When India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the focus is not just on the celebration of a unique organization’s hundred-year journey but also on a significant question: will its founder, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, finally be honored with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna? A Western scholar once remarked that there exists no other organization in the world that matches the structure, discipline, and outreach of the RSS. Despite decades of criticism often branded as communal, fascist, or sectarian the RSS has not only survived but flourished, growing into the world’s largest volunteer movement.
The credit for this remarkable journey belongs to Dr. Hedgewar, who in 1925, at just 36 years of age, laid the foundation of an institution that has shaped generations of leaders and transformed national life. Today, under the shadow of this very institution, thousands of volunteers have taken up roles in policy-making, social service, and nation-building.
The Rising Demand for Bharat Ratna for Hedgewar
As the RSS marks its 100th year, a chorus of voices within the Sangh Parivar and beyond has begun demanding that Dr. Hedgewar be awarded the Bharat Ratna. Sources suggest that the organization has formally communicated this wish to the central government. The decision, however, rests with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet. Political observers believe that conferring Bharat Ratna on Hedgewar would not just be an acknowledgment of the RSS but also a source of pride for millions of volunteers who have selflessly dedicated their lives to the cause of nation-building.
In recent years, the BJP leadership has also shown signs of bridging reported differences with the RSS. Moves such as issuing a commemorative coin for the centenary year and nominating RSS-background leader C. P. Radhakrishnan as Vice President are seen as efforts to strengthen ties. Prime Minister Modi himself, from the Red Fort, has praised the contribution of the Sangh in shaping national character. In this atmosphere, the call for honoring Hedgewar resonates stronger than ever.
A Legacy of Service and Nation-Building
Over the past century, the RSS has played a crucial role not only in shaping political thought but also in contributing to education, health, and disaster relief. The Vidya Bharati network today runs over 20,000 schools and teacher-training institutes, imparting education to lakhs of students across India. Seva Bharati, another RSS initiative, is active in some of the remotest corners of the country, providing relief and rehabilitation.
The RSS has been at the forefront during times of national crisis. From assisting refugees during Partition, supporting soldiers during wars with China and Pakistan, and extending relief during the Odisha cyclone of 1971, the Bhopal gas tragedy, the Gujarat earthquake, and the Uttarakhand floods, Sangh volunteers have always been visible in the frontlines of service. Such contributions have made the organization inseparable from India’s story of resilience and recovery.
Even leaders outside the ideological sphere of the Sangh have acknowledged Hedgewar’s contribution. When former President Pranab Mukherjee visited the RSS headquarters in Nagpur in 2018, he referred to Hedgewar as a “great son of Mother India” in the visitor’s book—a statement that underlined the respect Hedgewar commands beyond political boundaries.
Dr. Hedgewar: The Visionary Behind the Sangh
Born in Nagpur, Hedgewar’s early life was deeply influenced by India’s struggle for independence. A committed Congressman, he participated in the freedom movement and was arrested twice once in 1920 for delivering an anti-British speech, and again in 1930 during Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha. Yet Hedgewar realized that political agitation alone was not enough; he believed that lasting national reconstruction required disciplined individuals bound by a sense of cultural identity.
With this vision, he established the RSS in 1925. The Sangh was not meant to be just a political tool, but a school of character-building. Hedgewar believed in “vyakti nirman se rashtra nirman” (nation-building through character-building). His model emphasized discipline, unity, and the awakening of Hindu consciousness to ensure that Indian society remained strong in the face of external and internal challenges.
RSS at 100: The Question of Recognition
The RSS turning 100 is not just a landmark for the organization but for the nation itself. From being dismissed as a fringe group in the early years to becoming a key influencer in national politics and social movements, the Sangh’s journey mirrors India’s own transformation. For its critics, the RSS remains a subject of debate. But for its supporters, the centenary year is an occasion to highlight its unmatched contribution to national service.
The demand for Bharat Ratna for Hedgewar therefore carries symbolic significance. It would be recognition not only of a man who gave his life for nation-building but also of the millions of volunteers who continue his mission with dedication. For the Modi government, bestowing this honor would send a clear message of appreciation for the cultural and civilizational roots that Hedgewar nurtured through the RSS.
A Century of Service, Awaiting National Recognition
Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar envisioned an India strengthened through unity, discipline, and cultural pride. A hundred years later, his creation the RSS stands as a testimony to his vision. Whether it was during wars, natural disasters, or in the fields of education and health, RSS volunteers have always embodied his philosophy of selfless service.
As India celebrates the Sangh’s centenary, the question that looms large is whether the nation will officially honor its founder with the Bharat Ratna. For millions of volunteers and supporters, such recognition would not just be an award to one individual but a tribute to the spirit of seva and nation-building that defines the RSS. The centenary year may well become historic if the Modi government chooses to bestow this honor, ensuring that Dr. Hedgewar’s legacy is enshrined in the highest recognition the Republic can offer.