VP Radhakrishnan launches book marking RSS centenary; traces century-long history and its role in nation-building
Speaking at the event, the Vice President called it a personal privilege to be part of the launch during the RSS"s centenary year, and spoke of his own longstanding ties to the organisation.
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On Friday, July 17, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan released "RSS @100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice" at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, calling the RSS an organisation that has, over a hundred years, deepened the values of service, unity and national consciousness.
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Speaking at the event, the Vice President called it a personal privilege to be part of the launch during the RSS's centenary year, and spoke of his own longstanding ties to the organisation. He cited a Tamil poem likening the Sangh to the sacred Ganga, flowing selflessly for others' benefit, as an image of the service ethic that has defined the RSS since its founding.
He pointed to the RSS's daily shakhas as central to its focus on character-building, shaping young volunteers into disciplined, nationally-minded leaders. Citing the book directly, he called the shakha "a workshop of the soul where the raw energy of youth is chiselled into national character."
Turning to the book's chapter "A Swayamsevak as PM: The Modi Era," Radhakrishnan said it follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's path from swayamsevak to Pradhan Sevak, noting that Modi has kept seva and the idea of "Nation First" central to his approach to governance, an extension, he said, of the RSS's own emphasis on selfless service.
He also shared a recollection of speaking with Rajnath Singh about how both had entered public life as grassroots activists in the movement sparked by Jayaprakash Narayan's Total Revolution. Drawing again on the imagery of the Ganga—starting as a modest stream before swelling into a mighty river—he described the RSS's evolution from small beginnings into one of the largest voluntary organisations in the world.
Written by Shyam Jaju and Anupam Trivedi, the book traces the RSS's century-long history and its role in nation-building. Among those present were Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, IGNCA President Ram Bahadur Rai, RSS Kshetra Sanghchalak Pawan Jindal, the two authors, and several other guests.
Speaking at the event, the Vice President called it a personal privilege to be part of the launch during the RSS's centenary year, and spoke of his own longstanding ties to the organisation. He cited a Tamil poem likening the Sangh to the sacred Ganga, flowing selflessly for others' benefit, as an image of the service ethic that has defined the RSS since its founding.
According to Radhakrishnan, the book reflects the RSS's core mission: reviving and strengthening India's cultural heritage and traditions. He described the three guiding values- service, unity, and sacrifice, as having shaped generations of volunteers, with service embodying selfless commitment, unity binding together India's diverse communities, and sacrifice underpinning the effort needed to build lasting institutions.
He pointed to the RSS's daily shakhas as central to its focus on character-building, shaping young volunteers into disciplined, nationally-minded leaders. Citing the book directly, he called the shakha "a workshop of the soul where the raw energy of youth is chiselled into national character."
The Vice President further noted that the RSS has long worked to sustain cultural continuity and a sense of national identity, encouraging pride in India's civilisational legacy, languages, customs and spiritual traditions. He said the organisation's centenary is a fitting occasion to honour the countless volunteers whose efforts have driven its growth over the decades.
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Turning to the book's chapter "A Swayamsevak as PM: The Modi Era," Radhakrishnan said it follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's path from swayamsevak to Pradhan Sevak, noting that Modi has kept seva and the idea of "Nation First" central to his approach to governance, an extension, he said, of the RSS's own emphasis on selfless service.
He also shared a recollection of speaking with Rajnath Singh about how both had entered public life as grassroots activists in the movement sparked by Jayaprakash Narayan's Total Revolution. Drawing again on the imagery of the Ganga—starting as a modest stream before swelling into a mighty river—he described the RSS's evolution from small beginnings into one of the largest voluntary organisations in the world.