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The coin is historic as for the first time in independent India, the image of Bharat Mata has been featured on Indian currency
Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases a specially designed commemorative postage stamp during the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. (PTI)
As the country celebrates Vijaya Dashmi, the victory of good over evil, on Thursday, it will also mark a special moment in the journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which will step into its 101st year—completing a century of discipline, sacrifice, and nation-building.
Unveiling historic tributes to mark the milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday released a special postage stamp and a Rs 100 commemorative coin.
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The coin is historic as for the first time in independent India, the image of Bharat Mata has been featured on Indian currency. She is shown in Varada Mudra, with a lion at her side, while Swayamsevaks stand before her in devotion. The front side of the coin carries the national emblem and inscribed on the coin are the words: ‘Nation First, This is for the Nation, Not for Me’.
The postage stamp too carries meaning, recalling the 1963 Republic Day parade in which Sangh cadre took part, but also highlighting the RSS’ role in relief efforts during natural disasters. Just months after the India-China war, Swayamsevaks had marched with pride on Rajpath, now Kartavya Path, at the request of then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who had seen the Sangh’s efforts during the war.
Recalling the legacy of the Sangh, the prime minister said it had never fought with the intent of revenge because it considers itself a part of society, accepting both the good and the bad.
Be it floods, cyclones, or earthquakes, RSS has always been among the first responders on the ground. “RSS Shakhas are places of inspiration, where the journey begins from ‘me’ to ‘we’,” PM Modi said, noting that even former President Pranab Mukherjee, when he visited the Sangh headquarters, admitted he was surprised by their simplicity.
As the prime minister extolled the Sangh’s contributions, he also sounded a warning. He said there are conspiracies to change India’s demography and foreign forces trying to instigate separatism. His message was clear—these challenges must be faced with unity, and Swadeshi must become a way of life.
PM Modi said the present RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat, has carried this message into villages with a vision of social harmony—‘Ek kuan, ek mandir, ek shamshan’ [One well, one temple, one cremation ground], rejecting caste divisions and fostering equality. This is how the Sangh sees an inclusive Bharat.
As the prime minister put it, this Vijaya Dashmi marks not just a festival, but also the continuation of a century-long journey of nation-building. The Sangh has faced conspiracies, challenges, even attacks, yet it has stood firm, because its roots lie deep in society itself. As the RSS enters its 101st year, the story of Seva, sacrifice, and nation-first spirit continues, Modi said.
About the Author
Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office….Read More
Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office…. Read More
October 01, 2025, 14:07 IST
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