By News18,Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Copyright news18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers for being “tirelessly and unstoppably engaged in serving the nation for a hundred years,” calling this year’s Vijayadashami festival special as it marks a century since the founding of the RSS.
Making the remarks during the 126th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Modi said, “100 years ago, when the RSS was founded, the country had been bound in the chains of slavery for centuries. This centuries-long slavery had deeply hurt our self-respect and self-confidence. The world’s oldest civilisation was facing an identity crisis. Our citizens were becoming victims of an inferiority complex.”
“This Vijayadashami is very special for another reason. This day marks 100 years of the foundation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. This journey of a century is as amazing, unprecedented, and inspiring as it is,” he added.
“The RSS has been tirelessly and unstoppably engaged in serving the nation for a hundred years. That is why we see that whenever there is a natural disaster anywhere in the country, RSS volunteers are the first to reach there. This spirit of ‘Nation First’ always remains paramount in every action and every endeavour of the lives of millions of volunteers. I offer my best wishes to every volunteer who is dedicating himself to the great yagya of serving the nation,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to Assam’s renowned singer Zubeen Garg, who recently passed away in a tragic incident in Singapore.
“People are mourning the untimely passing of Zubeen Garg, a celebrated singer known nationwide. Deeply connected to Assamese culture, Zubeen Garg’s legacy will live on, and his music will continue to captivate generations to come,” he said.
Turning to the festive season, Modi spoke about Chhath Puja, describing how the festival honours Surya Dev through offerings to the setting sun. Once a regional celebration, he noted, Chhath is now gaining recognition globally, highlighting its cultural significance in Bihar, which is headed for elections this year. He said that the government is working to get Chhath listed on UNESCO’s list.