Bengaluru: The second session of the two-day lecture series by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak, Dr Mohan Bhagwat continued in Bengaluru, where he elaborated on the life mission of the Hindu nation and the broader purpose of the Sangh’s journey ahead.
Expounding on the theme “What is the life mission of the Hindu nation?”, Dr Bhagwat said Swami Vivekananda had proclaimed that every nation has a mission of fulfilment, and Bharat’s mission is “to give Dharma to the world.” Clarifying that Dharma is often wrongly equated with religion, he explained, “Religion, derived from religio, means to bind; it is a set of do’s and
don’ts aimed at reaching God. But Dharma is much wider in scope.” He described Dharma as the inherent nature, duty, balance, discipline, and sustaining principle of life. “Fire burns, that is its Dharma. Likewise, Dharma sustains creation. It is also the middle path, avoiding extremes,” he said.
Dr Bhagwat observed that despite material progress, humanity has not achieved true happiness or santosha. “Every human endeavour seeks happiness. Life has become easier, but contentment is missing. We have developed science and technology, but conflicts and unrest continue. We have knowledge of the body, mind, and intellect, but we do not know what connects the three,” he noted. Citing growing individualism, social fragmentation, and environmental degradation, he said humanity’s crises stem from disconnection, within oneself, with others, and with nature. “When societies unite, individual liberties are suppressed. When individuals prosper, societies divide. When technology grows, nature suffers. What is missing is the connecting principle, and that is Dharma,” he said.
Dr Bhagwat recounted how materialist philosophies concluded that what is seen and felt is the only truth, leading to competition and exploitation. “There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed,” he said, quoting the environmental film The Eleventh Hour to highlight how humanity’s exploitation of nature has endangered survival. “To live with nature, restraint is essential,” he added.
He said that India’s ancient sages, blessed with time and peace, realised through Tapas that the absolute reality lies within, not outside. “They realised that the same Atman pervades all beings. Once this truth is realised, there is contentment,” he said. “The realisation of oneness connects the body, mind, and intellect. It connects the individual, society, and nature. Dharma is this balance, the sustaining principle that unites all manifestations of the ultimate reality.”
Illustrating this point, Dr Bhagwat cited the story of King Sibi Chakravarthy, who sacrificed his flesh to save a dove from an eagle, symbolising Dharma as balance and duty. “Man stands at the top of creation; hence, it is his duty to give back to nature. Dharma must be lived, not preached,” he said. He stressed that a prosperous nation must be built on the foundation of Dharma, and Bharat’s mission is to educate the world through example, not conversion. “Our ancestors travelled across the world sharing their knowledge, never to dominate or convert but to enlighten. Now, the time has come again for Bharat to rise and establish itself as a Dharmic nation,” he said. “Other countries will then discover their Swadharma and contribute to the betterment of humanity.”
Connecting this vision to the RSS centenary, Dr Bhagwat said, “RSS is the evolution of the life mission of the Hindu nation. The first stage is preparing society, a task still incomplete.” He said the organisation plans to expand its work across every stratum, village, and class of Bharat. “We must reach every section of society, across all diversities, to unite the Hindu society,” he said.
Dr Bhagwat added that the Sangh has begun dialogues with communities that do not identify as Hindu. “Their ancestors were Hindus. We will walk together and engage with Sajjan Shakti, well-wishers who, even if they don’t agree with everything we say, are working for the good of society,” he said.
He emphasised that building a Dharmic Bharat requires collective thinking and deliberation. “If the Bharat of our dreams is to materialise, we must think and discuss it first,” he said. Stressing the need to revive the Indian Knowledge System (IKS), he mentioned ongoing projects that have successfully integrated ancient sciences, including traditional rainfall prediction models.
Outlining the Sangh’s Sadbhavana (harmony) initiatives, Dr Bhagwat said efforts will focus on eradicating superstitious practices and untouchability, promoting community cooperation, and ensuring mutual development at the block level. “If caste and community leaders work together on these three aspects, uplifting their own community, addressing block-level needs collectively, and supporting weaker sections, no one will be able to sow discord,” he said.
He added that India’s social divisions were deepened by colonial rule. “After Aurangzeb’s ruthless reign, Hindus and Muslims were united. The British created divisions to sustain their rule. Though independent today, traces of that mindset remain,” he said. “As Rashtra, Sanskriti, and Samaj, we are one, even if our ways of worship differ.”
Speaking on the need to conduct national life on Dharmic principles, Dr Bhagwat called for developing “workable models” that address all aspects of modern living. “We must involve and learn from all who are working in this direction,” he said, referring to Seva Sangams as examples of such collaborations.
He listed seven modern maladies to be overcome: “pleasure without conscience, wealth without work, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice, and politics without principles.” He urged creating a Bharatiya model of life rooted in ethics and compassion, which the world could learn from and adapt. “We must begin with our neighbouring countries, once part of Bharat, by building better lives there, setting examples for other countries of the world,” he said, referring to the RSS’s Global Outreach initiatives.
Dr Bhagwat concluded by saying that even after 100 years, the Sangh’s work remains unfinished. “We still have miles to go. If you do any good for society or humanity, you are part of our work,” he said. “The Sangh does not expect you to wear the uniform; it only seeks an atmosphere of dedication, humanity, and values.” He added, “The Sangh is neither opposition nor reaction. It is the evolution of the life mission of the Hindu nation, whose mission is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world as one family. The Sangh seeks to prepare an organised, benevolent society that acts for the good of all humanity.”
Dr Bhagwat concluded with a call for collective resolve: “In the coming decades, we must work together to realise this state of society and nation. Let your opinions about the Sangh be based on facts, not perceptions or hearsays.”
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