“We are proud of the RSS’s legacy of service” — Vijender Gupta
10th December, New Delhi: Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Vijender Gupta, said on Thursday that for the last 100 years, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been working with dedication, discipline, and selfless commitment for the progress of society and the nation. Its journey has advanced through service and devotion, and we should all take pride in this legacy of service.
To mark the completion of 100 years since the establishment of the RSS, a programme titled “Social–Cultural Consciousness and the Sangh” was organised by Hindusthan Samachar Multilingual News Agency at the “Samvet Sabhagar” of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in Delhi. The primary objective of the event was to highlight the RSS’s contribution and to evoke social and cultural awareness in the country.
During the programme, two special issues of Hindusthan Samachar Group’s magazines were released: Navotthan, titled ‘Sangh Shatabdi: New Horizons’, centred on cultural consciousness associated with the RSS centenary year; and Yugwarta, titled ‘Neenv Ke Patthar’, presenting concise life sketches of 105 senior pracharaks of the Sangh.
Shri Vijender Gupta attended the programme as the Chief Guest, and Shri Indresh Kumar, member of the RSS’s Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini (All-India Executive), delivered the keynote address. Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, Chairman of IGNCA, presided over the programme, while ISKCON’s Vice-President Shri Bharatrashabha Das graced the event as the Guest of Honour. Hindusthan Samachar Group’s Chairman, Shri Arvind Bhalchandra Mardikar, was also present. The event was conducted by Shri Jitendra Tiwari, Editor of Hindusthan Samachar.
On this occasion, Shri Vijender Gupta urged people to adopt the “Panch Parivartan” advocated by the RSS on the completion of its 100 years—embracing swadeshi, fulfilling civic duties, conserving water and the environment, promoting social harmony, and most importantly, strengthening family values (Kutumb Prabodhan). He said that family is the very essence of India’s identity, and we must protect our children from the influence of Western culture.
Senior RSS pracharak and member of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini, Shri Indresh Kumar, said that a hundred years ago, the presence of the RSS on earth was, in essence, an incarnation, with Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar as the Bhagirath behind this divine descent. He said, “We are fortunate to witness, immerse in, and become part of this sacred stream.” He remarked that to understand the RSS, one must understand its workers and its working style. The special issues of Yugwarta and Navotthan help illuminate these aspects. “In our tradition, we revere character, not wealth,” he added. “The pracharaks and workers of the RSS have lived this ideal, and their lives have been documented in this compilation.”
Hindusthan Samachar Group’s Chief Editor and IGNCA Chairman Shri Ram Bahadur Rai said that to understand the RSS, one must understand the lives of those who lived and worked closely with its founder, Dr. Hedgewar. Yugwarta has documented the lives of 105 such individuals who dedicated themselves to the nation and society.
He further noted that the year 2025 marks 100 years since the founding of the RSS and 150 years since the writing of Vande Mataram. It will also be remembered as the year that brought the Ram Mandir movement to its full culmination. Drawing a comparison, he said that communism and socialism also began their movements in the same era—yet they stand at a very different place today, while the RSS continues to grow. This, he asserted, has been possible because of the devotion of countless dedicated workers.
ISKCON Bengaluru’s Vice-President Shri Bharatrashabha Das said that only India can show the world the path to peace. Today, the world is embroiled in ideological conflict, and India is often portrayed incorrectly. We must find new ways to correct this. The RSS, he noted, has carried out this task for 100 years despite all opposition. “We too must understand the ideological struggle and internalise Sanatan values,” he said.
Hindusthan Samachar Group’s Chairman, Shri Arvind Mardikar, delivered the welcome address. He spoke about the history of the agency and mentioned that it provides news in 15 languages. Despite several challenges, the agency continues to move forward consistently.
