As the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) marked its centenary on Vijayadashmi, Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat delivered a landmark address outlining the organisation’s vision for Bharat and the world. Speaking at the annual Vijayadashmi Utsav in Nagpur, Bhagwat emphasised the Sangh’s role in fostering unity, discipline, and national service while underlining Bharat’s responsibility to impart universal Dharma for global harmony. His speech touched upon contemporary challenges, the Sangh’s centenary roadmap, and its commitment to social and spiritual transformation.
- On April 22, in Pahalgam, cross-border terrorists killed 26 Bharatiya civilian tourists after asking them about their Hindu faith. After careful planning, the government of Bharat gave a fitting response to this attack in the month of May. During this entire period, we witnessed heartening scenes of the firmness of the country’s leadership, the valour and war-readiness of our armed forces, as well as the determination and unity of our society.
- We will need to reconsider our approach on some issues to ensure that these flaws and the tariff policy adopted by America, based solely on its self-interest, do not pose a challenge for us. The world operates through mutual interdependence. By becoming Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) and being cognizant of global unity, we must ensure that this global interdependence does not become a compulsion for us, and we are able to act according to our own will
- The harmful consequences of the materialist and consumerist development model adopted worldwide, based on a materialist and compartmentalised approach, are increasingly becoming evident everywhere. In Bharat too, due to the same model, irregular and unpredictable rainfall, landslides, drying up of glaciers, and other similar effects have intensified over the last 3-4 years
- The regime change in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and more recently Nepal due to violent outburst of public anger is a concern for us. The forces wanting to create such disturbances in Bharat are active inside as well as outside our country. These neighbouring countries are linked with Bharat on the basis of both culture and long-standing ties between citizens. In one way, they are part of our own family. Peace, stability, prosperity, and ensuring comfort and wellbeing in these countries is necessity arising out of our natural affinity with these countries, going beyond the consideration for protection of our interests.
- The world requires a new model based on this holistic and integrated outlook, one that meets the needs of today’s world and provides a permanent solution for the problems which humanity is facing today. Destiny demands that Bharatiya citizens provide a model worthy of emulation through their own example.
- Resurgence of Bharat is gaining momentum. However, we are still operating within those policies and frameworks whose inadequacies have been exposed to us. It is also true that, alongside the world, we have moved ahead in those ways to such an extent that it won’t be possible to make sudden changes. In the long run, we will need to make gradual shifts. We need to create a successful development model based on our holistic and integrated outlook and present it to the world.
- A world blindly running after material wellbeing and desires needs to be shown the path of Dharma, which transcends the paths of worship and customs and traditions, which connects all, which takes all together, and which ensures collective progress.
- Changes in society’s behaviour do not come through speeches or texts. We need to create active social awareness, and those undertaking this need to become living examples of change. At every level, there should be persons who can become role models, who are devoted to society, who embody transparency and selflessness, and who consider the entire society as their own and conduct themselves with good behaviour towards it.
- We need local social leadership that can inspire society as role models while staying with them. This is why: social transformation through Character building (Vyakti Nirman) and systemic change through social transformation is the correct path for bringing about change in the world. This has been the collective experience of Swayamsevaks
- In every society, the system for creating such individuals remains in place. This system was destroyed in our society during the long period of foreign invasion. They must be re-established in a manner suited for the present time, within our homes, our education system, and various dimensions of society. We need to create individuals who can undertake this work
- For the past 100 years, Sangh Karyakartas have consistently sustained this system in all kinds of circumstances. We must continue to do so in the future as well. This is why Swayamsevaks must undertake the discipline of changing their own habits by actively participating in the daily Shakha activities. The Shakha exists for: to nurture individual and collective qualities and spirit to create a favourable atmosphere for better basic human values and solidarity within the society, while actively engaging and cooperating in social activities
- Our country has immense diversity. Many languages, multiple religions, diverse lifestyles and a variety of cuisines due to geographic diversity, caste and sub-caste – all these diversities have existed since inception. Over the past thousand years, some foreign communities have also entered Bharat from outside our borders. While foreigners have left, our own brothers who accepted these religions and continue to follow them are still present in Bharat. According to Bharatiya traditions, all are welcome and accepted. We look at them as ours rather than as the ‘other’. We regard these diversities as specialities and understand the tendency to take pride in them.
- As a society, a country, a culture, and a nation, we are united. We must remember that this larger identity is above everything else for us. Because of this, our attitudes towards each other in society are required to be harmonious and respectful. Everyone has their own beliefs, icons and places of worship. We should be careful not to disrespect these in thought, word, or action. Awareness must be created for this.
- Dr. Ambedkar Sahab referred to the foundation of this unity as ‘inherent cultural unity’. Bharatiya culture has been a special feature of Bharat since ancient times. It is completely inclusive. It teaches us to respect and embrace all forms of diversity as it is rooted in Bharat’s spiritual truth and qualities such as compassion, purity and discipline – that is, in Dharma.
- This Hindu Rashtriyata always keeps us together while accepting and respecting all diversities. We don’t have a conception of ‘nation state’. States are formed and decline, while Rashtra remains eternal. We should never forget this foundation of our unity.
- The strength, virtue and organised character of the Hindu society guarantee national unity, oneness and development. The Hindu society is accountable for Bharat. It is an inclusive society. It is free of and will remain free from a mentality ‘us and them’ which creates divisions on the basis of superficial differences of many names and forms. The Hindu society is upholder and guardian of the noble idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. This is why it is the duty of the Hindu society to make Bharat prosperous and a country that contributes immensely to the entire world.
- During the Shatabdi Varsh (centenary year), the Sangh will attempt to ensure that its work of Vyakti Nirman spreads across the country and the Panch Parivartan programme, which aims to bring gradual changes in social conduct, is adopted by all sections of the society through the examples of Swayamsevaks.
- From time to time in world history, Bharat has played a significant role – it has restored the lost balance of the world, providing a global Dharma that instills a sense of restraint and discipline in global life.
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