“For the first time in the history of independent India, the image of Bharat Mata has been featured on Indian currency, which marks a moment of great pride and historical significance,” said PM Modi.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, today, on October 1, 2025 unveiled a special Rs 100 coin and a postage stamp having first ever depiction of Bharat Mata on Indian Currency.
Such a prestigious launch was made at the RSS Launch event. “For the first time in the history of independent India, the image of Bharat Mata has been featured on Indian currency, which marks a moment of great pride and historical significance,” said PM Modi.
Further, the PM reflected the moment as a tribute to Bharat Mata and the RSS’s long 100 years journey of service and education. The celebrations reportedly were organised by the Ministry of Culture, was attended by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosable, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
How does the coin look like?
This special coin shows Bharat Mata in Varada Mudra who is sitting on Lion and RSS Swayamsevaks bowing before her. Significantly the other side of the coin has the National Emblem of India.
The coin also has the RSS motto, which is, “Rashtriya Swaha, Idam Rashtraya, Idam Na Mama.” This means, “Everything is dedicated to the nation, Everything is the nation’s, Nothing is mine.”
Historic Significance
Bharat Mata is a way of imagining India as a Goddess. And, this spiritual yet cultural idea has been passing for years. It is popular from the times of the freedom movement.
Significantly, the famous artistic depiction of Bharat Mata was done in 1905 by Abanindranath Tagore who was a famous Indian painter and writer . He was the founder of the Bengal School of Art.
In the 1905’s portrayal of Bharat Mata, she is seen wearing saffron clothes with four arms carrying for different commodities signifying true wisdom. These are:
- Book
- Rice
- Rosary
- White Cloth
All these hold a unique significance which are defined as:
- Book for Knowledge,
- Rice for Food,
- Rosary for Spirituality, and
- White Cloth for purity and simplicity.
