Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled a special ₹100 commemorative coin and postage stamp celebrating the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, marking the first-ever depiction of Bharat Mata on Indian currency.
Coin Design and Symbolism released by PM Modi
The ₹100 coin displays the national emblem on one side, while the reverse features Bharat Mata in Varada Mudra—a gesture symbolizing offering with the palm facing outward—accompanied by a lion. The design shows RSS volunteers (swayamsevaks) bowing before the figure in devotion.
The coin bears the RSS motto “Rashtriya Swaha, Idam Rashtraya, Idam Na Mama,” translating to “Everything is dedicated to the nation, Everything is the nation’s, Nothing is mine.”
“For the first time in the history of independent India, the image of Bharat Mata has been featured on Indian currency, which marks a moment of great pride and historical significance,” PM Modi stated at the Delhi launch event.
Postal Stamp Release
The commemorative stamp depicts RSS workers participating in the 1963 Republic Day Parade, highlighting the organization’s historical contributions to national events.
The Ministry of Culture organized the centenary celebrations, attended by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
RSS Background
Founded in 1925 in Nagpur by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS was established as a volunteer-based organization promoting cultural awareness, discipline, service, and social responsibility. Modi himself served as an RSS ‘pracharak’ (organizer) before transitioning to the BJP, which draws ideological inspiration from the Hindutva organization.
Social Service Emphasis
The celebrations aim to spotlight RSS’s community service activities, including blood donation drives, food distribution programs, and disaster relief efforts during events such as the Kedarnath and Bihar floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The commemorative releases represent official recognition of the RSS’s centenary, though the organization remains politically significant given its ideological connections to the ruling BJP. The depiction of Bharat Mata on official currency represents a notable symbolic development in Indian numismatics, reflecting the current government’s cultural and nationalist priorities.
