RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwant with former President Ram Nath Kovind at RSS headquarters in Nagpur. (RSS/X)RSS Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami Speech Live Updates: The annual Vijayadashami address by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat carries special weight on Thursday as the organisation, considered as the ruling BJP’s ideological fountainhead, is set to complete 100 years this year. Addressing the headquarters in Nagpur he said, “Recent tariff policy adopted by the United States is affecting everyone and highlighted the need for India to reduce its dependence on the global economic system. Today, America is considered a role model, and people want India to live a life like America.”
Mohan Bhagwat’s recent addresses: In August, Bhagwat restated the Sangh’s stand on caste-based reservation, stressing that the RSS will support it until beneficiaries no longer feel the need for it. He said that the caste divisions have no relevance these days and should be approached with sensitivity. He also urged people not to employ illegal migrants, warning that migration and religious conversion create risks of demographic imbalance. At the same time, he underlined that religion is a personal choice, stating, “Why talk of Hindu-Muslim unity when all are same, we all are Indians.”
What other issues has Bhagwat spoken about recently? Bhagwat has called for families to have three children. “This is what doctors have said… Our country’s population recommends a birth rate of 2.1, which is fine as an average, but you can never have 0.1 of a child. In math, 2.1 becomes 2, but when it comes to births, after two, it has to be three,” the RSS chief said. He clarified that the Sangh does not decide BJP’s organisational matters but maintains coordination with both Centre and state governments.
As RSS turns 100, how chief guest Kovind traced its ‘Ambedkarwadi’ character
After RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's address, former President of India Ram Nath Kovind said that in 2001, Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister had said that “we are Ambedkarwadi (Ambedkarite)”.
“I want to mention a Dalit Sangam rally on the Red Fort premises in 2001. I was the president of the Scheduled Caste morcha of the BJP at that time and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister. Many people used to indulge in false propaganda that the Sangh Parivar and Atal ji were anti-Dalit. Atal ji said while addressing the rally that our government is there for the welfare of Dalits, OBCs and the poor,” Kovind said.
“Hamari Sarkar Manu Smriti ke aadhaar par nahin balki Bhim Smriti ke aadhaar par kaam karegi. Bhim Smriti arthaat Bharat ka sanvidhan. Unhone ye bhi kahaa tha ki hum Bheemwaadi hain arthaat Ambedkarwaadi hain (Our government will function on the basis of Bhim Smriti rather than Manu Smriti. Bhim Smriti means the Indian constitution. He also said that we are Bhimwaadi, meaning Ambedkarite),” Kovind underlined, adding, “That speech of Atal ji had a historic role in removing the misgivings in this section of society that were a result of false propaganda against the Sangh. The Sangh has been a supporter of social unity and reform.”
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Here's what RSS chief said on Pahalgam terror attack
Referring to the April 22 cross-border terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 tourists were killed, Bhagwat said the incident and its aftermath revealed both the resilience of Indian society and the fault lines in global solidarity.
“On 22 April, in Pahalgam, cross-border terrorists killed 26 Bharatiya civilian tourists after asking them about their Hindu faith… After careful planning, the government of Bharat gave a fitting response to this attack in the month of May. During this entire period, we witnessed heartening scenes of the firmness of the country’s leadership, the valour and war-readiness of our Armed Forces, as well as the determination and unity of our society,” he said.
He added that the episode had also shown “who our friends are in the global arena and to what extent they are willing to stand by us”.
The comment, made in the backdrop of a visibly fractured global consensus on terrorism, is being read as the RSS chief’s attempt to underline that India’s diplomacy must be tempered by vigilance and realpolitik.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Here's what RSS chief said on scientific progress
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said scientific progress and greater interconnectedness between countries due to communication and global trade present a positive picture.
However, there is a considerable difference between the pace of scientific and technological progress and the pace at which humans adapt to these. Due to this, ordinary people may end up facing numerous problems, he said.
