In a historic turn, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a Rs100 commemorative coin and a postal stamp on October 1, marking 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). For the first time, the image of  Bharat Mata is embossed on Indian currency a move that grabbed national attention. 

The coin depicts RSS swayamsevaks bowing before Bharat Mata, dressed in the organization's uniform. The coin also carries the RSS motto “Rashtray Swaha, Idam Rashtraya, Idam Na Mama” (everything belongs to the nation, nothing is mine). The stamp features RSS volunteers participating in the 1963 Republic Day parade. 

The opposition has strongly objected, criticizing the move as politically motivated and sectarian. The Congress party made statements pointing out that RSS did not play a formal role in India’s freedom struggle. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) called the issuance “a grave insult to the Constitution” and accused the government of promoting a Hindu nationalist agenda. 

Jairam Ramesh, a Congress leader, referenced letters from Sardar Patel cautioning against RSS influence and challenged the Prime Minister’s narrative. Meanwhile, PM Modi lauded the RSS, claiming its devotion to the nation transcends bitterness and opposition, and emphasized that the organization supported freedom fighters. 

As the discourse intensifies, questions over symbolism, secularism, historical narratives, and the role of government in shaping national imagery take center stage.