New Delhi

In a podcast with Lex Fridman, computer scientist and podcaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about his long association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and said that he was fortunate to have learned the essence and values of life from an esteemed organisation like the RSS.

"I feel fortunate that I learned the essence and values of life from such a sacred organisation like the RSS. I got a life of purpose," said PM Modi.

PM Modi said that the RSS assigns a purpose to its members, and said that the organisation puts the nation ahead of everything.

He further said, "It always felt nice to attend RSS gatherings as a child. I always had one aim in mind, to be of use to the country. This is what 'Sangh' (RSS) taught me. RSS completes 100 years this year. There is no bigger 'Swayamsevi Sangh' in the world than the RSS... Understanding the RSS is not an easy task; one needs to understand its functioning. It gives its members a purpose of life. It teaches that the nation is everything and that social service is the service of God."

"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. Like some volunteers established an organization called Seva Bharati. This organization serves the slums and settlements where the poorest people live, which they call service communities. To my knowledge, they run approximately 125,000 service projects without any government assistance, solely through community support. They spend time there, teach the children, care for their health, instil good values and work towards improving cleanliness in these communities. Running 125,000 social service projects is no small feat," PM Modi added.

PM Modi also highlighted the social outreach efforts of the RSS and spoke about its social initiatives.

"Whatever our Vedic saints and Swami Vivekanand have taught, Sangh also teaches that... Some members of the RSS introduced an organisation called 'Vidya Bharti' to bring about a revolution in education. They run 70000 schools across the country, 30 lakh students attend the schools at a time...," PM Modi said.

PM Modi said he was fortunate enough to spend time among saints which gave him a spiritual foundation.

"The volunteers who come from the RSS follow their own interests, nature and inclination, and in doing so, they strengthen and promote these kinds of activities. When you observe these initiatives, you'll see how over the past 100 years, the RSS has dedicated itself with the discipline and devotion of a seeker staying away from the glare of mainstream attention. I feel blessed to gain life's values from such a sacred organization. Through the RSS, I found a life of purpose. Then 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."

PM Modi said that unlike leftist labour organisation the RSS promoted the idea of 'Workers unite the world'.

"That is in every aspect of life, whether it's women, youth, or even labourers, the RSS has played a role. In terms of membership size, if I may say so, we have the Indian Labor Union. It has around 50,000 unions with millions of members across the country. Perhaps in terms of scale, there is no bigger labour union in the world. But what's interesting is the approach they take. 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," he said.

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PM Modi is this podcast with Lex Fridman has spoken on a wide range of subjects outlining his vision for the country.