On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored the founders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Dr. Keshav Balirampant Hedgewar and Madhavrao Sadashiv Golwalkar, with floral tributes at their memorials located at the RSS administrative headquarters in Reshimbagh, Nagpur. He was joined by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Sangh General Secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi.

Following the tributes, PM Modi signed the visitor’s book, expressing his sentiments: “I extend my heartfelt regards to the esteemed Hedgewarji and Guruji (Golwalkar). It is a profound experience to be present at this Smruti Mandir, reflecting on their legacies. This site signifies Indian culture and nationalism, instilling values that motivate us to serve our nation. The memories of these two towering figures of the Sangh energize countless volunteers committed to the nation’s service. May the glory of Maa Bharati continue to flourish through our endeavors.”

Later, the Prime Minister visited Deekshabhoomi, where Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar embraced Buddhism with his followers in 1956. In the visitors’ book at Deekshabhoomi, he expressed his feelings in Hindi: “I feel honored to have visited Deekshabhoomi, one of the five ‘Panchtheerth’ of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, here in Nagpur. The essence of Babasaheb’s teachings on social harmony, equality, and justice is palpable in this sacred place. I am confident that during this Amrit Kaal, we will elevate our country to new heights of progress based on Babasaheb Ambedkar’s values and teachings. Creating a developed and inclusive Bharat will be our true homage to him.”

Dr. Rajendra Gavai, a representative from the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti, which oversees Deekshabhoomi, revealed that PM Modi felt truly blessed after paying respects at Dr. Ambedkar’s memorial.

Following his visit to Deekshabhoomi, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, an extension of the Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre, a leading ophthalmic care facility established in 2014 in memory of RSS’s second chief, Sri Guruji Madhavrao Sadashiv Golwalkar. The new project will feature a 250-bed hospital equipped with 14 outpatient departments and modular operating theatres.

During the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, PM Modi remarked, “The ideas that were planted a century ago have now grown into a ‘Vat Vriksh’ (banyan tree) that stands tall before the world. These principles and ideologies provide it strength, while the countless swayamsevaks are its branches. The RSS is not just any banyan tree; it is the modern ‘Akshay Vat Vriksh’ (indestructible banyan tree) of India’s enduring culture.”

He reflected on the significance of the period from 1925 to 1947 as a time of struggle for independence, noting that the RSS is reaching an important milestone as it nears its 100th anniversary. “The upcoming years from 2025 to 2047 are crucial, as we have ambitious goals ahead. We must lay the groundwork for a strong and developed India over the next thousand years,” PM Modi affirmed, recognizing this year as a celebration of 75 years of the Constitution alongside the centenary of the RSS’s formation.