From a modest beginning in Nagpur in 1925 to a nationwide network of swayamsevaks, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh completes a century of an eventful journey, marked by service, expansion, controversies and an enduring debate over its vision for India.
On Vijayadashami, October 20, 1925, a small gathering in Nagpur laid the foundation of an organisation that would go on to become one of the most influential socio-cultural movements in modern India. A century later, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) stands at a significant milestone in its history, marking 100 years of its journey and entering its 101st year with renewed emphasis on service, social organisation and national consciousness.
Founded by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the Sangh emerged during the freedom struggle, at a time when India was seeking political independence while grappling with social divisions and questions of national identity. Its centenary is not merely an occasion to look back at its growth, but also an opportunity to understand the history, challenges and changing role of an organisation whose influence extends across India’s social, cultural and political landscape.
A Vision Born in Nagpur
The story of the RSS begins with Dr Hedgewar, a physician and freedom movement participant who believed that lasting national strength required an organised, disciplined and socially cohesive society. He envisioned an organisation that would focus on developing individuals through regular collective activities, physical training, character-building and a sense of responsibility towards the nation.
The first gathering took place at Hedgewar’s residence in Nagpur on September 27, 1925, the day of Vijayadashami. The early activities were modest, centred on physical exercises, discussions and the development of discipline among volunteers, known as swayamsevaks. The daily shakha, which gradually became the organisation’s principal unit, provided a structured setting for physical training, intellectual discussion and collective participation.
The name Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was finalised in 1926. Over time, the organisation developed a distinctive structure, with the saffron flag as its symbolic guide and voluntary participation at the heart of its functioning. Its central premise was that a strong nation begins with individuals who are disciplined, socially conscious and committed to collective welfare.
From a Small Gathering to a Nationwide Organisation
Following Hedgewar’s death in 1940, Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, popularly known as Guruji, assumed leadership. Under his tenure, the RSS expanded geographically and organisationally, establishing shakhas in different parts of the country and developing a broader network of activities.
The period surrounding Independence and Partition in 1947 brought extraordinary challenges. Millions of people were displaced amid violence and the division of the subcontinent. RSS volunteers participated in relief and assistance efforts for affected families, according to accounts of the organisation’s history. Such experiences became an important part of the Sangh’s narrative of voluntary service during national emergencies.
In the decades that followed, volunteers and organisations inspired by the RSS entered different fields, including education, labour, tribal welfare, student activities and social service. These associated organisations developed their own identities and structures, although they shared ideological and historical links with the Sangh.
The RSS also became increasingly influential in public life. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded in 1951 under the leadership of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, developed close organisational and ideological links with the Sangh. The Bharatiya Janata Party, established in 1980, later emerged from the political tradition associated with the Jana Sangh. This expansion brought the RSS closer to the centre of national political debate, even as it continued to describe itself primarily as a socio-cultural organisation.
The Difficult Chapters: Bans, Emergency and Controversies
The journey of the RSS has not been without serious setbacks. Its history includes periods of state prohibition, political confrontation and sustained public criticism.
Following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in January 1948, the government banned the organisation. The ban was lifted in 1949 after the RSS accepted certain formal conditions, including the adoption of a written constitution. It was a defining period that tested the organisation’s ability to withstand a major political and public crisis.
Another major turning point came during the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977. The RSS was banned, and many of its leaders and volunteers were detained. Its members participated in resistance activities alongside other opponents of the Emergency. When the ban was lifted in 1977, the organisation resumed its activities in a changed political environment.
In December 1992, following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, the RSS was banned once again. The prohibition was lifted in 1993. The demolition and the events surrounding it remain among the most contentious episodes in modern Indian history, with profound consequences for communal relations and national politics.
These episodes reveal two sides of the organisation’s history: its capacity to rebuild and expand after periods of prohibition, and the controversies surrounding its ideology, political influence and relationship with India’s religious diversity. The RSS’s understanding of Indian identity, rooted in its conception of Hindu cultural nationalism, has drawn both committed support and sustained criticism.
Seva: The Continuing Emphasis on Social Service
Among the most prominent themes in the RSS’s self-understanding is seva, or selfless service. Over the decades, volunteers have participated in relief operations during floods, earthquakes and other disasters, as well as in community initiatives involving education, healthcare and assistance to disadvantaged groups.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, RSS volunteers and associated service networks undertook activities such as distributing food and essential supplies and assisting vulnerable families. The organisation’s history also documents volunteer participation in relief efforts during Partition, wars and regional crises.
Such work reflects the Sangh’s stated belief that national development requires active participation by citizens rather than dependence on institutions alone. The idea of service, in this framework, extends from helping individuals in immediate distress to encouraging discipline, social responsibility and collective action.
The Centenary and the 2026 Vijayadashami Celebrations
The centenary observances have provided an opportunity for the RSS to reflect on its past and articulate its priorities for the future. The celebrations continued into 2026, with October 20 marking its 101st foundation-day observance at Reshimbagh ground in Nagpur.
RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat performed Shastra Pujan, the ceremonial worship of weapons, before delivering the annual Vijayadashami address. The occasion brought together organisational reflection, cultural symbolism and discussion of contemporary national issues.
In his address, Bhagwat emphasised the importance of social cohesion and argued that lasting progress depends on the development of society as a whole. He also spoke about India’s diversity, national identity and the need to address public grievances without deepening divisions. His remarks reflected the organisation’s continuing focus on social harmony, collective responsibility and cultural consciousness.
As part of its centenary outreach, the RSS reported connecting with people across 4,61,127 villages and more than 10 crore Hindu households. These figures, reported in coverage of the celebrations, indicate the scale of the organisation’s claimed outreach, although they should be understood as figures reported by the Sangh rather than independently audited measures of participation.
The wider centenary programme has also included public engagement and international outreach. These activities have sought to present the organisation’s philosophy to new audiences and encourage discussions about Indian civilisation, service and social life.
Looking Ahead: A Second Century of Responsibility
The completion of a century offers the RSS both an occasion for celebration and an opportunity for introspection. Its growth from a small gathering in Nagpur to an organisation with a substantial national presence demonstrates the influence that sustained volunteer networks and long-term institution-building can acquire.
RSS represents a century of discipline, voluntary service and nation-building. As the Sangh enters its second century, its founding emphasis on character-building and collective responsibility remains central to its stated mission. The larger test, however, lies in translating those ideals into service that strengthens communities, respects India’s diversity and contributes meaningfully to the welfare of all citizens.
A hundred years after its first gathering, the RSS remains a significant force in India’s public life. Its history is a story of growth and resilience. The years ahead will determine how it reconciles its founding vision with the demands of a changing nation and how its promise of service is reflected in the everyday lives of the people it seeks to serve.