Our Story & Vision
Dr. Indresh Kumar
Patron & Key Architect, MRM
National Executive Member, RSS
Indresh Kumar, a senior member of the National Executive of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), serves as the patron and the key guiding force behind the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM).
"When we share the same ancestors, culture, and motherland, where is the scope for confrontation? Once the Muslims and Hindus understand and realize the spirit and soul of India, all artificial barriers will automatically vanish."
Through his deep experience as a provincial organizer for the RSS in Jammu & Kashmir during the peak of terrorism, Indresh Kumar analyzed the historic divide between communities. He concluded that earlier approaches—whether heavy placation or strict separatism—failed to bridge the gap because they were fundamentally lopsided. A new, third way was needed.
On December 24, 2002, a defining moment in India's communal harmony took place in Delhi. A group of nationalist Muslims and functionaries of the RSS came together during an Id Milan program. The initiative was spearheaded by noted journalist, writer, and thinker Padmashree Muzaffar Hussain and his wife Nafisa, then a Member of the National Commission on Women.
This historic gathering was attended by the then RSS Sarsanghchalak K.S. Sudarshan, RSS ideologue M.G. Vaidya, Indresh Kumar, Madan Das, President of All India Imam Council Maulana Jameel Iliyasi, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid Maulana Mukarram, alongside various Sufi Muslims, educationists, and intellectuals.
The core issue of discussion was how to bridge the widening gap between the Hindu and Muslim communities in India. Initiating the discussion, K.S. Sudarshan observed that while the world often focuses on conflict, Islam inherently possesses a face of peace, asking how this true face could be shown to the world.
He also raised a poignant question: why should Muslims in India accept a "minority" status when they belong to this land by birth and share the same culture, race, and ancestors with the Hindus? This profound dialogue set the ball rolling, prompting intellectuals and religious leaders to strive afresh for national unity.
Acting as a crucial facilitator, Indresh Kumar devised the "Third Way" — the path of nationalism. This approach rejects historical politics of division and appeasement, focusing entirely on shared cultural heritage and national pride.
The movement originally began under the name "Rashtravadi Muslim Andolan-Ek Nayi Raah" (Nationalist Muslim Movement - A New Path). In 2005, it was officially re-christened as the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM).
Since its inception, there has been no looking back. MRM has ushered in a new era among Indian Muslims, fostering a mindset that inextricably links their future with the future and prosperity of India. Through this ongoing dialogue, artificial barriers are dissolving, uniting communities under the shared banner of a strong, harmonious nation.
