Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Friday. He highlighted its 100-year journey and described it as the “largest NGO in the world.”

“A hundred years ago, a movement was born, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). For a century, this organisation has dedicated itself to the welfare of the nation. Through service, dedication, organisation, and unparalleled discipline, the RSS has played a unique role in nation-building. In a way, the RSS is the biggest NGO of the world. It has a history of 100 years of dedication,” Modi said.

RSS: From Small Shakhas to a Global Movement

The RSS was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur. It marks its centenary year in 2025. Initially, it began as a small shakha (daily gathering) to promote discipline, unity, and cultural nationalism.

Over time, the organisation has expanded into what it calls the world’s largest voluntary group, with lakhs of swayamsevaks (volunteers) across India and abroad.

Contributions and Affiliations

Over the decades, the RSS has engaged in social service, education, rural development, disaster relief, and ideological mobilisation.

It also played a major role in forming several affiliate organisations, collectively known as the Sangh Parivar. These include the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).