RSS to Close Centenary Year with Bhagwat Address in Delhi on November 29

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will conclude a year of centenary programmes with a public meeting addressed by its chief, Mohan Bhagwat, in Delhi on November 29. The venue is yet to be finalised.

The Sangh intends to bring together one lakh Swayamsevaks in Gana Vesh, the organisation's uniform, along with 50,000 invitees drawn from the general public. The gathering is being described as the culmination of the ekatrikaran — the congregation of volunteers — held in cities across the country through the year.

Bhagwat is expected to speak on the Sangh's journey and on issues confronting the nation in recent times. He has been the first RSS chief to deliver periodic public lectures, beginning in 2018, to set out the organisation's position on contested questions. He also held a three-day lecture series at Vigyan Bhawan in the capital from August 26 to 28, 2025, on the RSS's 100 years.

His recent engagements included an address to Indian expatriates at Madison Square Garden in New York, and visits to London and Toronto as part of a global centenary outreach tour. On August 6, shortly after youth protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi ended, he spoke to Gen Z students in Mumbai; Sangh sources said that event had been planned months in advance and was not a response to the protests.

The centenary programme was designed as a multi-part effort to mark the organisation's passage from 100 years to its 101st, drawing volunteers together in different locations and reaching out to various sections of society.

Among its components were Prabuddha Nagrik Sammelan, or conferences of enlightened citizens, held across districts to engage professionals, doctors, engineers and academics. A door-to-door Griha Sampark campaign saw volunteers meet residents and distribute the organisation's literature. Hindu Sammelans were organised in rural and urban areas to encourage unity and social harmony.

The Sangh also adopted Panch Parivartan, or five transformations, as part of its centenary agenda: social harmony, Kutumb Prabodhan (family consciousness), civic duties, environmental protection and Swadeshi (self-reliance).

In July 2025, RSS All India Publicity Chief Sunil Ambekar said the organisation had 58,964 Mandals and 44,055 Bastis, and that the Sammelans would discuss social festivals, social unity and harmony, and the five transformations. Samajik Sadbhav Baithaks, or social harmony meetings, were planned in 11,360 blocks and towns, while Pramukh Nagrik Seminars were to be held in the 924 districts under the Sangh's structure, covering themes such as the idea of Bharat, national pride and service.

Samajik Sadbhav Baithaks were also used to bridge caste divides at a time when caste has become a subject of intense debate and polarisation. The lecture series and the global outreach formed part of the same centenary calendar.

A Sangh source said the Delhi meeting should be seen as the final event under the ekatrikaran plan and will mark the close of the centenary year's programmes.