RSS like holy Ganga, has flowed selflessly for welfare of society for 100 years: Vice President

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Friday likened the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the holy Ganga, saying the organisation has flowed selflessly for the welfare of others over the past century. The VP added that it has grown from humble beginnings into one of the world's largest voluntary organisations. Addressing the launch of the book "RSS @100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice" at the Vice President's Enclave here, Radhakrishnan said it was a personal honour for him to participate in the release of a book marking the centenary of the Sangh, with which he has had a long association. Recalling a Tamil poem on the RSS, he said the organisation has often been likened to the holy Ganga, which flows selflessly for the welfare of others. "The Sangh is like the holy Ganga. Just as the Ganga keeps flowing for the welfare of others without expecting anything in return, the RSS has continued its work in the spirit of service throughout its hundred-year journey," he said. "Like the Ganga, which begins as a small stream before becoming a mighty river, the RSS too started from humble beginnings and has today become one of the world's largest voluntary organisations," he added. Congratulating the book's authors, Shyam Jaju and Anupam Trivedi, Radhakrishnan said they have successfully captured the ethos of the organisation in the book. "The Sangh's journey has been one of reviving, reinforcing and rebuilding Bharat's cultural roots, heritage and traditions," he said. Referring to the book's title, the vice president said the ideals of service, unity and sacrifice have inspired generations of RSS volunteers. "Service reflects selfless commitment to society, unity reinforces the bonds that transcend India's linguistic and cultural diversity, and sacrifice reminds us that enduring institutions are built through dedication, perseverance and selfless effort," he said. "The centenary is an occasion to acknowledge the dedication of lakhs of volunteers. Institutions endure only when sustained by conviction, commitment and the willingness of ordinary people to work for causes greater than themselves," he said. Referring to the chapter titled "A Swayamsevak as PM: The Modi Era", Radhakrishnan said the book traces Prime Minister Narendra Modi's journey from a swayamsevak to "Pradhan Sevak". "The prime minister has consistently placed 'seva' (service) and the principle of 'Rashtra Pratham' (Nation First) at the centre of governance, reflecting the RSS' enduring emphasis on selfless service and nation-building," he said. The vice president said the RSS has consistently promoted cultural continuity and national consciousness by fostering pride in India's civilisational heritage, diverse traditions, languages and spiritual thought. He said the completion of 100 years was an opportunity not merely to celebrate the organisation's journey but also to recognise the dedication of its volunteers. A message from RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who could not attend the function, was also read out during the event. In his message, Hosabale congratulated the authors for documenting the RSS' century-long journey and said the book provides an informative account of the organisation, clarifies many myths and includes several anecdotes highlighting lesser-known aspects of the Sangh. He expressed confidence that the book will be widely appreciated by readers seeking to understand the RSS. The event was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts president Ram Bahadur Rai, RSS Kshetra Sanghchalak Pawan Jindal, Prabhat Prakashan managing director Prabhat Kumar, the book's co-authors Shyam Jaju and Anupam Trivedi, and others. PTI ADI KSS KSS