The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) celebrated Vijayadashami Utsav in Nagpur on October 20, 2026, marking the culmination of its centenary celebrations. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat addressed the gathering on the occasion.
Speaking about the unity that helped defeat the proposed partition of Bengal and the lessons of Bharat’s later Partition, Dr Mohan Bhagwat said, “When we kept this life mission of our society in mind, we together emerged victorious. When Lord Curzon sought to partition of Bengal along communal lines, to drive apart Muslims from Hindus, the society firmly opposed the division of one land – one people on communal grounds. The British government was compelled to withdraw their proposal for partition. It was during that period when ‘Vande Mataram’ emerged as a symbol of that very unity and patriotism. The partition was defeated. Why, then, could the same outcome not be achieved in 1947? Because those who wanted to divide us and keep us embroiled in conflict instilled in our minds the notion that because we are distinct, we are separate; because we appear different, we must indeed be different and apart. Under the influence of communal and extremist ideologies, we too came to believe that since we appear different, we are, in reality, not one but separate from one another”.
Reflecting on the consequences of such thinking, Dr Mohan Bhagwat said, “Driven by the obsession with separatism, combined with the lust for political dominance, and the pursuit of selfish interests, we gradually began to reject the very foundations that had held us together as one. A mindset of appeasement continued to embolden this divisive mentality. Ultimately, the country was partitioned. Yet the peace and the happiness of a separate, autonomous existence that had been held out as the promise of this divisive and destructive game never materialized. Instead, we brought upon ourselves enduring unrest along the borders and within the country, mutual distrust, insecurity, and constant strife over even the smallest of issues.”
Reiterating the significance of Vande Mataram as a symbol of national unity, he said, “Vande Mataram which defeated the divisive conspiracy of the division of Bengal continues to be a powerful source of same inspiration of unity even today. It is our national song, and there should be no hesitation or objection to sing it in its entirety, with pride and in a loud, clear voice.
Emphasising the shared cultural and civilisational foundations that bind Bharatiyas beyond their differences, Dr Bhagwat said, “Devotion to Bharat as our motherland, pride in and emulation of the lives of our common Bharatiya ancestors, and the shaping of our lives in accordance with the universal human values of our eternal Bharatiya culture have always kept us united. These foundations are not in conflict with all our diversities of faith, region, language, caste, and so on, and transcend them all. Through constant reflection on these foundations, understanding them, and embracing them wholeheartedly, we will continue to strengthen not only our unity but also the distinct identity of each one of us. We must not repeatedly make the mistake of abandoning these foundations of our unity, and stumble over the same obstacles again and again either out of misplaced fears that our smaller identities are under threat or by allowing ourselves to be misled by the pride associated with them”.
Calling for people to rise above individual egos and misconceptions about differences in worship and identity, he said, “We must abandon our individual egos, the misconceptions we harbour about our own and others’ forms of worship, and the tendency to regard diversity as separation. Wholeheartedly embracing this threefold bond that unites us all—devotion to Bharat, pride in our ancestors, and commitment to Bharatiya culture—we must tread on the path of thriving for our nation”.
