Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, 7 July 2026, paid tribute to Lakshmibai Kelkar, fondly known as Mausiji, on the occasion of her birth anniversary, honouring the founder of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti for her lasting contribution to organising Indian women for national service.

Context

In her post, CM Gupta offered 'shata-shata naman' — a hundredfold salutation — to Lakshmibai Kelkar, describing her contribution as unforgettable (avismarniya). She wrote that Kelkar inspired Bharatiya matrishakti — the collective strength of Indian womanhood — to take an active role in service, cultural values (sanskar), and social life. The Chief Minister added that Kelkar's ideas continue to inspire countless sevikas (volunteers) to fulfil their duties towards the nation with a spirit of service and dedication.

Who was Lakshmibai Kelkar

Lakshmibai Kelkar established the Rashtra Sevika Samiti in 1936 in Wardha, Maharashtra, with the aim of organising women for social service, discipline, and the preservation of cultural values. She is widely regarded as a pioneering figure in the Hindu nationalist women's movement and built the Samiti into one of India's largest women's volunteer networks. Her followers affectionately called her Mausiji — literally 'respected aunt' — a title that became synonymous with the organisation's maternal ethos.

The Rashtra Sevika Samiti was conceived as a parallel body to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which was founded in 1925, and drew on the RSS model of disciplined, ideologically motivated volunteerism. The Samiti focuses on running shakhas (local branches), conducting educational programmes, and promoting women's participation in community and national life.

Policy Backdrop

The tribute fits a well-established pattern among BJP leaders of publicly marking the birth and death anniversaries of figures associated with the Sangh Parivar — the broader family of organisations ideologically linked to the RSS. Such observances serve to affirm ideological continuity and to spotlight the contributions of early twentieth-century Hindu organisational founders who are not always part of mainstream historical discourse. For CM Gupta, who leads a BJP government in Delhi, the post also underscores the party's emphasis on women's agency framed through the lens of cultural service and nation-building.

Stakeholders and Impact

The anniversary is observed by Rashtra Sevika Samiti branches across the country, with shakhas holding commemorative programmes to mark the occasion. The Samiti's volunteer network spans multiple states and draws participants from a wide cross-section of urban and semi-urban communities. Messages from senior political figures such as the Delhi Chief Minister lend institutional visibility to the organisation's foundational narrative.

What's Next

Parallel tributes from other BJP office-bearers and Sangh Parivar affiliates are expected through the day, as is customary on such anniversaries. The Samiti's own commemorative events at its shakhas will reinforce the annual cycle of remembrance that keeps Kelkar's legacy at the centre of the organisation's identity. As BJP governments in several states continue to spotlight women's participation in civic and social life, tributes of this nature are likely to remain a regular feature of the party's public communication calendar.