Controversy Erupts as ‘Bharat Mata’ Appears on Currency for RSS Centenary

On the occasion of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) centenary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a special Rs 100 coin featuring ‘Bharat Mata,’ a first for Indian currency. The coin portrays RSS volunteers in the Sangh uniform, paying respects to Bharat Mata. The Prime Minister celebrated the occasion as a significant historical moment. The coin also bears the RSS mantra, ‘Rashtriya Swaha, Idan Rashtraya, Idan Mama,’ emphasizing national devotion. In addition, a postage stamp was issued, showing RSS volunteers at the 1963 Republic Day parade. The event drew criticism from opposition parties. Critics alleged that the government was glorifying the RSS. The Congress party contested the RSS’s role in the freedom movement, and the CPI (Marxist) condemned the coin and stamp as an affront to the Constitution. The CPI (M) argued that the image of ‘Bharat Mata’ is used by the RSS to promote Hindutva. Further, the CPI(M) stated that the RSS’s participation in the 1963 parade was historically inaccurate. Jairam Ramesh, a Congress leader, referred to a 1948 letter from Sardar Patel, which held the RSS accountable for Gandhiji’s assassination. Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the RSS’s commitment to national interests and its support for freedom fighters. The RSS was founded in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur, with a mission to promote cultural awareness, discipline, and service.