Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat in US
When the entire world is troubled by ideological polarisation, geopolitical conflicts, cultural isolation and the horrors of war, the eternal proclamation of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ from the ramparts of New York’s historic Madison Square Garden (MSG) has emerged as a new manifesto for global peace and human unity. Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), must say that his visit to the United States marks a historic turning point in the global coronation of Indian ‘soft power’ and Sanatan values of life in the 21st century.
On the proud occasion of the centenary year (100 years) of the Sangh, the ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ appears to have conclusively demonstrated on the international stage that India’s cultural philosophy is meant to bind all humanity together in a bond of affection. Held against the sacred backdrop of the festival of Raksha Bandhan, this visit has written a new and timeless chapter of the unprecedented synthesis of Indian religion, culture, philosophy and modern science, stretching from New York’s art centres to the technological corridors of Silicon Valley.
On the auspicious day of Vijayadashami in 1925, the seed of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, planted through a small shakha in Nagpur, has today completed 100 years of its existence and grown into a vast banyan tree. As part of its centenary year celebrations, the Sangh chief’s international outreach campaign to the United States, Canada and the UK (Britain) is living proof that the Sangh now sees a significant role for itself in establishing the ‘Bharatiya Narrative’ on the global stage.
For a long time, a deliberate misconception and negative narrative (Pre-framing) about India, its indigenous culture and particularly the Sangh have been created by sections of the Western world and international media. The principal objective of Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s intensive three-day visit is to completely dispel all these ideological misconceptions through direct and positive dialogue, without any aggression.
The biggest USP (standout feature) of this grand event is its highly inclusive (Inclusive) and multi-faith (Multi-faith) character. The message of Sangh Sarsanghchalak Dr Bhagwat is also the same: “In Sanatan philosophy, oneness does not mean moulding everyone into the same form or making everyone alike (Sameness) at all, but accepting peaceful coexistence while respecting one another’s diversity and identity, and considering the entire world as one’s family.” This is why many messages from global personalities can today be seen on social media in support of Bhagwatji’s visit.
As soon as Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s historic visit began, unprecedented ideological activity was witnessed on social media (particularly X, formerly Twitter). While some anti-India organisations and Western lobbies activated their ‘toolkits’ to stop the visit and have his visa cancelled, several prominent international personalities, thinkers and members of the diaspora created a massive digital wave on social media in support of the Sangh chief.
The statements of global personalities and prominent thinkers in support of this visit can be viewed and understood as follows.
Hollywood’s famous singer and actress Mary Millben posted several tweets on X, strongly criticising the opponents, which became some of the most viral posts throughout the visit. She wrote: “Some local New York leaders and organisations opposing this historic event are actually acting against American values. These few people opposing it are ‘Socialist nuts’, whose real agenda is blind opposition to Indian culture and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As a Christian woman and cultural ambassador, I stand firmly for religious freedom and with my Hindu brothers and sisters. Madison Square Garden is a global corporation governed by American laws, not by anyone’s political propaganda. I welcome Dr Mohan Bhagwat to American soil.”
Silicon Valley’s renowned venture capitalist Asha Jadeja shared detailed thoughts on social media immediately after the technology and economic roundtable meeting with Dr Bhagwat: “Meeting Dr Mohan Bhagwat and listening to his thoughts was an amazing experience. He is a true and extremely strong advocate of India-US relations. During the meeting, it was inspiring to see the Sangh chief’s unwavering confidence in the global capabilities of Indian youth in technology, space tech, clean energy and quantum computing. He advocates the integration of Indian human values with modern technology, which is extremely important for today’s corporate world.”
New York, USA: On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s US visit, President, World Hindu Council of America – Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Tejal Shah, says, “This is an event giving out the message of plurality, unity in diversity, and the integration of the entire community coming together and celebrating not only the festival of Raksha Bandhan, but also the relationship that each community member will have with one another. As a result, we can make the world a better place tomorrow. The loud and clear message is: come forward, put the differences aside, let’s work together for humanity, and let’s work together for a better tomorrow.”
