Inspiring address by Bhagwat: PM Modi
Nagpur, Oct 02 :
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the strength and character of the Hindu society guarantee unity, underscoring that the concept of “us and them” never existed.
He advocated ‘swadeshi’ (use of indigenous resources) and ‘swavalamban’ (self-reliance), and said that the positions of other nations after the Pahalgam attack showed the nature and extent of their friendship with India.
Addressing the annual Vijayadashmi rally of the RSS at Nagpur, which also marked the centenary of the organisation, Bhagwat raised concerns over the unrest in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Gen Z protest in Nepal, saying these “so-called revolutions” do not achieve their objectives.The event also marked the centenary celebrations of the Sangh, which was founded on the occasion of Dussehra in 1925 in Nagpur by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a physician from Maharashtra.
“Hindu society is a responsible one. The idea of ‘us’ and ‘them’ never existed here. A divided house cannot stand, and every individual is unique in their own way. Invaders came and went, but the way of life endured. Our inherent cultural unity is our strength,” he said.
The strength and character of the Hindu society guarantee national unity, he said. Bhagwat paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, whose birth anniversaries are celebrated on October 2.
“Gandhiji’s contribution to the freedom struggle is unparalleled, while Shastri’s life and times exemplify devotion and commitment. They are examples of personal and national character which we have to emulate,” he said.
Bhagwat also said the positions taken by various countries after the Pahalgam terror attack showed the nature and extent of their friendship with India.“Even though we maintain friendly relations with other countries, and we will continue to do so, when it comes to our security, we need to be more careful, more watchful and stronger. After the Pahalgam attack, the positions taken by various countries also revealed which of them are our friends, and to what extent,” said Bhagwat.
Bhagwat said the government responded firmly to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. He praised the resolve of the country’s leadership, the valour of the armed forces, and the unity shown by society in the aftermath of the attack.
He said terrorists crossed the border and killed 26 Indians after checking their religion in Pahalgam, which drew a fitting response from the country, referring to Operation Sindoor.
“This caused immense pain and anger in the country. Our government made complete preparations and gave a firm rebuttal. In the aftermath, the leadership’s resolve, the valour of
Concept of ‘Us and
our armed forces and the unity of society were evident,” he said.He said extremist elements had faced action from the government, while society too distanced itself after recognising their “hollowness”. “They will be controlled. A major hurdle has now been removed in that area,” the RSS chief said.
He also said that the lack of schemes ensuring justice, development, goodwill, sensitivity and strength often leads to the rise of extremist forces.
“People who are annoyed by the system’s lethargy tend to seek support from such extremist elements. To prevent this, the state and society must work together through initiatives that give people faith in the system,” Bhagwat said.
“… When the government stays away from the people and is largely unaware of their problems and policies are not made in their interests, people turn against the government. But using this way to express their unhappiness benefits no one… If we see the history of all the political revolutions so far, none of them has ever achieved their objective… All the revolutions in nations with governments have transformed frontal nations into capitalist nations… No aim is achieved in violent protests, but the powers sitting outside the country get a platform to play their games,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed Bhagwat’s address “inspiring” and said it highlighted the “rich contributions of the RSS to nation-building and emphasising the innate potential of our land to attain new heights of glory, thereby benefiting our entire planet”.
Reacting to the new tariff policy, the RSS chief said it was implemented by the US, keeping in mind their own interests. “But everyone is affected by them… The world functions with dependence on each other; this is how relations between any two nations are maintained. No country can survive in isolation. This dependence must not turn into compulsion… We need to rely on swadeshi and focus on self-reliance… Yet strive to maintain diplomatic relations with all our friendly nations, which will be with our wish and without compulsion,” he said.
Bhagwat said the world is looking towards India “for solutions to global concerns”. “The universe wants India to lead by example and show the world a way.”
He also spoke on climate change and how the frequency of natural disasters has increased. “Landslides and incessant rainfall have become normal… This pattern has been observed over the last 3-4 years. The Himalayas are our security wall and a source of water for the entire South Asia. If the existing patterns of development promote the calamities that we are seeing, then we will have to reconsider our decisions. The present situation of the Himalayas is ringing a warning bell,” Bhagwat said.
