Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled a special ₹100 commemorative coin and a postage stamp to mark the upcoming centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The ceremony, held at the Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, saw the Prime Minister as the chief guest for the RSS centennial celebration program.

Bharat Mata and Swayamsevaks on New Coin

The new ₹100 commemorative coin is particularly noteworthy as it features an unprecedented depiction in Indian currency. One side of the coin bears the National Emblem, while the reverse side showcases Bharat Mata (Mother India) in the Varada Mudra (boon-giving gesture), with three saluting swayamsevaks (volunteers) standing before her. This marks the first time that Bharat Mata and RSS volunteers have been featured on an Indian coin.

Similarly, the special postage stamp also pays tribute to the organization’s century of service.

Tribute to the Sangh’s Contribution

In his address, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the profound role the RSS has played in nation-building, stating that the coin and stamp were specifically designed to highlight this contribution. “That contribution has been highlighted through this stamp and coin,” he remarked.

The Prime Minister also took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to express his pride, writing, “Extremely proud to release a special postage stamp and a commemorative coin on the occasion of the centenary of the Sangh.”

The Genesis of the RSS

The Prime Minister reflected on the founding of the RSS a century ago by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. He asserted that its establishment was not a mere coincidence but “an effort to restore the ancient Indian tradition of thousands of years, where national consciousness was manifested in a new form to face the challenges of a changing time.”

Modi further described the RSS as a “sacred symbol of that eternal national consciousness” in the present era, stressing the continuity and relevance of the organization’s founding principles.

The special coin and stamp serve as lasting symbols commemorating the RSS’s 100 years of operation and its enduring influence on India’s social and political landscape.