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Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Highlighted rich contributions of RSS to nation-building, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the annual Vijayadashmi address of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as inspiring, and said he highlighted India's innate potential to attain new heights of glory.
Modi wrote on X, "An inspiring address by Param Pujya Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat Ji, highlighting the rich contributions of the RSS to nation-building and emphasising the innate potential of our land to attain new heights of glory, thereby benefiting our entire planet."
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Ex-Kerala police chief Jacob Thomas joins RSS
Former Kerala Police chief Jacob Thomas has joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right wing volunteer organisation, as full-time 'pracharak'.
On the occasion of Vijayadashami, on October 1, Thomas took part in an event of the organisation at Pallikkara here dressed in the traditional RSS uniform.
Speaking at the event, the former DGP said the aim of the RSS was to create individuals with cultural strength.
"With more such individuals among us, the society will become stronger and it will lead to the strengthening of the nation. So, RSS intends to build a strong nation through individuals," he said.
He also said that RSS has no caste, religion, language, or regional factionalism. Thomas, who is also a former Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Kerala, had joined the BJP in 2021 and according to reports, had recently announced his decision to join the right-wing organisation.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Nadda hails RSS' 'unique contribution' to nation-building on its centenary
The RSS has made a 'unique contribution' to nation-building by inspiring youth to dedicate every moment of their lives to the service of the motherland, BJP president JP Nadda said on Thursday, when the outfit celebrated its centenary.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar on the day of Vijayadashmi in 1925, has completed 100 years.
The outfit is considered the ideological fountainhead of the ruling BJP.
Nadda described the RSS as a 'strong promoter' of service, discipline, and national ideals, and a source of inspiration for countless people.
It propagates national ideas in society and connects people with the 'divine goal' of building a strong and united India, he said in a post on X.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: There is no substitute for ‘swadeshi' and ‘swavalamban', says Bhagwat
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said that global interdependence shouldn't become a compulsion and there is no substitute for ‘swadeshi' (use of indigenous resources) and ‘swavalamban' (self-reliance).
Addressing the annual Vijayadashmi rally of the RSS here, which also marked the Sangh's centenary celebrations, Bhagwat said the tariff policy adopted by the US, based solely on its self-interest, does not pose a challenge to India.
“The world operates through mutual interdependence. By becoming ‘aatmanirbhar' (self-reliant) and being cognizant of global unity, we must ensure that this global interdependence does not become a compulsion for us, and we are able to act according to our own will. There is no substitute for swadeshi and swavalamban,” he said.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Good people shying away from politics, says ex-president Kovind
Former President Ramnath Govind on Thursday rued that “good people” are staying away from politics, and urged the youth to be a part of the country's political landscape.
Addressing as the chief guest of the annual Vijayadashmi rally of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at Reshimbagh ground here, he said RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar played an important role in shaping his life.
“I was inspired by the values of national unity and social harmony shared by Dr Ambedkar and Dr Hedgewar. There is no casteism and discrimination in RSS,” he said.
The former president said the RSS founder's “vichar” (thoughts) helped him clearly understand society and the nation.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: 'Regime change in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Nepal concern us,' says RSS chief
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern over recent regime changes in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, triggered by public unrest. "The forces wanting to create such disturbances in Bharat are active inside as well as outside our country," he said.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: 'Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj sets world record, surpassing all benchmarks,' says RSS chief
"The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj has set a new world record, attracting unprecedented numbers of pilgrims from across India and surpassing all benchmarks for management excellence...inspired a wave of faith and unity across the nation,'" said RSS chief.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat calls for self-reliance amid US tariff impact
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the recent tariff policy adopted by the United States is affecting everyone and highlighted the need for India to reduce its dependence on the global economic system. He urged the country to adopt an indigenous and self-reliant approach while maintaining diplomatic and economic relations with the world, cautioning that dependence should never become a compulsion.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat lauds army, leadership after Pahalgam attack
Addressing the gathering at Nagpur headquarters at Reshimbagh grounds, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat praised the government and the Army for their decisive response to the recent Pahalgam attack. He said the episode highlighted the bravery of India’s armed forces, and the nation’s unity. Bhagwat added that the incident also revealed the country’s true friends on the global stage.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Mohan Bhagwat pays tribute to Shri Guru Teg Bahadur on 350th death anniversary
Addressing the Nagpur headquarters at Reshimbagh grounds, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat commemorated the 350th anniversary of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji Maharaj’s martyrdom. Lauding his sacrifice, he said, "His sacrifice, becoming the shield of India, protected Hindu society from the atrocities of foreign heretics."
