“I have had several opportunities to meet Dr Mohan Bhagwat, and each interaction has been deeply inspirational. There is clarity and conviction in his thoughts, and they inspire one towards nation-building and selfless service to the country. A few days ago, he told me that to truly understand the Sangh, one must see it from within. Yet, even from the outside, anyone who observes this vast organisation cannot remain untouched by its impact”, said Padma Bhushan awardee and eminent industrialist, Kumar Mangalam Birla, while addressing the Samapana Samaroh (Valedictory Function) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Karyakarta Vikas Varg – Dwitiya. The Varg commenced on 11 May 2026 at Reshimbagh, Nagpur. Kumar Mangalam Birla graced the event as the Chief Guest.
“With over 83,000 shakhas, more than 60 lakh swayamsevaks, 1,77,000 service projects, and numerous organisations working towards a common purpose, the Sangh represents a unique force in society. From pre-Independence Bharat onwards, during earthquakes, crises, tsunamis, floods, wars, pandemics, and every challenge faced by the nation, the Sangh has stood firmly with the country and society. This is the enduring strength of the RSS. For the Sangh, nation-building and character-building are lifelong commitments”, he said.
“Last year, the Sangh completed 100 years of its journey. In 1925, Bharat’s population was barely one-fifth of what it is today. Centuries of foreign rule may have weakened our self-confidence, but today Bharat stands as the world’s sixth-largest economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks of the coming Amrit Kaal, a period that will take Bharat to new heights. This unique confluence of demographic dividend, infrastructure growth, digital public infrastructure, and financial inclusion provides us with an opportunity that comes only once in the life of a nation”, he further said.
He added that “even amidst challenges, this is Bharat’s moment. The world has been caught between the competing ambitions of superpowers. Over the last three years, wars have caused crude oil prices to rise sharply, fall, and rise again. Global supply chains have come under stress repeatedly. Now, the AI revolution is emerging, likely to transform economies more profoundly than any recent technological innovation. These global shifts present challenges, especially at a time when Bharat is beginning its Amrit Kaal”.
“The greatest lesson history teaches us is the importance of building national capability and national resilience. The flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, Grasim Industries, was incorporated just ten days after Independence, at a time when the nation faced tremendous uncertainty. My great-grandfather, GD Birla, saw cotton fields remain in Pakistan after Partition, creating a major challenge for Bharat’s textile industry. Instead of accepting this as destiny, he invested in man-made fibres and built new capabilities. It was the spirit of a new nation with a new mindset. Eighty years later, Grasim has become a global leader in building materials, chemicals, and fibres, contributing significantly to Bharat’s strength”, he said.
“Atmanirbharta is not merely an economic policy; it is the foundation of nation-building. The Aditya Birla Group and the RSS share many common priorities. We both attach importance to primary and higher education, social upliftment, women’s empowerment, and skill development. Institutions like BITS Pilani, from which nearly 4,000 students graduate every year and contribute to the nation’s progress, reflect this commitment. Across the country, over 60,000 children study in our 65 schools as part of our social initiatives, receiving quality education with a focus on holistic personality development. Self-reliance is about capability. It is about having the confidence to create what a nation needs, the patience to invest for the long term, and the resilience to adapt as the world changes”, he said.
Narrating an anecdote, he said, “I still remember my grandmother telling me, “Become an asset to the nation.” My understanding of nation-building comes from observing previous generations of my family, who believed deeply that enterprise should serve a larger national purpose. It also comes from the privilege of working across diverse sectors. These experiences have reinforced a simple conviction, building enduring institutions like the RSS and building a nation are far more closely connected than we often realise. A strong nation is built upon the foundations of strong institutions”.
He further said, “Among the many sectors in which I have worked, cement and financial services offer a useful lens through which to understand how nations are built. Through the patient creation of capabilities, both physical and financial, pursued with a long-term perspective.”
