In first visit to RSS headquarters for an Indian PM, Modi calls Sangh ‘banyan tree’ of Indian culture

Narendra Modi on Sunday became the first Prime Minister of India to visit the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Modi visited the memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at the Sangh’s headquarters in Reshim Bagh. He was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at RSS headquarters.

Later, Modi laid the foundation stone laying of an extension building of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in thee city. RSS is the ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). No Prime Minister of Indiahas ever visited the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.

Speaking at the eye hospital function, Modi described the RSS as the "vatvruksh", or banyan tree, of India’s immortal culture and modernisation whose ideals and principles were to protect the national consciousness.

Modi shared the stage with Bhagwat at the Eye Institute event. This was for the third time that the PM and the RSS chief shared the stage since 2014 and the first time since the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The RSS volunteers are working selflessly in various spheres in different parts of the country, Modi said on the occasion. "The Sangh is the ‘banyan tree’ of India’s immortal culture and modernisation," Modi said. ''This large vatvruksh is not an ordinary one," he said, adding the RSS is synonymous to service.

Madhav Netralaya was founded in 2014 in memory of late RSS chief Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar. Modi described it as an institution serving the society for several decades on the ideals of Golwalkar, the second RSS chief.

Influence of RSS on Modi's life

Modi has repeatedly spoken about the influence of the RSS on his life. In his recent podcast with Lex Fridman, the prime minister said the teachings of Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Vivekananda, and the service-driven philosophy of the RSS played a crucial role in shaping him.

“More than anything, the RSS provides you with a clear direction toward what can truly be called a purpose in life. Secondly, the nation is everything, and serving the people is akin to serving God,” Modi told Lex Fridman in the podcast released on March 16.

Modi said on Sunday the ''tapasya'' of RSS with its ''sanghathan'' 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), Modi said.

Significance of Historic First

Modi had last visited the RSS headquarters in 2013 as Chief Minister of Gujarat. Modi's visit to RSS headquarters assumes significance as it comes months after reported strains the BJP and the Sangh in the days leading up to the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

In an interview with The Indian Express, BJP President JP Nadda had said that the party no longer required hand-holding by the RSS adding to them.

(With PTI inputs)