NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday described the Sangh as an “organized force that does not seek power”, asserting that Hindus have a “responsibility” for Bharat. He delivered a lecture in Bengaluru titled “100 Years of Sang Travel: New Horizons.” “When an organized force like RSS emerges, it does not seek power or fame. It only wants to serve and organize society for the glory of Bharat Mata (Mother India),” Bhagwat was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. “People used to have a hard time believing it, but now they do.”
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
Asked why the RSS was focusing on Hindu society, Bhagwat remarked, “Hindus are responsible for Bharat. It is not that the British gave us a nation; we are an ancient nation. Every nation has its own core culture — and for Bharat, that core is Hindu.”He went on to highlight why, according to him, Muslims and Christians in India are also “descendants of the same ancestors”. “They probably don’t know that, or they’ve been made to forget,” he remarked. “Consciously or unknowingly, everyone follows the ‘Bharatea’ (Indian) culture – so no one is an ‘Ahindu’ (non-Hindu). Every Hindu must realize that he is a Hindu, because to be a Hindu means to be responsible for Bharata.” Explaining his view of India as a “Hindu rashtra (nation)”, he argued: “The aim of the Sangh is to unite Hindu society. That is why Bharat is a Hindu rashtra. It is not against the Constitution – it is in accordance with it.” Reflecting on the journey of the Sangh — it was founded in September 1925 — Bhagwat recalled decades of opposition, including bans and attacks on its members. “There were bans, criticism, even murders of swayamsevak. However, they gave everything they could to the Sangha without expecting anything in return. This spirit helped us to overcome challenges and earn authority in society,” he noted.As the RSS celebrates its centenary, Bhagwat emphasized that the organisation’s focus is on reaching every village and social group across castes and communities. “We see Hindu society as one whole, but the world sees diversity. We have to reach every part,” he noted. “Our aim is to organize the entire Hindu society — all 142 million people — across religious streams, including those who have come from outside over time,” Bhagwat added, noting that the RSS has started a dialogue with those who do not identify as Hindu.
