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Objectives of the Organisation
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Promotion of national unity and communal harmony
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Integrating Muslims with the national mainstream
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Creating awareness about shared heritage, culture, and patriotism
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Undertaking social, educational, and welfare services
The programme was organised at the initiative of noted journalist, writer and thinker Padmashree Muzaffar Hussain and his wife Nafisa Hussain, who was then a Member of the National Commission for Women. The gathering was attended by the then RSS Sarsanghchalak Pujaniya K.S. Sudarshan, RSS ideologue M.G. Vaidya, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, Madan Das, President of the All India Imam Council Maulana Jameel Ilyasi, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid Maulana Mukarram, along with Sufi scholars, educationists and other intellectuals.
“We all are inheritors of one nation, one civilization, and one motherland.
National unity is the foundation of a strong India.”
The central theme of the interaction was the growing divide between Hindu and Muslim communities in India and the need to build bridges of understanding. Initiating the discussion, K.S. Sudarshan observed that while the world often associated Islam with violence, its message of peace remained largely unrepresented. He also raised questions on the acceptance of minority status by Indian Muslims, despite their shared ancestry, culture, and history with the rest of the nation.
These remarks triggered an in-depth dialogue among Muslim scholars and religious leaders, who felt the need to reflect afresh on these concerns. Senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar played a key role as a facilitator during this phase. Drawing from his experiences as a provincial organiser in Jammu and Kashmir during peak militancy, Indresh Kumar concluded that earlier approaches—whether appeasement or confrontation—had failed to resolve communal tensions.
He proposed a “third path” based on nationalism, emphasising shared ancestry, culture, and motherland as the foundation for unity. According to this view, understanding the spirit and civilisational ethos of India would naturally dissolve artificial divisions between communities.
This process of dialogue and engagement led to the formation of a new movement initially named “Rashtravadi Muslim Andolan – Ek Nayi Raah”, which was later rechristened as Muslim Rashtriya Manch in 2005. The organisation marked a shift in thinking among sections of Indian Muslims, encouraging them to link their aspirations with the nation’s progress and unity.
Over the years, the Muslim Rashtriya Manch has expanded its presence across the country under the guidance of Dr. Shri Indresh Kumar, senior RSS pracharak and member of the Sangh’s All India Executive Board. Today, MRM operates through over 2,500 units in more than 400 districts across 25 states, from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from Gujarat to the North-East.
Through its outreach programmes, awareness campaigns and social initiatives, the organisation claims to have connected millions of Muslims with the national mainstream, positioning itself as a platform committed to national interest, social harmony and inclusive development. (pressmediaofindia.com)
