HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Oct 5: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sivasagar Nagar Samity, observed the centenary celebration of the organisation with a day-long programme held at Boarding Field on Sunday.
The event began with dhwajuttolan (flag-hoisting), followed by a brief speech from the chief guest, Satyendra Neog, a veteran sportsperson from Dikhowmukh, who spoke on the RSS’s commitment to nation-building.
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Ullash Kulkarni, a national executive member of the RSS, delivered the keynote address, tracing the 100-year journey of the organisation since its founding by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur in 1925. He highlighted that RSS, which began with a focus on the regeneration of Hindu society, is now active in 42 countries where there is a significant Hindu diaspora.
Kulkarni described Hedgewar as a revolutionary thinker who initially organised the National Volunteer Corps under the Congress but later founded RSS on the day of Bijayadashami, inspired by the thoughts of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Aurobindo, and others.
He further spoke about the contribution of the second Sarsanghachalak, Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar, under whose leadership the organisation became deeply rooted in Hindu society. Kulkarni noted Golwalkar’s influence in shaping the idea of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and referred to a Blitz magazine article that described him as “great in life but greater in death.”
Kulkarni emphasised the RSS’s guiding philosophy of Sanatan Dharma and the inclusive vision of “Sarbe Sukhina Santu, Sarbe Santu Niramoya.” He also recalled how Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sought Golwalkar’s help in forming a political wing. Though Golwalkar declined the proposal, he supported Mukherjee with RSS workers like Deendayal Upadhyay and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which led to the formation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
Reiterating the apolitical nature of the RSS, Kulkarni stated that it remains the largest socio-cultural organisation in the world.
Jila Sangha Chalak Kamaleswar Saikia also shared the dais with the speakers.
