Last Updated:
Veteran members of RSS, who witnessed the early years of Bhagwat and Modi, often recall how they were nurtured almost like brothers under the warm, wise guidance of Madhukar Rao.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and PM Narendra Modi. (Image: PTI File)
On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s 75th birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s piece can only be described as a political and deeply personal tribute. As the article flows, it is seen that one of the central themes and emotional highlights of the Prime Minister’s piece was the fond remembrance and deep admiration for Madhukar Rao Bhagwat, the father of Mohan Bhagwat.
Veteran members of the RSS, who witnessed the early years of both Bhagwat and Modi, often recall how they were nurtured almost like brothers under the warm and wise guidance of Madhukar Rao. He was not only a mentor to both but also shaped them as devoted proteges, while instilling in them the spirit and discipline to serve the Sangh with unwavering dedication.
Recommended Stories
Bhagwat and Modi, are often called as ‘Jai-Veeru ki Jodi‘ (the friends from the iconic Hindi movie – Sholay) by the Sangh volunteers while describing them in a lighter vein. According to the seniors, the ‘jodi‘ has a strangely connected chemistry which many would probably not understand from statements that often come out of situations.
The PM’s piece, overflowing with warmth, admiration and a sense of ideological kinship, was not just a message of birthday greetings for Bhagwat, it was a statement.
A Brotherhood Beyond Words
Modi described Bhagwat as a leader who embodies universal brotherhood and credited him with steering the Sangh through continuity, evolution and adaptation. In doing so, he placed the RSS chief at the heart of India’s evolving national imagination, integration while framing his legacy in terms of tradition and transformation as well.
The significance of this lavish praise cannot just be overstated. For the past year, speculation has swirled about tensions between the RSS and the BJP while the occasional skirmish over policies, electoral strategies, ground level access issues and the balance between ideology and governance. Modi’s tribute to the Sangha as delivered on August 15, and now his emotional homage to Bhagwat, decisively undercut that narrative.
It projects not discord but fraternity, not distance but integration. Modi is not just acknowledging the role of the Sangh in shaping his own life and politics, he is also asserting that the synergy between Nagpur and Delhi is stronger than ever before.
The timing is crucial. Bhagwat is now stepping into his 76th year, and with it comes inevitable debate about succession, longevity, and what lies ahead for the RSS in its second century. Bhagwat turned 75 in the organisation’s centenary year. He has been one of long serving Sarsanghchalak, as he has been continuing with this responsibility for the past 16 years, since 2009.
By lavishing praise on his “friend,” Modi is also sending a message that says, the question is not about whether Bhagwat will stay relevant beyond 75, but how central his leadership will remain to the Sangh’s forward march.
The Road Beyond 75
Bhagwat’s tenure of 16 years has already been marked by two defining impulses. One is of preserving the Sangh’s foundational ethos and opening it up to new currents of social change. Under his stewardship, the RSS has repositioned itself as not just the custodian of ideology but also a vehicle for broader national renewal.
The articulation of Panch Parivartan which includes social harmony, family values, environmental consciousness, national selfhood, and civic duties, is one example of this widening canvas.
His outreach has been as much about engaging with civil society, academia and new generations as about guiding the cadre. From a generally perceived as an ‘orthodox’ organisation and countering its opponent’s accusations like ‘regressive’, Bhagwat’s RSS evolved to an extent that includes LGBTQ+ community through the efforts of Seva Bharti, it integrated communities across religions, and it also opened up space for women participation. The changes can only be seen as how the organisation progresses through decades with a changing society and people who have seen the Sangha for years, will probably understand the meaning of such changes.
The challenge beyond 75 will be to sustain this duality, remaining rooted in the Sangh’s discipline and its core values while ensuring that the organisation does not appear rigid in a rapidly shifting society. In an India where generational aspirations are changing by the decade, Bhagwat will have to continue balancing continuity with flexibility.
Legacy and Succession
Then comes the question of legacy. The Sangh, unlike some political parties, does not operate on codified age limits, but the “75 mark” has long carried symbolic weight. Bhagwat himself has at times hinted that responsibility must eventually pass to younger hands. And in his recent speech, he said that he would accept any role that Sangha decides for him and that age is never going to be a factor.
Bhagwat is one of those personalities, whose faculties are as sharp as a young man. People who have got a chance to interact with him, know how he never stutters while talking, his speech never slurs and his faculties never fail him.
His leadership remains pivotal at a time when the RSS is preparing for its centenary and beyond. The choices he makes in the coming years, whether to guide succession from within or continue as the steady hand, will define not just his personal imprint but the organisational culture of the Sangh for decades.
The Modi Signal
Finally, there has been a Modi signal for Bhagwat and likewise a Bhawat signal for Modi. By praising Bhagwat in such expansive, emotive terms, the PM has ensured that talk of rifts is drowned out by images of camaraderie.
It is also a reminder that both men were raised by the same ideological soil, nurtured by the same discipline of the Sangh. Their bond is not tactical, it is ideological and generational. And that is precisely what Modi wanted to underline, that at a time when the Sangh is turning 100 and India is reimagining itself, the RSS chief and the PM stand not apart, but together.
About the Author
Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa…Read More
Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa… Read More
September 11, 2025, 12:56 IST
Loading comments…
Read More
 "US not deporting South Korean workers, Trump wants them to train Americans how to work: Report")
