Zirakpur: A public meeting was organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) unit in Zirakpur to mark the organisation’s 100-year milestone. The event took place at the clubhouse of Green Valley Tower Society in Kishanpura and was attended by local residents and community members.

Addressing the gathering as the chief speaker, RSS North Zone Prachar Pramukh Banveer Singh spoke about the organisation’s century-long journey. He said the RSS had faced multiple bans, including in 1948 following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, during the Emergency in 1975, and after the demolition of the Babri structure in 1992. He described these actions as “false allegations” and said the organisation continued to grow despite adverse circumstances.

Singh claimed that the RSS now runs around 80,000 daily branches and 30,000 weekly meetings across India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. He said volunteers remain active throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions, and that the organisation has helped establish around 72 institutions working in various sectors of social service.

Referring to challenges in community mobilisation, Singh said it is often difficult to unite Hindu society on a single platform. He also spoke about RSS founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, stating that after his release from prison, Hedgewar adopted a strategy that combined participation in the freedom movement with efforts to organise Hindus, leading to the establishment of the RSS in 1925.

Singh also referred to historical events, including violence in Kerala’s Malabar region, and highlighted the organisation’s efforts in running over 2,000 hostels aimed at preventing religious conversion and promoting education, particularly in tribal areas. He flagged rising drug use as a concern for society.

Outlining the organisation’s roadmap for the coming decades, Singh said the RSS is focusing on five areas during its centenary phase: family awareness, environmental protection, social harmony, promotion of indigenous values, and civic responsibility.

On the occasion, Sanjay Singla, chairman of the Shyam Sahara Kanika Foundation, also addressed attendees and called for unity in social service efforts.