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Piyush Goyal hails RSS volunteers on Sangh’s 100th anniversary
Union Minister Piyush Goyal congratulated the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on completing 100 years, praising its journey from a single volunteer under founder Dr. Keshavrao Baliram Hedgewar to a vast organisation of millions. He lauded the Sangh’s commitment to self-awareness, social harmony, family values, civic responsibility, and environmental conservation, calling it a “living embodiment of sacrifice, austerity, and dedication” in service of the nation.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat performs ‘Shastra Puja' on occasion of Vijayadashmi
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday performed ‘Shastra Puja' on the occasion of the organisation's Vijayadashmi Utsav in Nagpur. Besides traditional arms, replicas of modern weapons, including Pinaka MK-1, Pinaka Enhance and Pinaka, and drones were on display during the Shastra Puja at the Reshimbagh ground of the RSS headquarters.This year's Vijayadashmi event of the RSS will also mark the centenary celebrations of the Sangh.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Amit Shah hails RSS volunteers on Sangh’s 100th anniversary
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on its centenary, praising the dedication and sacrifice of its volunteers and pracharaks. "Under the revered leadership of Hedgewar Ji, the Sangh began in 1925 in Nagpur on the day of Vijayadashami with a few individuals. Today, through its dedication to individuals and the nation, and its organizational prowess, it has become the world’s largest social organization. I am proud to be a volunteer myself," Shah wrote on X.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Union Minister Amit Shah hails RSS volunteers on Sangh’s 100th anniversary
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: On RSS centenary, PM Modi honors volunteers and founder Dr Hedgewar
Hailing RSS' centenary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "This was the re-establishment of a tradition that has existed for thousands of years, in which national consciousness has periodically manifested in new incarnations to meet the challenges of the era."
"I pay my respects to the founder of the Sangh, our ideal…the most revered Dr. Hedgewar ji. To commemorate this glorious journey of 100 years of the Sangh, the Government of India has also issued special postage stamps and commemorative coins," he said.
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates: Major events in RSS' 100-year journey
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is set to complete 100 years on Thursday, has come a long way since its inception to become the largest socio-cultural organisation.
Here is a timeline of key events that shaped the RSS' journey, including the various highs and lows:
Mohan Bhagwat Vijayadashami speech Live Updates | RSS at 100: Patel vs Nehru, and many twists in between, in Sangh’s ties with Congress
On December 18, 1947, Congress stalwart and then Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel said in Jaipur that he appreciated the enthusiasm of young men of the RSS, “but that it should be diverted to constructive channels”, and that a great deal needed to be done to make India militarily strong.
Three days later, Patel wrote to a Congress freedom fighter from Karnataka, Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, repeating the same message, while adding that one had to be careful while channelling the RSS’s energies positively, as “very few people are prepared to listen to reason”. This was in response to Deshpande’s letter to him stating that the RSS was a “well-knit and disciplined organisation”.
Addressing an event in Lucknow on January 6, 1948, Patel spoke up for the RSS again. “In the Congress, those who are in power feel that, by virtue of authority, they will be able to crush the RSS. You cannot crush an organisation by using the danda (stick). The danda is meant for thieves and dacoits. They (RSS leaders) are patriots who love their country. Only their trend of thought is diverted. They are to be won over by Congressmen with love,” Patel said.
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