Bhagwat said that whenever foreign ideologies came to India, the country “considered them our own” as it accepts diversity in the world. “In our country, efforts are being made to turn this diversity into difference… Everyone should ensure that our words do not insult or demean any faith or belief… When many people with diverse beliefs coexist in a society, there can be some noise and chaos from time to time. Despite that, one should ensure that rules and regulations, as well as harmony, are not violated. Taking the law into own hands, coming out on the streets and resorting to violence and hooliganism is not right. Trying to incite a particular community and putting up a show of strength are all pre-planned conspiracies…”
Earlier in the day, Bhagwat also performed ‘Shastra Puja’ on the occasion of the organisation’s Dussehra event. Besides traditional arms, replicas of modern weapons, including Pinaka MK-1, Pinaka Enhance and Pinaka, and drones were on display during the Shastra Puja at the Reshimbagh ground of the RSS headquarters.
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat paid tribute to the founder of the organisation, K.B. Hedgewar, in Nagpur at the RSS Vijaydashmi Utsav event. The organisation has completed 100 years since its establishment, which dates back to 1925.
Bhagwat approached the grand statue of K.B. Hedgewar and showered it with flower petals along with Ram Nath Kovind. The two political leaders folded their hands and paid a tribute to the late founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
This year’s Vijayadashmi event of the RSS will also mark the centenary celebrations of the Sangh.
Former President Ram Nath Kovind, the chief guest of the programme, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday lauded the RSS on its centenary, saying the organisation’s workers have always been devoted to the service and security of the nation, renouncing all comforts and luxuries. Shah, who termed himself a “proud swayamsevak”, said that from the leaders at the top to workers at the grassroots, numerous personalities have been shaped by the Sangh over its 100 years.
“Heartfelt congratulations on the centenary year of the world’s largest voluntary organisation, ‘Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’. In this grand journey of the Sangh centenary, I bow to all the dedicated workers of the RSS who have devoted their lives to the service, security, and empathy of Maa Bharati,” he said in his message.
The home minister said it is not easy being a ‘swayamsevak’ and ‘pracharak’ who must renounce all comforts of life for the nation-building. “Over 100 years, countless swayamsevaks and pracharaks of the Sangh have demonstrated this through sacrifice and dedication,” he said, adding, “I am proud to be a swayamsevak myself.”
Shah said under the leadership of Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the Sangh, which began in Nagpur on the day of Vijayadashami in 1925 with a few people, has now become the world’s largest social organisation. He said, be it the Hyderabad liberation struggle, the resistance against the Emergency, or the Goa liberation movement, the RSS has stepped in with its workers to commit to the cause.
He said that with its assistance to brave soldiers in wars, opposition to Article 370 and the anti-infiltrator movement in the Northeast, the RSS took the job of nation-building to new heights.
Be it desert or rugged forests, the inaccessible peaks of the Himalayas or remote villages, the Sangh has everywhere hoisted the flag of devotion and service to the “great sacred land,” he said.
“By weaving forest-dwellers, backward classes, Dalits, deprived sections, and all strata of the country into the thread of unity, this centenary journey of the Sangh, which tirelessly contributes to the vision of a nation imbued with self-respect, will be written in golden letters in history,” Shah said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the annual Vijayadashmi address of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as inspiring, and said he highlighted India’s innate potential to attain new heights of glory.
He said on X, “An inspiring address by Param Pujya Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat Ji, highlighting the rich contributions of the RSS to nation-building and emphasising the innate potential of our land to attain new heights of glory, thereby benefiting our entire planet.” Modi was an RSS pracharak before he was moved to the BJP in the 1980s.
In his speech on Thursday in Nagpur, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief said the strength and character of the Hindu society guarantee unity, and that the concept of “us and them” never existed in the community.
He advocated swadeshi (use of indigenous products) and swavalamban (self-reliance), and said that the positions of other nations after the Pahalgam terror attack showed the nature and extent of their friendship with India.
Founded on Vijayadashmi in 1925, the RSS is observing its centenary year. The outfit, started with a few people, has grown to become the country’s most widespread non-government organisation.
The BJP is ideologically inspired by the Hindutva organisation.
