The two-day lecture series titled “100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons” began in Bengaluru on November 8 with the inaugural address delivered by RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat. Speaking before a packed audience of intellectuals, academicians, and social leaders, Dr Bhagwat reflected upon the century-long journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, its vision, and its commitment to nation-building. In his speech, he dwelt on the foundational ideals of the organisation, the life and mission of its founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, and the broader meaning of Hindu identity and unity in Bharat’s civilisational context. His address set the tone for the lecture series that seeks to explore the Sangh’s evolution and its vision for the next century.
Dr Mohan Bhagwat began his address by defining what the Sangh truly is and what it stands for. He said the RSS is a unique organisation, unlike any other in the world. It was not created as a reaction to any particular event or circumstance. Nor is it an organisation formed in opposition to anyone. Its purpose is to unite the entire society.
“The Sangh is not a reaction to a situation,” he said. “It is not in opposition to anyone. Its purpose is to unite and uplift the entire society.” He emphasised that the methodology of the Sangh is based on man-making and the collective organisation of society. “Our work,” he said, “is to mould individuals in character, discipline, and dedication so that they can serve Bharat Mata selflessly.”
He further explained that the Sangh’s objective has never been destruction or confrontation. It has always been about constructive establishment. The RSS trains individuals in Shakhas to think not of personal benefit but of Bharat Mata. “In every Shakha, the thought is only of Bharat Mata,” he said. “Our one and only goal is to organise the entire Hindu society.”
He pointed out that the Sangh’s prayer itself reflects this spirit. “The Sangh Prarthana begins with a prayer to Bharat Mata and ends with ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. That is the essence of our devotion,” he said.
Dr Bhagwat reminded the audience that the Sangh’s aim is not power or political control but the glory of the nation. “We do not seek power,” he said firmly. “We organise the Hindu society only for the glory of Bharat Mata.”
He proudly mentioned that the Sangh has always remained financially self-reliant. “To run the Sangh, not a single pie has been taken from outside,” he said. He observed that no voluntary organisation in the world had gone through as many trials and bans as the RSS. “The Sangh survived three bans—though the third was not much of a ban—and yet it stood firm, unbroken,” he added.
Remembering Dr Hedgewar
Dr Bhagwat spoke with reverence about RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. He recalled that Dr Hedgewar was an active member of the revolutionary group Anusheelan Samiti. He chose to dedicate his entire life to the service of Bharat Mata.
Dr Hedgewar, he said, believed deeply that the British government and its courts were illegal and had no right to rule over Bharat. His spirit of defiance was evident in his leadership of the Vande Maataram Movement. “We had the political courage that led to the Vande Maataram Movement,” Dr Bhagwat said. “Dr Hedgewar organised this movement in the schools of Nagpur to awaken the sense of patriotism among the youth.”
Understanding Hindu Society
Dr Bhagwat then turned to a broader reflection on society. “Who are we as Bharat?” he asked. He said that as a nation, people had forgotten their own identity. “We have forgotten who we are as Bharatiyas,” he remarked. “Aatma vismruti—the loss of self-awareness—has engulfed us. We have forgotten our own people, and our diversity and differences have become dividing lines.”
He referred to Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda, who had both emphasised that social reform failed because people had forgotten their roots. “Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda believed that our roots were forgotten, leading to the failure of reforms,” he said.
He quoted Dadarao Parmarth ji, saying that “RSS is the evolution of the life mission of the Hindu nation.”
Dr Bhagwat explained that Bharat had faced repeated invasions throughout its history. “The last attempt to attain our independence through war was in 1857,” he said. “The entire country was united in it, people wanted it, and still it failed. After that, our society began to ask—why did we fail?”
He noted that the British were not the first aggressors. “Invasions of Bharat began much earlier,” he said, “first by the Shakas, Huns, Kushans, and Yavanas, followed later by the Islamic invaders and finally by the British.”
He reminded the audience that Bharat was one united civilisation long before the British arrived. “We were one country much before the Britishers came,” he said. “All those who fought for Bharat are called Hindus.”
Dr Bhagwat explained that being Hindu is not about religion but about civilisational lineage and responsibility. “All Muslims and Christians are also from the same ancestors,” he said. “They too are Hindus in that sense. Being Hindu means being the descendants of Bharat Mata. Being Hindu means being responsible for Bharat.”
He identified four kinds of Hindus that exist today: the proud Hindus; those who say they are Hindus but don’t feel pride; those who accept being Hindu in private but do not say so publicly out of fear or for personal benefit; and those who have forgotten they are Hindus altogether.
He concluded by saying that the Sangh’s mission is to awaken that forgotten identity and unity. “Our task is to overcome forgetfulness, to bring back awareness of who we are, and to unite our society for the glory of Bharat Mata,” he said. “That is the eternal aim of the Sangh.”
