Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Friday, 17 July released the book 'RSS @100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice' in New Delhi, authored by Shyam Jaju and Anupam Trivedi. Speaking at the launch, Radhakrishnan praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) emphasis on character-building and leadership development through its daily shakhas, calling the shakha 'a workshop of the soul where the raw energy of youth is chiselled into national character.'

Key Developments at the Book Launch

The event drew a prominent gathering, including Union 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, and Managing Director of Prabhat Prakashan Prabhat Kumar, alongside the co-authors.

Radhakrishnan drew attention to the chapter titled 'A Swayamsevak as PM: The Modi Era', noting that the book chronicles Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trajectory from a grassroots Swayamsevak to Pradhan Sevak. He observed that Modi has consistently placed seva and the principle of 'Rashtra Pratham' (Nation First) at the core of governance — values he described as rooted in the RSS's foundational ethos of selfless service and nation-building.

What the Vice-President Said

Recalling a conversation with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Radhakrishnan noted that both had entered public life as grassroots functionaries inspired by Jayaprakash Narayan's 'Sampoorna Kranti' (Total Revolution) movement. He used the analogy of the Ganga — beginning as a modest stream before becoming a mighty river — to describe the RSS's own evolution from humble origins into one of the world's largest voluntary organisations.

On the book's three guiding ideals, the Vice-President said service reflects selfless commitment to society, unity reinforces bonds that transcend India's linguistic and cultural diversity, and sacrifice underscores that enduring institutions are built through dedication, perseverance, and selfless effort. He added that the essence of a Swayamsevak lies in performing every entrusted responsibility with dedication and excellence.

About the Book and Its Authors

Published by Prabhat Prakashan, the book marks the RSS's centenary and is co-authored by Shyam Jaju and Anupam Trivedi. It traces the organisation's journey across 100 years, documenting its role in cultural revival, community service, and national integration. Radhakrishnan described the Sangh's century-long journey as one of 'reviving, reinforcing and rebuilding Bharat's cultural roots, heritage and traditions.'

Significance of the RSS Centenary

The RSS, founded in 1925, completes 100 years of organised activity this year — a milestone that has prompted reflection on its influence across Indian civil society, governance, and cultural life. This comes amid broader national conversations about the role of voluntary organisations in shaping public leadership. The book launch, attended by senior constitutional and political figures, signals the significance accorded to this centenary moment at the highest levels of the Indian establishment.