PM Modi Celebrates Mohan Bhagwat’s 75th Birthday, Praises Leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt birthday wishes to Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on his 75th birthday on September 11, 2025. Modi praised Bhagwat for his lifelong dedication to social harmony, national service, and significant organizational reforms within the RSS. In a message highlighting Bhagwat’s contributions, Modi referred to him as a torchbearer of brotherhood and reform, emphasizing his commitment to the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which translates to “the world is one family.”

The Prime Minister pointed out the significance of Bhagwat’s birthday coinciding with the RSS’s centenary celebrations this year, describing it as a remarkable occasion. Modi expressed his gratitude for Bhagwat’s leadership, wishing him long life and good health. Reflecting on his own long-standing association with the Bhagwat family, Modi acknowledged the influence of Mohan Bhagwat’s father, Madhukar Rao Bhagwat, who he credited with laying the ideological foundations of service and sacrifice in Gujarat. Modi remarked that Madhukar Rao had significantly shaped Mohan Bhagwat’s leadership style.

During his message, Modi highlighted Bhagwat’s resilience and responsiveness during pivotal moments in Indian history, such as the Emergency in the 1970s. He noted Bhagwat’s extensive work in Maharashtra’s underdeveloped regions and his efforts in empowering communities in rural Bihar. Rising through the ranks of the RSS, Bhagwat served as Akhil Bharatiya Sharirik Pramukh in the 1990s, Sarkaryawah in 2000, and became Sarsanghchalak in 2009. Modi praised him for leading with a vision characterized by intellectual depth and compassion.

Highlighting Bhagwat’s transformative contributions to the RSS, Modi noted that his tenure has been marked by significant reforms, including updates to uniforms and training methods. He commended Bhagwat’s leadership during the COVID-19 crisis and his capacity to engage with youth, embracing new ideas while advocating for technology and global perspectives. “His tenure will be remembered as the period of greatest change in the Sangh’s 100-year journey,” Modi stated, referring to Bhagwat’s role in mobilizing volunteers for major initiatives like Swachh Bharat and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.

As the RSS prepares to commemorate its centenary on Vijayadashami, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti and Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti, PM Modi called this a historic moment. He expressed the shared good fortune of millions of swayamsevaks to be led by a visionary leader like Mohan Bhagwat. Modi concluded by praising Bhagwat’s personal attributes, describing him as soft-spoken and deeply rooted in Indian culture, with interests that span music and literature.

“Every swayamsevak dreams of a prosperous Bharat Mata. Mohan ji embodies both clear vision and strong action to realize that dream,” Modi remarked, reinforcing Bhagwat’s significance to the RSS and Indian society as a whole.