On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur for the first time since taking office 11 years ago. Modi, who is currently serving his third term as Prime Minister, became only the second sitting PM to visit the RSS headquarters after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who visited in 2000 during his own third term.
During his visit, Modi paid homage at the Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh, a memorial dedicated to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and its second chief, MS Golwalkar. In a message penned in Hindi, Modi described the memorial as a “source of inspiration” for the lakhs of swayamsevaks (RSS volunteers) committed to nation-building. He wrote, “I am overwhelmed to visit the Smruti Mandir which cherishes the memories of Param Pujaniya Dr Hedgewar and Pujya Guruji.”
Accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Modi later reflected on the significance of his visit on social media, calling it a “profoundly special experience.” The visit coincided with Varsha Pratipada and the birth anniversary of Dr Hedgewar.
In addition to his visit to the RSS headquarters, Modi also went to Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, where Dr BR Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956. He called Deekshabhoomi a “symbol of social justice and empowerment of the downtrodden” and reiterated his government’s commitment to realizing Ambedkar’s vision of an “inclusive and developed India.” He also wrote in the visitors’ diary, “The sanctity of Deekshabhoomi resonates with Babasaheb’s ideals of equality, justice, and social harmony.”
This marked his first visit to Deekshabhoomi since 2017. Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, an extension of an eye care institute named after former RSS chief Madhavrao Golwalkar.
Addressing the gathering, Modi praised the RSS volunteers for their selfless service, emphasizing the organization’s contributions to nation-building. He said, “The work of the RSS with its ‘sangathan’ (organization) and ‘samarpan’ (dedication) in the last 100 years is showing fruits as the country approaches its target of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) in 2047.” He noted that the period from 2025 to 2047 is crucial for laying the foundation for India’s next thousand years. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also echoed this sentiment, stating that “selfless service is the RSS’ life mission.”
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