On attending religious leaders’ meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, American Indian Public Affairs Committee, President, Jagdish Sewhani says, “Today is the most memorable day of my life. I have never heard anything like this in my life. I’ve been here for almost 40 years, and I’ve listened to leaders from all over the world, but what Mohan Bhagwat said today was just out of this world. I was in a totally different world, the way he described Bharatiya Sabhyata, what Sanatan is all about, what Hindutva is all about, and what the Bharatiya diaspora can do here, in very, very simple words. It was very amazing. I just don’t have words to describe it…”
Meanwhile, regarding this visit, Priya S, spokesperson for the Universal Oneness Celebrations, said, “This is a cultural and community event in which people from every walk of life will participate. It is an interfaith event, so even though some people may oppose it, we are extending a hand of solidarity to convey the message that the world is one large family… After this event, people will understand why this is important… We may have differences among us, but we can still come together and move forward together”.
A statement by Renee Lynn also emerged, which is a strong rebuke to all those opposing Bhagwatji’s US visit. She wrote on social media that she was ashamed of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for supporting terrorists and standing against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The truth, she said, is that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is an organisation working for human welfare. She urged her Jewish brothers and sisters in New York City to remain safe. Hindus and Christians, too, should beware of this jihadi Zohran.
She said: “As an American citizen, I condemn the discriminatory and narrow-minded attitude of some local leaders opposing this event. Dr Mohan Bhagwat is the head of one of the world’s largest cultural and social organisations. The Sanatan Dharma vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the entire earth is one family) should be welcomed with full pride at Madison Square Garden. Global forces should immediately stop their anti-Hindu agenda”.
The fundamental basis of Indian culture and philosophy is not merely to make grand statements from platforms, but to put them into practice on the ground. During his visit to New York, Dr Mohan Bhagwat visited the historic site at ‘26 Second Avenue’ in Manhattan, where Swami Prabhupada established the first centre of ISKCON after arriving in America.
There, the Sangh chief also inaugurated the distribution of the 100,000th food packet under the ‘Zero Hunger NYC’ campaign being run for homeless, poor and needy American citizens in New York. Senior office-bearers and spiritual gurus of ISKCON New York shared the moment on social media, describing it as ‘historic and the pinnacle of service’. They wrote that the Sangh chief’s participation in this act of service directly demonstrated to Western society that the practical form of Sanatan Dharma is ‘service to humanity is service to God’. Local American citizens and volunteers openly praised this simple and service-oriented approach.
Overall, analysts of international relations and geopolitics believe that Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s visit has taken India’s ‘soft power’ to an entirely new and higher horizon. Until now, the world has readily embraced yoga, Ayurveda, Indian cinema (Bollywood) and Indian cuisine (Cuisine) as forms of India’s soft power, but after this visit, rest assured that curiosity among Western intellectuals and policymakers to understand India’s ‘philosophical, social and family model’ has now increased rapidly.
In its centenary year, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has successfully demonstrated that it is not merely a local organisation operating within the geographical boundaries of India, but a strong custodian of the cultural, moral and civilisational self-pride of the millions of Indians living across the world.
Many reactions are also appearing on social media in which it is being said that Dr Mohan Bhagwat ji’s US visit will be recorded in the history of the global spread of Indian religion and culture over the coming decades as a ‘turning point’ (important turning point). The timeless message of oneness, social harmony, civic responsibility and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ given to the entire world from the modern land of New York will not remain confined to words or slogans.
In reality, it underlines India’s emerging role in the changing global landscape, where, as a ‘Vishwaguru’ (world teacher), it is fully prepared to lead the world away from materialistic destruction and mental unrest towards sustainable development, inner peace and global harmony. Ultimately, it must be said that this unprecedented digital support from international personalities is irrefutable proof that the benevolent sun of Sanatan culture has now risen to illuminate the entire world.
