KASHI: “The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is an organisation of those who believe in Bharat’s fundamental philosophy. Sangh is working to organise society by preserving its cultural foundation while accepting technology suited to the changing times,” said RSS Sah Sarkaryawah Dr Krishna Gopal while addressing the Pramukhjan Samvad-Sangoshthi organised on the occasion of the RSS centenary year in Kashi on August 31, 2026
He said the Hindu society is the only basis capable of saving the world, but before that, “the Hindu society will have to put its own house in order.”
Dr Krishna Gopal said the Sangh’s 100-year journey has been interesting and adventurous. Although the organisation faced several challenges during this period, he said, the Sangh continued its work of bringing society together by making changes according to the needs of the times.
He said ancient Bharat was a global leader in mathematics, planetary motion, textiles, agriculture, chemistry and human anatomy. Universities such as Nalanda, Vikramashila and Takshashila were world-renowned centres of learning in Bharat. He said Bharat’s contribution to the global economy was 30 per cent and that the highest achievements of the human mind were being produced in India.
However, he said, thousands of years of conflict caused the fertile land of Bharat to suffer from famines. RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar identified three main points for addressing these problems, he said.
“First—to awaken the feeling of patriotism in the minds of Indian citizens; second—to increase self-confidence in social life; and third—to work in accordance with the glory of our ancestors,” Dr Krishna Gopal said.
He said the British had propagated the notion that Bharatiyas were indolent, lacked administrative understanding and that the Aryans had come from outside. Dr Hedgewar began the work of removing these misconceptions, he added.
The RSS Sah Sarkaryawah said that today there are more than 90,000 shakhas and more than 50 lakh swayamsevaks who devote their time to the national interest with a common objective.
He said swayamsevaks were running numerous organisations to bring about change in social life. In the field of education, Vidya Bharati; among workers, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh; in the field of service, Sewa Bharati; and among the Vanvasi community, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and several other organisations are working to remove inequalities in society, he said.
Dr Krishna Gopal urged people to remain alert against consumerist culture and also called for ending intolerance prevailing in the world.
Responding to questions from the audience, he said that in 1947, all countries in the world believed that India could not survive for long as a nation and that the country would disintegrate.
“But today, Bharat’s journey continues uninterrupted in the fields of education, science, technology and medicine,” he said. He added that during the Covid period, Bharat was the only country where lakhs of people were being provided free meals every day.
Explaining the concept of Hindu in Bharat, Dr Krishna Gopal said, “In Bharat, a Hindu is a person who considers this country his motherland and remains respectful towards all faiths and sects.”
He said Hindu is a cultural foundation that carries together infinite diversities and described it as a “way of life”.
On the role of the RSS in the freedom struggle, Dr Krishna Gopal said Dr Hedgewar himself went to jail twice during the freedom movement. He also said Dr Hedgewar had helped revolutionaries such as Rajguru and Sukhdev.
He added that RSS swayamsevaks had undertaken jail journeys during the 1942 movement.
Responding to a question on imparting the values of religion and culture to Gen-Z, Dr Krishna Gopal said all Hindu families should engage in discussions with young people.
He said it was necessary to tell the youth that Hindu Dharma has always been ready to embrace changes according to the needs of the times. He also emphasised the need to increase a sense of affinity towards others among young people.
Dr Krishna Gopal said, “In reality, Dharma is an awareness of duty.” He explained that another aspect of Dharma makes it a particular quality and referred to concepts such as Matri Dharma, Raj Dharma, the Dharma of water and the Dharma of air.
He said Dharma cannot be converted and that what takes place is merely a change of faith. He added that it is the responsibility of society to support weaker sections.
Presiding over the programme, Padma Rajeshwar Acharya said that national duty is supreme.
The programme began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries on the stage. Girls from Nivedita Shiksha Sadan presented Vande Mataram, while Prabhat presented an Ekal Geet.
