India was struggling towards freedom. Under his leadership, the RSS expanded into a nationwide force. But more importantly, Guruji articulated the vision of Hindu Rashtra, not as a theocratic state, but as a cultural identity rooted in Dharma.
Guruji explained that while the West equated “Nation” with “State,” in Bharat the Nation was older and deeper, it was society itself, bound by a shared culture, heritage, and devotion to the motherland. He insisted that Bharat is inherently a Hindu Rashtra because Hinduism here meant a way of life, an eternal set of values that included inclusiveness, respect for diversity, spiritual strength, and a collective sense of duty.
For Guruji, the devotion to motherland was paramount. He invoked the image of Bharat Mata not as a political construct but as a sacred, living entity. To him, true nationalism meant sacrifice for the honour of this land, a nationalism built on duty, not privilege. He often reminded swayamsevaks that the Sangh’s mission was not merely to organise Hindus but to ignite within them the dormant fire of pride, courage, and unity.
RSS and Nation Building
Over the last century, the RSS has been central to the building of modern India. From its humble beginnings in Nagpur, it has grown into a network of lakhs of shakhas, inspiring generations to dedicate themselves selflessly to society. Its contribution is visible in diverse fields , education, service, social harmony, rural development, disaster relief, and above all, fostering a sense of national unity.
During calamities , whether floods, earthquakes, or wars , swayamsevaks have been the first to reach and the last to leave, silently serving without seeking publicity. In the freedom struggle too, many swayamsevaks participated actively. After independence, when India was partitioned in blood, it was RSS swayamsevaks who rehabilitated lakhs of refugees with food, shelter, and hope.
The Sangh has also nurtured allied organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, and Seva Bharati, which extend its reach into spiritual, student, labour, and service spheres. Today, the RSS family touches almost every aspect of Indian life, carrying forward Dr Hedgewar’s mission of an awakened, self-reliant society.
Cultural Renaissance and Global Recognition
Guruji often said that India’s strength lies not in imitating the West but in rediscovering its own roots. He emphasized the eternal values of Sanatan Dharma , unity in diversity, equal respect for all paths, and the idea that truth is one though expressed in many ways. Unlike imperial powers that spread domination through violence, Bharat has always shared wisdom and spirituality with the world. Countries from Southeast Asia to beyond still carry imprints of Indian culture.
This cultural renaissance, nurtured by the Sangh, has given India a new voice globally. Today, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam , the world as one family, it echoes the very ideas the Sangh has lived by for a century. The RSS has shown that Hindutva is not exclusionary, but civilizational, a unifying ethos that binds people beyond caste, language, or religion.
The Relevance Today
As India rises on the world stage in its centenary year of the RSS, the challenges remain. Conversion-driven divisive forces, terrorism, and blind imitation of Western ways continue to test our cultural confidence. But the Sangh’s century-long journey proves that rootedness in one’s heritage is the surest path to modernity. India has remained democratic, plural, and vibrant because its soul is Hindu , inclusive, resilient, and tolerant, yet firm against aggression.
Guruji had warned against reducing nationalism to a majority-minority debate. For him, all who lived in this land and shared its culture were inheritors of its legacy. His articulation of Hindu Rashtra was cultural, not political. This vision remains the guiding light as India navigates the 21st century.
Conclusion: 100 Years of a Living Flame
The centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is not merely an organisational milestone but a testament to the power of an idea. What began in 1925 as Dr Hedgewar’s dream has, under the stewardship of leaders like Guruji Golwalkar and successive Sarsanghchalaks, become the backbone of Bharat’s cultural renaissance. The Sangh has endured criticism, bans, and misrepresentation, yet like a flame, it has only grown stronger.
For swayamsevaks, the 100 years are not a time for celebration alone but for renewed resolve. As Guruji said, devotion to the motherland is the noblest of all virtues. And as Dr Hedgewar envisioned, national resurgence is the true meaning of freedom. The RSS today stands as proof that when society awakens, a nation rises. A century on, the Sangh continues to be Bharat’s conscience, discipline, and cultural strength, the invisible yet indomitable force shaping our destiny.
(The author is an RSS Swayamsevak and a BJP Karyakarta)