In his first visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters after becoming the prime minister 11 years ago, Narendra Modi on Sunday described the Sangh as the ‘banyan tree’ of India’s immortal culture.
Modi became the second sitting PM to visit the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited it in 2000, an RSS official said.
In a jam-packed schedule in Nagpur since early morning, the PM visited Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir and paid tributes at the memorials dedicated to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and second sarsanghchalak (chief) MS Golwalkar.
“The memorial of the two strong pillars of RSS is an inspiration to lakhs of swayamsevaks who have dedicated themselves to the service of the nation,” the PM said in his message.
“I am overwhelmed to visit the Smruti Mandir which cherishes the memories of Param Pujaniya Dr Hedgewar and Pujya Guruji,” he added.
He also visited Deekshabhoomi, where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956.
He went inside the stupa at the Deekshabhoomi and paid homage to Ambedkar’s ‘asthi’ (mortal remains) kept there.
Modi also laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre, named after late RSS chief Madhavrao Golwalkar.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the premium centre, Modi said RSS volunteers are working selflessly in various spheres and parts of the country.
“RSS is the banyan tree of India’s immortal culture and modernisation whose ideals and principles are to protect the national consciousness,” Modi said.
“This large vatvruksh is not an ordinary one,” he said, adding the RSS is synonymous to service.
Modi said the ‘tapasya’ of RSS with its ‘sangathan’ and ‘samarpan’ in the last 100 years is showing fruits as the country approaches its target of ‘Viksit Bharat’ in 2047.
The 1925-47 was a crisis period as the country was fighting for independence and now, after 100 years, the RSS is stepping into another milestone, he said.
‘(The time span from) 2025 to 2047 is important because big goals are ahead of us. We have to lay the foundation stone of the next 1,000 years of a strong and developed India,’ Modi said.
The nation is celebrating 75 years of the Constitution this year and the RSS is completing 100 years (of its formation), he noted.
Addressing the audience, Mohan Bhagwat said the Madhav Netralaya worked hard for several years for people’s welfare. It is inspired by the Sangh’s ideology of selfless service, he said.
“It doesn’t look good that people are bereft of health facilities and hence, the RSS volunteers have selflessly worked to provide vision to the needy at the Madhav Netralaya,’ he said.
