'Nation Is Everything, Serving People Akin To Serving God': PM Modi On What RSS Taught Him
AI researcher Lex Fridman asked PM Narendra Modi about Hindu nationalism and RSS. In turn, the PM shared his knowledge of the organisation’s activities and the impact it has had on his political ideas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interview with US-based podcaster and AI researcher Lex Fridman, said through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or the RSS, he found a life of purpose. He said its service-driven philosophy coupled with the teachings of Ramakrishna Mission and Swami Vivekananda have played a crucial role in shaping him.
“I feel blessed to gain life’s values from such a sacred organization. Through the RSS, I found a life of purpose," he said in his second podcast, where he also talked about his patriotic foundations of putting the nation above all else.
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It was indeed a fascinating conversation with @lexfridman, covering diverse topics including reminiscing about my childhood, the years in the Himalayas and the journey in public life. Do tune in and be a part of this dialogue! https://t.co/QaJ04qi1TD
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 15, 2025
Fridman asked Modi about Hindu nationalism and the RSS, the voluntary organisation he joined at the age of eight. In turn, the Prime Minister shared his knowledge of the organisation’s activities and the impact it has had on his political ideas.
“…I was fortunate to spend some time among the saints, which gave me a strong spiritual foundation. I found discipline and a life of purpose. And through the guidance of saints, I gained spiritual grounding. Swami Atmasthananda and others like him have held my hand throughout my journey, constantly guiding me at every step. The teachings of Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Vivekananda, and the service-driven philosophy of the RSS have played a crucial role in shaping me," he told Fridman during the interview.
‘RSS PROVIDES CLEAR DIRECTION TOWARD PURPOSE IN LIFE’
Enlisting the core values of the RSS, Modi claimed that such a massive voluntary organisation likely does not exist anywhere else in the world. He said millions of people are connected to it, but understanding the RSS is not that simple.
“One of the core values that were instilled in us at RSS was, whatever you do, do it with a purpose. Even while studying, study with the goal of learning enough to contribute to the nation. Even when you exercise, do it with the purpose of strengthening your body to serve the nation. This is what we were taught. And today, RSS is a massive organization. It is now nearing its 100th anniversary…" he said.
He added: “One must make an effort to truly grasp the nature of its work. More than anything, the RSS provides you with a clear direction toward what can truly be called a purpose in life. Secondly, the nation is everything, and serving the people is akin to serving God."
He further said this what has been said since the vedic era, by sages, and by Swami Vivekananda. He added that these are the values that the RSS echoes. “A volunteer is told that the inspiration he gains from RSS is not just about attending the one-hour session or wearing the uniform. What matters is what you do for society. And today, inspired by that spirit, many initiatives are thriving," he said.
The Prime Minister explained in detail about the voluntary activities of the RSS – from Seva Bharati, which serves slums and settlements, to Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram for tribal communities, and Vidya Bharati to revolutionise education.
RSS APPROACH TO LABOUR UNIONS
Modi spoke how the RSS prioritises values alongside education in every aspect of life, be it women, youth, or even labourers. He said the organisation’s approach to labour unions represents “a huge ideological transformation".
Drawing parallels with leftist ideology and its approach to labour unions, he further said: “Historically, leftist ideologies have fuelled labour movements worldwide. And what has been their slogan: ‘Workers of the world unite.’ The message was clear. Unite first and then we’ll deal with everything else. But what do the labour unions run by RSS-trained volunteers believe in? They say: ‘Workers unite the world.’ Others say: ‘Workers of the world unite.’ And we say: ‘Workers unite the world.’ It may seem like just a small shift in words, but it represents a huge ideological transformation."
‘SPENT ENTIRE NIGHTS LISTENING TO PATRIOTIC SONGS’
Reminiscing about his childhood days, Modi said he was a “crazy fan" of a man with a tambourine, who would come to his village and sing patriotic songs. He said he would spend “entire nights" listening to the songs of this service group, which would hold programmes in different places.
“I always had the habit of staying engaged in something or the other. I remember there was a man named Makoshi. I don’t quite recall his full name. I think he was part of the service group, Makoshi Soni or something like that. He used to carry a small drum-like instrument called the tambourine with him, and he used to sing patriotic songs in his deep, powerful voice. Whenever he came to our village, he would hold programmes in different places. I would run after him like a crazy fan just to listen to his songs. I would spend entire nights listening to their patriotic songs. I enjoyed it. I don’t even know why, but I just did," he said.
He further said these patriotic songs “stirred something inside me" and that is how he became a part of the RSS branch in his village that would play the songs. “…Something about those songs touched me deeply. They stirred something inside me, and that’s how I eventually became part of the RSS," he added.
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