“After water, cement is the second most consumed material in the world. The roads that connect society, the homes that shelter families, and the schools that educate future generations all stand on foundations strengthened by cement. Bharat is today the world’s second-largest producer of cement, with production exceeding 500 million tonnes annually. Bharat’s highway network has expanded by more than 60 per cent, metro rail networks by over 350 per cent, and daily road construction has tripled to nearly 35 kilometres per day. Cement is truly a national asset”, he said.
“Over the past decade, Birla’s UltraTech’s capacity has grown from around 60 million tonnes to over 200 million tonnes. It is a matter of pride for Bharat that UltraTech is today the world’s largest cement company outside China. UltraTech’s capacity is more than twice that of the United States and greater than that of Europe”, he said.
“If cement builds the physical foundations of a nation, financial services build its economic foundations. Whether it is starting a business, building a home, or securing a better future for one’s children, access to capital is essential. Over the last decade, Bharat has witnessed one of the most remarkable financial transformations anywhere in the world. Through a combination of visionary public policy, regulatory reforms, and digital public infrastructure, access to financial services has expanded on an unprecedented scale. Jan Dhan accounts have brought millions into the banking system. Aadhaar has strengthened identity systems. GST has enhanced economic integration. Direct Benefit Transfers and digital services have brought governance to the doorstep of ordinary citizens. Entrepreneurship has flourished”, he said.
“Within Aditya Birla Capital, the loan book has expanded from approximately Rs 25,000 crore to nearly Rs 2 lakh crore in ten years, helping individuals and entrepreneurs realise their aspirations and build new enterprises. Another sector that has democratised opportunity and access is connectivity. Finance creates opportunity, telecom builds inclusion, and cement creates infrastructure. Together, they demonstrate how business can contribute across sectors to national development”, he said.
On Viksit Bharat, he said, “The vision of Viksit Bharat is ambitious, and achieving it requires an equally significant role from large enterprises. Big businesses must continue to view multinational corporations as complementary partners. Together, we should aspire to create 100 globally recognised and globally competitive champions”.
Appealing to the youngsters of Bharat, he said, “My strongest appeal to the youth is, embrace entrepreneurship. ‘Build in India, build for India, and build for the world’. Bharat possesses one of the oldest entrepreneurial traditions and one of the youngest populations in the world. The opportunity before this generation is unprecedented. This is Bharat’s era. There has never been a better time to be a young Bharatiya in Bharat, nor a better time to build Bharat”.
आत्मनिर्भरता एक आर्थिक नीति नहीं, बल्कि राष्ट्र निर्माण है।
आदित्य बिड़ला ग्रुप और राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ की गतिविधियों में अनेक समानताएँ हैं। हम भी प्राथमिक और उच्च शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य, सामाजिक उत्थान, महिला सशक्तिकरण तथा कौशल विकास को अत्यंत महत्व देते हैं। – पद्मभूषण कुमार… pic.twitter.com/V9WwDkRGh1— RSS (@RSSorg) June 4, 2026
“Every business that creates jobs, develops technology, and serves society contributes to something much larger than itself. Through business-building comes nation-building. There is a futurist in America who says that the world will witness more progress in the next ten years than it has seen in the last hundred years combined. The pace of transformation before us will be extraordinary. The question before us is not whether the future will arrive, it has already arrived. The real question is whether we have the courage to build upon it, the imagination to shape it, and the determination to ensure that it serves the aspirations of all 1.4 billion Bharatiya. Such an opportunity has never come before. I firmly believe that we will succeed because the greatest strength of Bharat lies in its people”.
Concluding his speech, he said. “There is a Sanskrit mantra “Charaiveti, Charaiveti” (Keep moving forward). During Amrit Kaal, let us build a stronger Bharat, guided by values and measured by the opportunities we create for future generations. After my visit here today, I am even more convinced of the contribution of the RSS to the process of nation-building. I have had the privilege of spending time here, observing its activities closely, and I feel immense pride. The role of the RSS in advancing Bharat’s progress is of great importance. I congratulate all of you for your selfless service to the nation”, he said.
