Officials confirmed that the postal stamp on the RSS was not part of the annual stamp release calendar, but was introduced as a special initiative on the Prime Minister’s directive. “It was a spontaneous idea of the Prime Minister, deliberated and executed in record time,” said a government official involved in preparations.
This move is being viewed as a symbolic effort to further strengthen ties between the BJP and the RSS. Opposition parties have often spoken about “differences” between the two, particularly regarding BJP’s leadership transitions. However, both organisations maintain that they share the same vision of national service and cultural preservation.
Modi’s Acknowledgment of RSS
In recent months, the Prime Minister has repeatedly acknowledged the Sangh’s role in India’s social and cultural fabric. During his visit to Nagpur earlier this year, he described the organisation as the “banyan tree of India’s immortal culture.” In his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, he praised the RSS as “possibly the world’s biggest NGO,” commending its century-long service in civil society.
Earlier this month, on the birthday of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Mr. Modi described him as an “extraordinary individual” who balances continuity with adaptation while keeping the nation first. In his latest Mann Ki Baat broadcast, he called the Sangh’s century-long journey “unprecedented and inspiring.”
Centenary Year: A Historic Milestone
The centenary year is being described by the Prime Minister as a “golden chapter in India’s history.” RSS, founded in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur, has grown into one of the world’s largest voluntary organisations with influence in social, educational, and cultural sectors across India.
The release of the stamp and coin is expected to be both a symbolic tribute and a mark of national recognition for the organisation’s legacy.