A Century of Discipline and Service: RSS from Vijaya Dashami 1925 to 2025

On the auspicious day of Vijaya Dashami in 1925, a small gathering in Nagpur quietly sowed the seeds of an idea that would shape India for generations. Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh began not as a political movement but as a vision for disciplined, selfless, and morally grounded citizens, dedicated to the service of the nation. 

A hundred years later, the Sangh stands as a testament to quiet resilience, enduring purpose, and century-long dedication to nation-building, often misunderstood but undeniably influential in shaping India’s social and cultural fabric.

From its inception, the RSS was envisioned not as a fleeting association but as a movement for character-building and national rejuvenation. The shakha, a daily gathering for physical training, collective exercises, and reflection on moral values, became the core of this vision. Wealth, social standing, or privilege mattered little; what counted was devotion, equality, and commitment to the larger cause of the nation. Hedgewar’s insight was simple yet profound: true freedom and enduring nationhood depend as much on the inner discipline of citizens as on political sovereignty. These ideals created a framework where moral integrity, civic responsibility, and cultural rootedness became inseparable from national identity, and where individual transformation was seen as the foundation of societal strength.

Yet the journey of the RSS has often been misunderstood. Political parties, ideological rivals, and some intellectual circles have frequently depicted it as sectarian, exclusionary, or regressive. Cultural nationalism was sometimes misread as narrow majoritarianism, and the Sangh’s insistence on discipline and selfless service was dismissed as rigid or archaic. Many critiques overlooked the deeper civilizational context in which the Sangh operates—its vision of Bharat as a living culture where diversity thrives within unity, and where dharma provides a moral compass for public life. Over decades, these misinterpretations contributed to a narrative that unfairly maligned the organization, casting doubt on its intentions despite decades of evidence to the contrary.

In reality, the RSS has been consistently devoted to service and nation-building. Its swayamsevaks have often been the first to arrive in the aftermath of floods, cyclones, earthquakes, and other disasters, and the last to leave, ensuring relief reaches even the remotest communities. Through educational initiatives such as VidyaBharati, tribal welfare programs under VanavasiKalyan Ashram, women’s empowerment through Rashtra Sevika Samiti, and rural development projects, the Sangh has touched millions of lives. These efforts were guided not by political ambition but by a sense of moral duty, a commitment to strengthening communities that are frequently neglected by the state or mainstream society. The Sangh’s work reveals the truth of its mission—far removed from the caricatures that have often dominated public discourse.

Also Read: A Century of the Sangh: Harmony, Self-Reliance and Balance for a New India

The Sangh’s evolution over the century has demonstrated remarkable adaptability. While preserving its core practices and ideals, it has engaged with the challenges of modern India: social reform, gender equality, environmental stewardship, and global outreach. Its overseas chapters, organized through the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, help the Indian diaspora maintain cultural identity while contributing meaningfully to their adopted communities. Across continents, the RSS’s principles—discipline, service, cultural rootedness—resonate universally, proving the enduring relevance of its vision. It is this combination of continuity and adaptability that has allowed the organization to survive criticism and misunderstanding for generations.

While the RSS has influenced politics through affiliated organizations such as the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party, its primary mission has always remained non-partisan. Politics may reflect its ideological imprint, but the Sangh’s work extends beyond electoral influence into the moral and cultural formation of citizens. Its insistence on character-building, civic responsibility, and national service has contributed to the emergence of a confident India that stands proudly on the global stage. The Sangh’s emphasis on selfless service, community cohesion, and cultural education has strengthened the nation in ways that cannot be measured merely by political power.

The centenary of the RSS on Vijaya Dashami 2025 is therefore not just a celebration of longevity; it is a reflection on endurance, resilience, and purpose. The Sangh has endured because it combines humility with conviction, discipline with compassion, and principle with service. Its swayamsevaks gather every day in cities, towns, and villages, performing simple exercises, prayers, and community work that may appear ordinary but embody extraordinary continuity and moral rigor. The saffron flag rising on this day symbolizes not triumphalism but the quiet strength of an institution committed to a century-long mission: the cultivation of citizens who live for something larger than themselves.

It is essential to recognise that the RSS has often been wronged in public perception. The organization has been criticized by political rivals, labeled by certain intellectuals, and subjected to misunderstanding in the media. Much of this stems from an inability to grasp the Sangh’s civilizational framework, its emphasis on moral discipline, and its non-partisan nature. Yet the Sangh’s record demonstrates a sustained commitment to national service, social cohesion, and community welfare that transcends these misperceptions. Its critics may debate, but its impact on society and the nation is undeniable.

From the modest fields of Nagpur to thousands of shakhas across the nation, the RSS has proven that nation-building is not sustained merely by laws, policies, or political victories. It rests upon the moral and cultural strength of citizens, on selfless service, and on a disciplined commitment to ideals that transcend time and circumstance. The centenary is not an end but a renewal, a reaffirmation that India’s future rests on integrity, civic responsibility, and devotion to the nation. The Sangh has lived a century of discipline and service, often misunderstood but unwavering in purpose, and its legacy will continue to guide future generations.

As Vijaya Dashami 2025 arrives, the saffron flag rising once more serves as a reminder that the true measure of an institution lies not in the debates it provokes but in the lives it touches, the communities it strengthens, and the principles it upholds. From 1925 to 2025, the RSS has walked a path of moral courage, cultural affirmation, and nation-building. Its critics may continue to scrutinize its methods and motives, yet the reality of its century-long journey is clear: it has shaped a more disciplined, service-oriented, and culturally aware India. The centenary is thus both a celebration and a pledge—that the next hundred years will continue the timeless mission of nurturing citizens, strengthening communities, and building a nation grounded in character, service, and dharma.

From the dawn of the shakhas in Nagpur to their presence across every corner of India today, the RSS exemplifies the idea that nation-building begins not with policy alone but with individuals of moral courage and selfless dedication. Its century-long journey underscores the truth that service without recognition, discipline without display, and unity without uniformity are the pillars upon which enduring nations are built. Vijaya Dashami 2025 is not merely a commemoration of the past; it is a reaffirmation that the Sangh’s mission—quiet, disciplined, and devoted—continues to illuminate India’s path toward social cohesion, moral renewal, and national pride.