Nagpur: Former President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for its role in fostering social unity and inclusivity, while invoking the words of Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar, and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the organisation’s centenary Vijayadashami celebrations at Nagpur’s Reshimbag ground.
Addressing a large gathering as the chief guest of the event, Kovind highlighted how both Gandhi and Ambedkar had acknowledged the Sangh’s discipline and egalitarian ethos. He noted that Gandhi was “deeply impressed” by the discipline, simplicity, and equality he witnessed at an RSS camp. Similarly, Ambedkar, during his 1940 visit to an RSS shakha at Karad, had remarked that despite some differences of opinion, he felt “a sense of belonging” with the organisation.
Kovind, who served as India’s 14th President from 2017 to 2022, drew parallels between his personal journey and the ideals of Ambedkar and RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. “It is only because of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution that a person like me, from an ordinary social and economic background, could reach the highest constitutional office,” he said. Kovind credited Hedgewar’s vision for shaping his understanding of society and national unity.
The former President also paid rich tributes to past Sangh chiefs and lauded current Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, describing him as “a farsighted social scientist working to integrate modernity with tradition.” Recalling his visit to Deekshabhoomi and Hedgewar’s residence during his Nagpur stay, Kovind described the experience as one of “great fulfilment.”
Reflecting on his long association with Sangh workers since his 1991 Lok Sabha election campaign, Kovind said the swayamsevaks he met were “sincere, spontaneous, and free from caste-based discrimination.” He urged that “baseless misconceptions about the Sangh” should be cleared and its inclusive vision communicated widely. He emphasized the RSS’s contribution in uniting various sections of society — from farmers to scientists and from tribal communities to artists. Kovind also recalled the bans imposed on the organisation in 1948, 1975, and 1992, observing how it emerged stronger each time.
A key moment in his address was Kovind’s reference to Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 2001 ‘Dalit Sangam’ speech at Red Fort, where the then Prime Minister declared that India’s governance would be guided not by Manusmriti but by “Bhim Smriti” — the Constitution of India. He also highlighted the Sangh’s early efforts to promote women’s leadership, pointing to the establishment of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti in 1936 and recalling historic female figures such as Jijamata, Rani Laxmibai, Ahilyabai Holkar, and Savitribai Phule.
Quoting from the Sangh’s Ekatma Stotra, which reveres Dalit and tribal leaders alongside saints and reformers, Kovind described it as “the best expression of India’s inclusive social vision.”
Towards the end of his speech, Kovind mentioned his forthcoming autobiography, Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Journey, My Struggles, which chronicles his association with Sangh ideals. Urging citizens to give back to society, he concluded with a heartfelt message: “Desh hume deta hai sab kuch, hum bhi to kuch dena seekhein (The country gives us everything, we too must learn to give back).”
